ringo writes:
Trends in society over time aren't necessarily an indication of something that is "necessary" overall. At one time, a newer, bigger fridge meant happiness. At another time, a more environmentally friendly fridge might mean happiness.
It's very unlikely that having or not having a fridge upgrade/dpwngrade is likely to make anyone sustainably happy or unhappy. (But if you want an eco-fridge, someone has to produce it.)
But enough - it's still a trivial and spurious line of argument - the discussion is about aggregate output and demand and its linkage to aggregate well-being and happiness.
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Life, don't talk to me about life - Marvin the Paranoid Android
"Science adjusts it's views based on what's observed.
Faith is the denial of observation so that Belief can be preserved."
- Tim Minchin, in his beat poem, Storm.