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Name, Surname: Ahmet Salih TÜRKKAHRAMAN ID Nr: 21903471 ENG 102- 86 Nihal Mavi Course Topic: In Search of Happiness Essay Topic: To what extent do you think money plays a role in leading a happy and fulfilled life with regard to the individual’s as well as the nation’s well-being? First Draft Date: 29.02. The Effect of Money on Happiness Can be called the greatest goal in human life to be happy? Although the answer to this question varies from person to person , everyone prioritizes happiness in life. Happiness is the most desired value. Therefore, the main factors that bring happiness have been investigated for many years and various results are emerging. One of the most important factors among these results is seen as money. This raises the following questions. Can one be happy with money? Can money buy happiness as well as everything? Many philosophers and thinkers have discussed these questions , some argue that money bring happiness , while others claim that money is glamorous and does not bring real happiness. In fact money can buy happiness because it provides comfort as well as eases the process of achieving ones goals ,although opponents may argue that it only provides short term happiness. One of the most significant reasons why money provides happier life is that it can buy comfort. What I mean by comfort are things that make ones lives easier and do not make
feel needy, that is, what makes one free. In ‘Money and Happiness’ article which is written by Christopher Peterson the author says that ‘As my own salary has increased over the years, my life has certainly become more comfortable, and here may be some insight into the relationship between money and happiness’(Peterson 1). As the author states when income increases it brings more comfort and one can be happy with that. Money has a vey important place in today’s world. There are almost no things you can do without money. The one who has enough money can make a good life. The reason for this that he can buy houses and cars he wants. He can even buy friends because when you have money, the number of people around you also increases. All of these can be reconciled with a ‘Desire Theory’. According to this theory ‘Happiness is a matter of getting what you want’(Griffin qtd in Seligman&Royzman 2). Moreover he can establish a new business and live without fear of subsistence. When these situations are provided, boredom and fear are minimal in life. This makes one feel very comfortable and maybe there is no big reason to be unhappy. The reason why many people in the world are unhappy nowadays is the financial anxiety and working in difficult conditions to give a good life to ones children. Therefore, money is a significant factor to be happy because it offers people a carefree life. Another reason for why money makes people reach happiness is that it makes it easier for one to reach our aims. There are many obstacles to the goal, but these drawbacks have to be overcome one by one, and if you have enough money, this process will be faster and easier. In ‘What’s Wrong with Happiness’ text the author states that when country income and wealth equally distributed the average level of happiness increases (Rustin 4). It can be understood from this idea that equality of money and opportunity leads to happiness because money makes ones lives easier and makes them live the way they want. Money can
can bring true happiness. Shortly, the important thing is where the money is spent, so it can not be said that money does not bring happiness when it is spent correctly. To conclude, wealth can buy happiness since it offers comfort and eases the accomplishing one’s goals, even though some critics claim that it only brings temporary happiness. It provides comfort because economic power gives the person the freedom to get what they want and in this way one can build a comfortable, happy and trouble-free life. Also, money eases the path to goals in education, business and social fields because it gives appropriate opportunities. Contrary to some scholars and researchers, money can bring happiness when used for the right purposes. Therefore, people should spend their some of money in prosocial activities or aid campaigns so that one can be happy. Wishing for a future where everyone is happy. Sources: Peterson, Christopher. “Money and Happiness.” Psychology Today , Sussex Publishers, 6 June 2008, www.psychologytoday.com/us/blog/the-good-life/200806/money-and-happiness. Rustin, Michael. “What's Wrong with Happiness?” Soundings , vol. 36, no. 36, 2007, pp. 67– 84., doi:10.3898/136266207820465688. Smith, Tara. “Money Can Buy Happiness.” Reason Papers , vol. 26, 2003, pp. 7–20.
