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Momodou
Denmark
11828 Posts |
 Posted - 20 Jun 2010 : 17:52:54
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We have everything - except hope
18. jun. 2010
 The standard of living is high in the Scandinavian nations. Yet there are signs that as our wealth has increased since the 1950s, our quality of life has actually dropped, writes Kristeligt Dagblad.
According to Norwegian social anthropologist Thomas Hylland Eriksen, we have everything today and that leads to the drop in our quality of life.
- We have more than achieved the quota of everything our grandparents dreamed of, and yet we are not content. I think that in Scandinavia, we no longer have anything to strive for. We need a hope, he says.
Food and health not enough
In his latest book, "The Search for Happiness in the Society of Plenty" Thomas Hylland Eriksen assesses the level of happiness in Scandinavia. He concludes that having enough to eat and good health helps, and that being able to afford a little luxury once in a while adds to the positives. But it's just not enough.
Or, it is just enough to be too much. The uncomfortable feeling of being overfed is weighing down the Scandinavian soul.
- Those of us that don't believe in a higher power have no other choice except to start thinking about what may restore us to hope. I think we should start working on shifting our focus from welfare to quality of life, says Thomas Hylland Eriksen.
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A clear conscience fears no accusation - proverb from Sierra Leone |
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Janko
Gambia
1267 Posts |
Posted - 20 Jun 2010 : 22:54:59
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Momodou,
Eriksen made an interesting revelation, does that mean; we have a "higher quality of life" in Gambia? ... for example. |
Clean your house before pointing a finger ... Never be moved by delirious Well-wishers in their ecstasy |
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Momodou
Denmark
11828 Posts |
Posted - 20 Jun 2010 : 23:03:46
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Janko, yes this is an interesting revealation. Despite the poverty, people seem to be more happier in Gambia and this is what many visitors observe. Just ask Gambiabev. |
A clear conscience fears no accusation - proverb from Sierra Leone |
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kayjatta
2978 Posts |
Posted - 21 Jun 2010 : 07:02:10
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At least in the U.S. we have both worlds. It is the land of abundance, and the land of hope as well. Our so-called American dream whose bar rises every year keeps us running very day with renewed hope.
This is a great study, actually. Eriksen reminds of Erik Erikson, the Danish-German-American developmental psychologist.
Certainly happiness and wealth do not necessarily correlate, well of course except for the UDP/UK. We have seen examples of it over and over again in everyday life... |
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