Rationality, Joy and Freedom

In: Critical review: an interdisciplinary journal of politics and society, Band 10, Heft 4, S. 481-494

Abstract

Focuses on the model of human behavior manifest in Tibor Scitovsky's The Joyless Economy: An Inquiry into Human Satisfaction and Consumer Dissatisfaction (1976) & its contrast to that of standard economic theory. It is shown that Scitovsky makes a basic distinction between comfort & stimulation, to argue that, while comfort is easier to obtain, it leads to a more impoverished life. Instead, he advocates stimulation as the only path toward true human satisfaction & happiness. It is suggested that Scitovsky reconstructs the notion of rationality into an ideal of critical self-reflection in which individuals are encouraged to think deeply about their personal desires. Further, it is demonstrated that his analysis also has important implications for theories of utility. It is concluded, however, that Scitovsky's theory has greatest import for thickening the concept of freedom to capture not only instrumental but also substantive aspects of this notion. 20 References. Adapted from the source document.