PhD Research Week 3 YR2

Talk: Measuring Happiness, London School of Economics What does it mean to measure happiness? Can it really be measured? If so, how? Is this a more meaningful indicator of the state of the nation than GDP?

Paul Dolan is professor of behavioral science at LSE. Elaine Fox is director of The Oxford Centre for Emotions and Affective Neuroscience, University of Oxford. Andrew Oswald is professor of economics at Warwick University. Ben Page is chief executive of Ipsos MORI.

- Not all richer countries are happier - the older you get the less money matters

- Constructions of overall evaluations, the ideal, but not the reality itself. - The adaptation point - get used to things so they become banal and no longer make us happy - Optimism vs. happiness - individual differences - the benefits of mindfulness - Happiness is the ultimate goal - Anger can have a purpose - to make positive change (ex the Occupy Movement) - Experiences of purpose, engagement, worthwhile make us happier

The notion of Economics of Happiness I find to be quite related to the crux of sustainable development principles, as well as, positive design, and design for social innovation and sustainability.  I found this lecture extremely interesting as the speakers presented scientific facts which support much of the qualitative research being done towards how design may spur more happy ways of living.

On What Modernism Is: Stephen Hicks, Professor of Philosophy at Rockford University, presents the seven "isms".

[youtube  http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=G6QBN6CGzK0 w=500]

[youtube  http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nIEL3GmTkVc&feature=c4-overview-vl&list=PL694D9CD24D8FD6BC w=500]