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Happiness and the Pursuit of a Life Worth Living: An Anthropological Approach

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Happiness and Public Policy

Abstract

The study of happiness, as presented in most chapters of this book is statistical. The researcher asks respondents how happy they are, or how satisfied with their lives they are, and compiles their answers statistically, to offer a universal measure that can be used to compare people of different societies, as well as different social classes, genders, and ages, as to happiness. These statistical findings have, no doubt, a broad accuracy. At a subtler level, however, their accuracy is arguable.

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© 2006 Gordon Mathews

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Mathews, G. (2006). Happiness and the Pursuit of a Life Worth Living: An Anthropological Approach. In: Ng, YK., Ho, L.S. (eds) Happiness and Public Policy. Palgrave Macmillan, London. https://doi.org/10.1057/9780230288027_7

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