I was intrigued by our reader’s choice of the word “fulfilling”. The childless might enjoy their lives, even find them meaningful, but can they be truly fulfilled? The more I thought about this, the more convinced I became that the whole idea of fulfilment is misguided…
ReadGenuinely free markets are not the enemies of a sound food economy. The problem is with under-regulated markets. To some ‘regulated market’ is an oxymoron, but this is a historical and factual mistake. Free does mean unfettered but free from distortion by manipulation or misinformation. That is why Adam Smith, for example, favoured breaking up monopolies and cartels. Markets need to be regulated in order to be free, fair and sustainable.
ReadSome have concluded that governments should focus less on raising GDP and more on increasing general happiness. But not so fast. Happiness promotion is not the only alternative to wealth creation. Human wellbeing is surely greater than being in a good mood more of the time.
ReadMost people seem happy to harness the power of shame when the victims are the rich and powerful. But our attitudes to shame are actually much more ambivalent and contradictory. That’s why it was a stroke of genius to call Paul Abbott’s Channel Four series Shameless. We are at a point in our social history where the word is perfectly poised between condemnation and celebration.
ReadWe have no reason to fear being dead since, as Epicurus so pithily put it, “When we are, death has not come, and when death has come, we are not.” But for me he misses the point. It’s not fear of death that makes me reluctant to receive it, it’s love of being alive.
Read