It is entirely possible that there is actually no significantly better way for us to go about this. The assumption that life can be good and happy for all is just fundamentally flawed in the face of the human condition and physical reality.
In the absence of infinite and exploitable energy it's hard to see how you wont have a society that is going to directly or indirectly impose limits upon the individuals life and well being.
And given the differences in the human psyche it seems inheritently impossible to please all of the people all of the time.
> it seems inheritently impossible to please all of the people all of the time.
But it's actually really easy. Every single human has the same basic needs. Cover those and you've already done a great step towards collective happiness.
> In the absence of infinite and exploitable energy it's hard to see how you wont have a society that is going to directly or indirectly impose limits upon the individuals life and well being.
How, besides lying to ourselves, can we then justify the fact that in some countries children starve to death, while in others people's biggest issue is what model of smartphone they're going to buy next?
Aren't we already imposing material limits to billions of people who don't have access to basic resources? Is that kind of limit somehow less important than the limit we might impose on someone else to not own a yacht?
It might not be better for you, but it is for the great majority of the world's population.
For this very reason, I want you to have everything you need to live with dignity. I don't care at all if you want more, if that means someone else is going to lack anything essential as a consequence.
Also there is a massive assumption that the person with the smart phone or fancy car is actually happy and fulfilled. That may or may not be true. There is a high degree of relativity in our feeling of contentment.
> massive assumption that the person with the smart phone or fancy car is actually happy and fulfilled
Never made this assumption. Quite the opposite, I'm saying the very fundamental basis to "happiness" is to have your basic needs covered at all times. Only then, you can start to build something on top.
In the absence of infinite and exploitable energy it's hard to see how you wont have a society that is going to directly or indirectly impose limits upon the individuals life and well being.
And given the differences in the human psyche it seems inheritently impossible to please all of the people all of the time.