7.Happiness / Emotions

How is happiness similar to reproductive fitness?

It is a relative game, not an absolute amount

What is an emotion?

Emotion → alter our behavior in a way thats beneficial to our genes

What are the consequences of the happiness system?

1. emotions don’t last as long as you think

   • only need it to change your behavior then it goes away to be used later

2. Happiness occurs in response to our relative situation (compared to our expectations for it)

   • progress and improvement matter most

   • expectations matter, gifts when unexpected, end positive

True or False: Being richer does not make you happier, once you are above the poverty line

True!

What is the naturalistic fallacy? Give an example of how its used?

• the inaccurate believe that things that are natural are “good” and things that are unnatural are “bad”

• used to justify extinction

  • we should drill because animals going extinct is natural 99% of the animals ever are extinct that makes it okay

• biology doesnt tell us anything about what good or bad