The first question this motion raises is “How can we define happiness?” We can see it as a permanent state of mind and spirit characterized by a range of emotions and feelings that varies from contentment or satisfaction to intense joy. These include social, cultural, political and heritage activities, emotional care, love, intimate relationships, festivals, celebrations and quite simply - fun. Therefore, arguing for this motion seems like a straight forward. How can we buy feelings?
Some might argue that we can buy material things that proportionate that sensation, like luxury apartments, expensive cars, incredible trips, but they are wrong. If we attach ourselves just to those material things, it will come up a moment when we will start feeling unfulfilled, sad and solitary. It’s because they only lead to a momentary and fleeting sensation of satisfaction.
What about the majority of those billionaire executives? They spend all their lives working incessantly, most of the time in something they don’t even like, in order to make more and more money and don’t have time to do anything else. They misunderstand the concept of happiness and characterize it as having a huge bank account. They don’t get to enjoy some important things in life. What’s the meaning of having luxurious articles if you don’t use them? Or if you don’t have time to hang out with your family and follow your kids’ growth? I can assure you that it’s not an incredible toy that makes a child really happy, but the constant presence and love of the people around them, specially their parents.
There are things we can’t buy, that are beyond money, like family and friends and that are fundamental for the achievement of true happiness. We can’t buy a real relationship, a family. And we can prove it by observing the enormous number of wealth old men married with young and beautiful women and feeling still lonely and unhappy. We need to construct a family based in real feelings, with someone we love and that will love us back, and not our money. And so we will be able to experience with them constant moments of true happiness, like when your child starts walking and talking.
Of course we need money to live, but only to proportionate us a minimum quality of life. There are more important things in life. So the most convincing of all the points that support the motion we are debating here must be that we can’t buy true and life longing feelings. So, please, choose happiness over money and vote for us!
Juliana AR
That is only a digression of the famous words of a philosopher/banker : "Some things money can't buy, for everything else there's Mastercard". Concluding on the fact that money is only needed is a weak way to attack your capitalist opponents. Say happiness can be completely free, say one can free his mind of the illusory needs of comfort and security, say one can always decide to grab his backpack and his tent and go live into the wild !
ReplyDeleteI'm with George. There are plenty of examples of people living really happy life on what we would call "miserable conditions". Let me just give you the example of communism (you can agree or not with it, but you just can't say that all the communists were unhappy).
ReplyDeleteI think that Juliana's position is a little bit naive and idealist. Sure, love and great feelings are part of happiness, but it's always easier to be loving and affectionate with your children, and to spend time with your family, when you know that you have enough money to fill their plate and to pay them clothes and education. The father and his son on the boat, in the advert quoted by George, are surely feeling a great affection and strong links, but the father still had to pay for the boat (and the boots, but it wasn't the most difficult thing to afford).
ReplyDeleteAnd one last thing: having money doesn't prevent you from seeing your child starting walking and talking...