Arguably, issue pertaining happiness has been debatable for many decades. In the contemporary society, the well-being of human beings in relation to many has gained standing in various field, which include economics, psychology, sociology, and philosophy. Happiness is one of the complex well-being states in human beings. In fact, by definition, happiness refers to an emotional or mental condition of well-being, which is mostly characterized by pleasant and positive emotions that range from gratification of joy. Several disciplines define this concept differently, especially based on what influences happiness. Of all the contentious issues surrounding happiness, money has become a topic of decision. Scholars have differed on the issues that money can buy happiness. Others agree that money can actually buy happiness, whereas others believe money will never buy happiness, but it can be a pathway to happiness. Certainly, I believe that money cannot buy happiness.
Undeniably, happiness is one of the things that human beings seek for in every day, but its achievement is always relative; hence, it remains a lifetime quest. Studies shows that all people alway6s want to be happy all the time, and believe the ultimate goal to achieve it is by having money, this does not happen in the long-run. Happiness cannot be associated with money since money is a material thing and happiness is an inward virtue that is tremendously difficult to measure (Arthaud & Marne 1).
In most cases, happiness has a different meaning among people. His implies that, according to some people happiness is attained when one has all the monies of this world, while others assert that happiness comes as a result of attaining objectives of life. In all these perspective, we must believe that money cannot buy happiness (Melvin & Boyes 120). In fact, we should be driven by the saying the rich also fall victims of cry, meaning they are not happy in all their life despite the fact that they have money.
There exists sufficient evidence on that suggest that wealth does not lead to a condition of happiness. Happiness is always a subjective interpretation pertaining well-being, of which many factors contribute to it. The variables that bring happiness are many, and this eliminates the believe that wealth can actually bring happiness. These variable determinants of happiness range from a personal relationship, health, personality, and freedom. Wealth is the smallest variable determinant of happiness, yet we always value it, meaning it does not bring happiness in the long-run (Arthaud & Marne 5)
Based in social life issues, wealth will not buy the happiness that we opt for. In most cases, social life entails inter-personal dealings; hence, it is a good ingredient of happiness. The wealth people are always busy looking for more money, and having no time to socialize. Scholars assert that as wealth of individuals’ increases, they become predisposed to look for more money and wealth. Therefore, in order to maintain and gain more wealth, individuals forego social relationships, and they will never have happiness.
Critically, wealth creates a sense of insecurity among human being. As a matter of fact, wealth and money can buy security, but still human beings will have a feeling of insecurity. The wealth people always think about the security of their wealth and their own security. These thoughts are not pleasant at all; hence, it reduces the level of happiness among individuals. Wealth will buy the material and physical security but, it will never buy innermost security. For example, most robberies and killings that happen in the world is mostly associated to riches and money. In this scenario, it does not make sense have all the wealth of this world and lose own life on insecurities that come with it. The deeper thought on issues of insecurity eliminates happiness among the rich people (Arthaud & Marne 511).
In every society, there are two classes of people, the wealth and the poor. Based on personal experiences, it seems wealth comes with very many problems. In fact, one of the issues that bring is wrangles and family breakups. Poor families have a sense of satisfaction in the little they have; more of their fulfillment is associated with the soul, which is related to happiness. Satisfaction of the innermost will always bring happiness, and that is what the poor people have. Generally, wealth families only have material satisfaction, of which it has a small relationship with happiness (Melvin & Boyes 121).
Statistically, wealth leads to health related issues such as diabetes and obesity. Health is one of the crucial components of happiness, but wealth can actually eliminate it. Research shows that in United States close to two-third of the American population are either overweight, obese, or in critical level extremely obese. As a matter of fact, based on economic analysis United States is among the wealthiest nations meaning wealth exposes individuals to health problems, which directly leads to a state of unhappiness. This wealth related diseases causes’ death and reduces the innermost well-being of individuals (Haig & Rod 366).
On a philosophical perspective, wealth does not bring any form of happiness. Happiness according to philosophies come as a result of developing high-quality affiliation with family and friends, this is related to spending time with them in all circumstance. This restores and rejuvenates happiness in various ways (Dierner & Robert 20). Wealth does not allow individual to bong and build a cohesive environment of interdependence. Hence, wealth people will never come close to any form of happiness because they have no time for friends of the family. They are always attached to money, which only gives material satisfaction. Family and friends touch the innermost part of an individual in appositive way, leading to development of true happiness.
In order to clearly, comprehend the fact that wealth does not buy happiness, individuals need to experience some of the feelings when money is available and when there is absolutely no money. The happiness that may be brought by wealth is not a true meaning of happiness; happiness should always be something that stays in individuals regardless of some conditions (Arthaud & Marne 530). Undeniably, wealth people are only happy when they see they are making progress, but when they are losing happiness diapers. This implies that happiness associated with wealth is short lived or to some extend nonexistent.
Human being is composed of spirit, body and mind. Therefore, for happiness to prevail all this composite of an individual need to be satisfied. The need of the spirit, mind and body always differ, and therefore, wealth cannot fulfill all this demands. Meaning, in a cumulative perspective, wealth does not buy happiness. Mostly, the spirit and the mind requires different things for satisfaction as compared to the body (Anders 32). In fact, research shows that when money is no longer a problem, the body became fully satisfied. On the other hand, under the similar conditions the spirit and the mind became very much strained and negatively affected making an individual sad. Additionally, this is true because issues such as suicide, divorce, substance use, and depression is mainly witnessed in wealth families. All the stated reasons against wealth in relation to happiness shows that there are critical factors that lead to happiness rather than money. Wealth can only be a pathway to achieving the main determinants of wealth.
On the other hand, wealth can be a source of happiness. Wealth gives an individual a chance to have basic needs such as food, clothing, shelter and healthcare. Economists will argue that happiness will be achieved if all the basic needs are satisfied. Additionally, money makes a lot of positive differences in the life of human beings. It provides security and all the needs that an individual may require. In order to achieve happiness human beings do not have to strain to meet it. Healthcare in the contemporary society has increased; hence, the wealth people are not in a position to meet their healthcare cost. The wealth can easy pay their healthcare cost and restore their happiness that had been taken away by health conditions.
Conclusively, I believe that wealth cannot buy happiness. The lack of relationship between happiness and wealth will always remain an issue. There are diverse sources of happiness, whereby they are more of interpersonal and less of material. Wealth only fulfill the material needs, but it does not influence on a greater perspective our happiness. In order for people to be happy, they should focus on the factors that satisfy the soul, body and mind.
Work cited
Anders, G. Health against Wealth. London: Wiley, 1998
Arthaud, D & Marne, J. The Wealth of Nations and the Happiness of Nations. Social Indicators
Research, 2005. 74:511-48
Dierner, E & Robert, B. Happiness: Unlocking the Mysteries of Psychological Wealth. London:
Wiley, 2011
Haig, K & Rod, P. Introduction to Psychology. New Jersey: Springer, 2010, 366
Melvin, M & Boyes, W. Microeconomics. New York: Wadsworth, 2010 120
