找回密码
 注册

Sign in with Twitter

It's what's happening?

微信登录

微信扫一扫,快速登录

萍聚头条

查看: 1495|回复: 2

散文 Happiness and Wealth

[复制链接]
发表于 2007-6-8 14:46 | 显示全部楼层 |阅读模式

马上注册,结交更多好友,享用更多功能,让你轻松玩转社区。

您需要 登录 才可以下载或查看,没有账号?注册 微信登录

×
Living standards have soared during the twentieth century, and 4 S+ d, V6 u5 ?/ O6 t" p2 ]

% T- q9 r0 c4 h" n  p: @economists expect them to continue rising in the decades ahead. Does 2 U% b$ \7 \$ Y! ^, H! ~
. e) ?) y) {) N- o
that mean that we humans can look forward to increasing happiness? , B" m& B8 @/ {: f

2 t5 J$ n- a1 i- T) L( l5 O  L7 E  g- D: N
Not necessarily, warns Richard A. Easterlin, an economist at the ' ]  z2 Y+ ~' X; o
4 \  s" \5 |  S+ X3 w
University of Southern California, in his new book, Growth Triumphant: ; I9 L& Y* I# a- X1 m
# R5 x+ d7 b4 r$ j
The Twenty-first Century in Historical Perspective. Easterlin concedes
' ]2 ]/ X; b- K$ s
% T2 G$ e2 T; tthat richer people are more likely to report themselves as being happy
! B! z. v- D+ i% w7 i! O2 U
" z+ w! E  Q2 _; D5 Z- P8 ~% P- Dthan poorer people are. But steady improvements in the American economy * a/ z/ @+ h2 B5 F* O% {

: O' q2 S* [& X* M: R1 X- B% Z2 Hhave not been accompanied by steady increases in people‘s self-# P' |' f% j# Q& a5 b

1 @, X) `5 q+ ^) |& tassessments of their own happiness. "There has been not improvement in
+ G5 f/ d: e' d9 w# j
% V1 e4 [+ _/ n8 B  baverage happiness in the United States over almost a half century----a ) j; V, l0 K1 F0 O7 g* Z6 |" E& A  P
. R- n3 n2 y3 ^7 U& h& u. G
period in which real GDP per capita more than doubled," Easterlin
/ k( G/ S/ _! p: z7 z- j( t9 ^& C* X$ g* `2 n7 w
reports.
2 n* e- h+ P  m5 j- h
7 Z& K% i! H; u- X4 p4 V$ \/ CThe explanation for this paradox may be that people become less
2 i: T- Y9 o* {+ g; q0 t: q0 S4 |6 }- R: i5 r9 g& H
satisfied over time with a given level of income. In Easterlin‘s word:
$ r0 U, J0 U* J. }7 D
! ?' ~. Z' c/ r"As incomes rise, the aspiration level does too, and the effect of this   U1 M' y8 F- c' e9 o' r
$ m' t2 }5 K, z6 j9 R0 L1 l
increase in aspirations is to vitiate the expected growth in happiness * Z' e' V/ e" |/ \# I& v

8 w7 `7 D% `9 e. `4 Adue to higher income."
) h- q' t# s3 j& {
: O8 O6 w7 O2 U1 ]: GMoney can buy happiness, Easterlin seems to be saying, but only if
# V! G! i5 T+ z0 ^# K# B1 }+ |( I
one‘s amounts get bigger and other people aren‘t getting more. His
5 p3 K3 Q8 ~4 D7 \
' h. E; J0 `9 E, C1 ^analysis helps to explain sociologist Lee Rainwater‘s finding that
* ^* C2 x, B! P  b5 K( u  b( o
. x3 P2 _% y" [! [8 B# OAmericans‘ perception of the income "necessary to get along" rose & E7 Y! z# {4 N. F/ y3 t# m
" e' e; j1 [" Q0 j& f
between 1950 and 1986 in the same proportion as actual per capita
) w4 N$ r9 A$ b6 a) I9 ?6 y; e, t9 _) d
income. We feel rich if we have more than our neighbors, poor if we
  Y' ^3 y( ^9 X8 R! Y5 X- K: u3 n1 g' g0 L; b/ M2 N
have less, and feeling relatively well off is equated with being happy.* {: i! S7 C0 M+ e+ w0 K+ K7 L
% k" b: n; F; V! p
Easterlin‘s findings, challenge psychologist Abraham Maslow‘s ! T% J# e* x) T. O  e" o& J1 B
& |7 t3 l2 P  H- g' a( S( `
"hierarchy of wants" as a reliable guide to future human motivation.
6 }3 @+ G0 }; _+ j# R; n: ^5 l' u* Z$ d. L$ U& \
Maslow suggested that as people‘s basic material wants are satisfied
- s& t! R" D5 `4 z' o" W4 K: K
; v: x9 {4 r2 T  r7 v5 \they seek to achieve nonmaterial or spiritual goals. But Easterlin‘s
# I  a/ J8 E* o+ A
4 P  H; o- ~7 I" }) N% fevidence points to the persistence of materialism.
7 D  F4 _4 w$ |# j, I
: D/ R# @% ]' D7 F3 ^"Despite a general level of affluence never before realized in the - p9 m( z; Q! c

4 H% \( J  y; l. D8 W% whistory of the world." Easterlin observes, "Material concerns in the
. k' r0 w$ }! `5 k
4 x6 ?8 D4 c( B- I4 ywealthiest nations today are as pressing as ever and the pursuit of / k) C$ o' Z+ E0 e3 T& Z

' \4 x6 ^) W! Qmaterial need as intense." The evidence suggests there is no evolution 8 v( E, i2 q: R: b% D, |
; T" ]& Q* {5 H' L& G
toward higher order goals. Rather, each step upward on the ladder of
6 p8 S9 D: N. E; `- a, R7 P
) x' m! V' n6 z- J9 J2 beconomic development merely stimulates new economic desires that lead
" G) b: d$ g; b- z7 i
2 p! W% s5 d5 b: c1 T& J3 othe chase ever onward. Economists are accustomed to deflating the money
2 d( [3 I: s7 l3 Y3 M1 |
7 P5 v" J4 f4 R1 W7 v/ O8 _value of national income by the average level of prices to obtain
; K: C- S9 J2 y' X9 f+ K5 t* o' R/ E2 U3 r0 w3 t9 W# _' x3 y
"real" income. The process here is similar----real income is being
& C; O6 z' h$ `; s* z' u
  M3 d* ?! q. H, j4 l# qdeflated by rising material aspiration, in this case to yield ; X3 w% x( t5 ]) I1 J
! D9 z( ]" @- `. q6 V+ l
essentially constant subjective economic well-being. While it would be & p8 ?- T2 N1 m! l1 Q/ v8 o

7 Q, G$ a: F. l" j* K- `pleasant to envisage a world free from the pressure of material want, a
' a2 J- k) A7 K: m# [" Z" x) f$ x& j4 @4 V$ O
more realistic projection, based on the evidence, is of a world in
$ ?( x; I. {/ Y/ \( @/ [5 M4 g- [
- l' W0 p+ y" Y, a6 K4 nwhich generation after generation thinks it needs only another 10% to 8 Q2 P6 W/ g4 h. o. W
1 u7 |; `0 A9 _1 l" ]
20% more income to be perfectly happy.2 H. R! ?" ~6 c7 U9 N, e
6 ]: O4 w3 e/ o8 {9 c! n
Needs are limited, but not greeds. Science has developed no cure for
: v! `% t1 Q$ X1 N0 I3 e" \0 y
( a5 v8 y# G5 |% [! menvy, so our wealth boosts our happiness only briefly while shrinking
0 c) I  V2 k& }+ ]
: f- R& x9 e( @$ B8 Pthat of our neighbors. Thus the outlook for the future is gloomy in 0 ]; z1 t  g& G, y( A
: T8 I; J: }# h% a. y
Easterlin‘s view.9 w% t9 ?& f* z( }/ m* e, Z

$ s4 c7 Y$ w4 T- l+ t"The future, then, to which the epoch of modern economic growth is ' |& g+ W, G9 T2 j  W# ~$ R; u
: n3 O" B) B& t4 A3 q+ J. s
leading is one of never ending economic growth, a world in which ever
( z! F1 ~! d/ N2 K% j1 Y) @
5 g4 z( h5 E/ i& @* q; |8 Hgrowing abundance is matched by ever rising aspirations, a world in
  ~+ a8 i( s" j1 N" R" J! R; H& h! v7 W3 y1 Y
which cultural difference is leveled in the constant race to achieve " m, z* c8 a8 k' T" h" ]
0 A5 b* ^/ r( X, K5 s2 a, b
the goods life of material plenty, it is a world founded on belief in & `# x( f* n* w

# U6 D# I' A( J3 }: Bscience and the power of rational inquiry and in the ultimate capacity
% X3 i7 j* j; {- {& ^, z, U, S7 A0 y9 T
of humanity to shape its own destiny. The irony is that in this last . W3 x! j* P  U: J! `9 x# _6 o
1 X) U* M6 N  t# h1 J* o4 k
respect the lesson of history appears to be otherwise: that there is no
8 I; C& T* ^' ], Q/ B
% H3 x# v. C' h1 y8 [) Z  jchoice. In the end, the triumph of economic growth is not a triumph of
% a0 I* S! J( f* N8 o0 s' ?- L5 B: o1 s( W5 x/ b
humanity over material wants; rather, it is the triumph of material
/ ^( n. a3 ]; ~/ S* |! E- K) U
" L" K" n% l" B0 H) Pwants over humanity."

评分

1

查看全部评分

相关帖子

Die von den Nutzern eingestellten Information und Meinungen sind nicht eigene Informationen und Meinungen der DOLC GmbH.
 楼主| 发表于 2007-6-8 14:47 | 显示全部楼层

中文翻译

人们的生活水平在20世纪飞速提高,经济学家预计在未来的几十年里,人们
/ N' t, _5 Q2 _8 n8 C" f
& r% {# G: O3 H! p3 O5 ^+ _. U的生活水平还会进一步提高。这是否意味着我们人类的日子有望越过越幸福呢?9 \4 `  u2 n  u! A$ V* g4 B2 ~
  未必如此,南加州大学一位经济学家理查德?A?伊斯特林在其新书《增长的胜5 I/ P2 a, ^; M- ?+ r9 F% j
) S$ j. k/ G8 k. ~( M
利:从历史的视角展望21世纪》中如是告诫世人。他承认,一般来说,富人比穷5 v: Y6 A0 e, g1 S' ]
* h. f6 c! ?; ~4 C& z
人更有可能称自己是幸福的。然而,美国人对幸福感的自我评价并未伴随着美国; Y( J/ {2 `! x. [0 `- t; i: [

) _1 |7 a3 U6 {! l+ m* K4 W经济稳步发展而有所提高。伊斯特林指出:“过去近半个世纪中,美国的实际人7 @0 ^8 R0 s$ m: V0 ]; B2 Y% F6 Q

3 ]1 V' `6 U9 \均国内生产总值增加了2倍多,而人们并未感到比以往更幸福。”
4 m) ~" V# J' M% L2 A' }  对于这种自相矛盾的现象也许可作如下解释,随着时间的推移,人们对一定
- e. w8 P8 N2 q( V. f
+ E0 w5 @  o; L" h" U$ W的收入会越来越不满。用伊斯特林的话来说:“收入增加了,人们的期望值也相
9 f0 u3 f8 X% D
) T3 ]5 J0 y6 L: d1 g; L) l应提高了,期望值的提高会抵消收入提高所带来的预期有所增加的幸福感。”
8 ~. k) b3 B6 Q  }# r! n6 m0 g# ]  伊斯特林似乎在说,金钱可以买来幸福,但这只有在自己金钱不断增多,而
8 [) t3 p! B* I1 A2 `- Y/ X# \3 S4 \/ v0 Z! ], a$ m
别人收入不变的情况才会如此。他的分析有助于人们理解社会学家李?雷恩沃特的) [9 R' C+ p0 m
# g1 k. W1 \2 B( J( n
调查结果----从1950年到1986年,在美国持收入“必须维持基本生活”观念的人
3 @4 f) X& ]/ `" q6 M, d6 ~5 e* S
随着实际人均收入的增加而同比增长。如果收入比邻居多,我们就会感到自己富% g; @# w1 _& X% N$ M, L7 ~- D

) s5 N1 \5 D' v3 h有;反之,则觉得自己贫穷。由此可见,人们把幸福感与相对富裕程度等同起来
+ r9 W) L- @; e. m+ [5 {  R4 M* A
  {4 B% W) c  O$ O7 s' l; x) y0 C& }! h6 S& E% E  S( r( e
  伊斯特林的调查结果向心理理学家亚伯拉罕?马斯洛的“需要等级体系”理论
3 E6 @; B! ?' P* `9 i- ?
' M! E, e  F( w6 F- u2 w# F提出了挑战,该理论为人类未来的动机提供了可靠指南。马斯洛认为:一旦人们1 H  v2 Q: M) p

& r! C9 K1 Q9 |2 t的基本物质需求得到满足后,就会转而追求更高层次的精神需求。但伊斯特林的7 j- E) p/ ~# f+ j* j% F& w2 |- l

" F0 _6 C" u4 a5 e3 e+ O/ z论证却指出人类的物欲永无止境。
2 c9 Y2 p" _. d; L: L0 t  伊斯特林还评述到:“尽管人类历史上从未实现过普遍水平的富裕,但今日
5 a- z& a4 B4 p  k4 v; |9 U' j# z6 v) S5 V: }# t1 d
最富有的那些国家对物质的关注还是那么迫切,对物质需要的追求还是那样的强' R* O! D# [# l/ K

, o) j" g- ]" t) Q' @7 l5 v3 Q烈。”这表明人类并未朝更高层次的精神目标进展。更确切地说,经济发展每上
+ k: a* |1 \9 s+ n0 _  l$ c+ r' d. c' I) w
一个台阶只会刺激新的经济需求,进而促进经济持续向前发展。经济学家通常用
; J1 b" x7 ]8 U3 L% f$ Q
0 ?5 P5 I+ s: m: u9 W' E国民收入的货币价值减去平均物价上涨额度来计算“实际”收入。同样,人们日/ C- B2 v' ~0 g8 v* k2 u
( N% Z# ~. Q% Z- w/ ^
益增长的物质欲望,在此主要是持续不断对经济富裕的主观要求,削减了实际收
! u# Q7 t2 M: O! P1 o" ]$ n, |4 H( N) p; M$ e( v4 {# {! h
入。虽然设想一个没有物欲压力的世界是件惬意的事,但一个基于事实的更为现( s  |1 ]/ S2 y3 x: F

: X6 ^  I. F9 p. X0 t9 M: E) ^2 v% {实的想法是设想在这样一个世界里,世世代代的人们都认为只要将收入再提高
* E/ V  O( J. c" \" }
$ H! S9 [1 i( |, `* d" ^; L5 r# i- Q10%----20%,就可达到无比幸福的境界。
) V4 ?) `0 o, k0 V( g' ^" _  F  需求是有极限的,而贪欲却无止境。科学再进步也尚未研制出治疗嫉妒的良/ O5 ?2 |) R* i. g# y& t& A/ _5 W/ j
" W: c" d. b6 |. Y
药,因此只有当我们的财富让邻居相形见绌的时候,我们才会感到片刻的幸福。. p, H9 y, d/ [9 R1 P5 f
2 Z6 G- n" e2 [6 [8 F
所以在伊斯特林看来,未来的前景不容乐观:
& v' t4 q3 E' b" ~  `! T. P; f  “当今经济发展的趋势告诉我们,未来经济会不断发展、永不停歇,未来世5 j9 ?3 ~, w$ j# q% U
/ p5 D, C/ p+ A" b
界会是一个财富不断增长而欲望节节上升的世界;一个为达到富裕不断角逐而导
" _4 {1 c0 T; R" T( x2 X+ R, E! l4 @' O+ ~( P, X9 F
致文化差异尽失的世界;一个建立在信仰科学和智力并相信人类有最大的能力塑
* D( Q# V( D' k3 ?$ m% ]' W; K. G% F5 j! b% _7 ^, _* q/ l* h8 r+ _2 q
造自己命运的世界。具有讽刺意味的是,在最后一点上,历史的经验教训似乎告
% a9 k9 j- k* x9 G
9 K1 l/ N& ]  Z2 l! C诉我们事物的发展并非如此:人类别无选择,并不能掌握自己的命运。最后,经; A9 `* v' j, `; J- P3 o" H9 I
: U& H3 F# @  G2 e  |% s
济发展的结果不是人性战胜物欲,而是物欲战胜人性。”
Die von den Nutzern eingestellten Information und Meinungen sind nicht eigene Informationen und Meinungen der DOLC GmbH.
回复 支持 反对

使用道具 举报

发表于 2007-6-16 16:10 | 显示全部楼层
Die von den Nutzern eingestellten Information und Meinungen sind nicht eigene Informationen und Meinungen der DOLC GmbH.
回复 支持 反对

使用道具 举报

您需要登录后才可以回帖 登录 | 注册 微信登录

本版积分规则

Archiver|手机版|AGB|Impressum|Datenschutzerklärung|萍聚社区-德国热线-德国实用信息网

GMT+1, 2025-11-13 20:38 , Processed in 0.087495 second(s), 30 queries .

Powered by Discuz! X3.5 Licensed

© 2001-2025 Discuz! Team.

快速回复 返回顶部 返回列表