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Happiness & Meaning

The Happy State

Dan Corjescu says soma could be coming.

Imagine if you will a government which provides its citizens with comfortable housing, and two special daily pills, free of charge. The first pill contains all our daily nutritional requirements, while the second pill guarantees a sense of happiness and contentment throughout the day and night. My question is: would such a state of affairs be both good and desirable?

Many would argue that the universal provision of housing and food would be a general good. Housing and food are required for the furtherance of human thriving, and so for long-term happiness. Without them we would be significantly restrained in pursuing our future projects of self-realization or fulfilling our potential.

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