Indigenous and Western Views of Happiness

Adam Smith argued that capitalism's natural tendency for improvement, division of labor, wealth accumulation, and minimal government intervention create a legitimate system.

Matt Ridley's book, "The Rational Optimist," promotes the idea that capitalism's selfish nature drives innovation and prosperity, ultimately lifting people out of poverty. This view highlights capitalism's positive impacts.

Despite its criticisms, capitalism's underlying principles, outlined by Adam Smith, remain foundational to the system's legitimacy.

Ridley, a member of the British aristocracy, argues for a strong link between material wealth and happiness, suggesting that prosperity equates to well-being.

Zadie Smith's observations of London contrast sharply with Ridley's optimistic view, suggesting that capitalism's reality is marked by division and inequity.

Bentham's principle of "the greatest happiness of the greatest number" remains influential in modern political policies, shaping the prevailing notion of progress and guiding policies towards improving living standards, education, and security.

The ideas about happiness shaping our understanding of motivation also influence how these concepts are applied to various contexts beyond their original setting.

The concepts of happiness and its sources have significant implications for how individuals are motivated and influenced by their surroundings. They also shape the way we think about and apply these ideas in different contexts.

A social practice among Native Americans in which individuals give away valuable possessions to demonstrate wealth and generosity, fostering community solidarity.

A system of governance and justice among Native Americans that emphasizes sharing and mutual aid.

The belief that human nature is fundamentally self-interested and that individual pursuit of self-interest leads to societal benefit.

The principle that the greatest good for the greatest number of people should be the guiding principle for decision-making.

The suppression of Native American traditions and practices, including the potlatch, by colonial governments.

The perception of the potlatch as a wasteful and irresponsible act that contradicted colonial values of private property and thrift.

The introduction of capitalist economic practices, such as wage labor and resource extraction, into indigenous territories by colonizers.

The clash between indigenous cultures and colonial values, particularly surrounding the concept of exchange and wealth.

The use of violence and coercion, particularly by the Peruvian Amazon Company, to force indigenous populations into labor for rubber extraction in the Amazon.

The process of creating a desire for material goods among indigenous people, often through exposure to foreign goods and the concept of money, which then motivates them to participate in labor.

A system of labor where workers are indebted to their employer and must work off their debt, essentially trapping them in a cycle of dependence.

The clash between indigenous values centered on self-sufficiency and contentment with what one has, and the Western emphasis on accumulating material goods and perpetually wanting more.

The central message of the story about the Indian who refused to accept anything, demonstrating a rejection of the Western capitalist notion that happiness is derived from accumulating more.

The continued exploitation of Amazonia and its indigenous populations for resources, reflecting the persistent legacy of colonialism despite the passage of time.

The idea that self-sufficiency and contentment with what one has are more important than constantly striving for more.

The focus on material possessions and perpetual desire for more, often associated with Western capitalist societies.

A philosophy that upholds the right of individuals to possess land as property because they work on it, leading to European colonists' belief in their right to displace Indigenous peoples.

Indigenous cultures emphasized sharing and communal survival, contrasting with European settlers' focus on permanent settlement through land ownership.

The forced removal of the Cherokee, Chickasaw, Creeks, Choctaw, and Seminoles from their ancestral lands in 1830, known as "The Trail ofTears."

The view that private property ownership is inherently tied to personal well-being and advancement, contributing to happiness.

The practice of the U.S. government leasing reservation lands to white ranchers, generating conflict with Indigenous communities who valued their land for non-economic reasons.

The enduring emotional attachment of Indigenous peoples to their land, highlighting its significance beyond economic value.

The Oglala Lakota at Pine Ridge reservation felt that their land was more than just a commodity for economic development, but a source of cultural and spiritual significance.

The persistence of Indigenous resistance and love for their ancestral lands despite displacement and oppression.

The perspective that natural resources like plains, rivers, and mountains are solely valued for their potential to generate profit and produce goods, reflecting a capitalist view of the environment.

The clash between European settlers and indigenous people as a result of the introduction of wage labor, commercial agriculture, and resource extraction, ultimately leading to disruptions and conflicts.

The process by which the Lakota people's traditional societal stability was undermined by factors like the gold rush, which violated treaties and exploited resources.

The observation that the emphasis on money and material wealth in Western societies led to a stark contrast between the extremes of luxury and poverty, a situation that was not common in Native American cultures.

The argument that European morality is intertwined with money, highlighting the concept of financial obligation even for the land we live on through taxes, a concept that contrasts with Native American values.

The idea that Native American cultures, despite having their own forms of poverty, maintained a strong sense of self-respect and dignity, unlike the impoverished individuals in European cities.

The perception of settlers looking at everything, even the land, in terms of its monetary value, indicating a capitalist mindset of converting everything into quantifiable economic worth.

The critique that capitalism, despite its promises of well-being and happiness, often generates division, hostility, and disrespect for both people and the environment.

Tanner, captured as a child, found happiness living with the Ojibwa, preferring their way of life to his Kentucky upbringing. He even struggled to return to his family, preferring the freedom of Indian life.

Many individuals, including Henry David Thoreau, George Catlin, Winslow Homer, and others, admired Native American cultures for their connection to nature and lack of material obsession. They found a different kind of happiness in those ways of life.

Tanner's story and the admiration of artists highlight a different perspective of happiness. It suggests that happiness can be found in simpler, more natural ways of life, not solely through wealth and material possessions.

The modern focus on money and materialistic success, particularly evident in Native American casinos and resource extraction, might appear to contradict the traditional values of indigenous cultures.

While Native Americans may now engage in capitalist practices, it's crucial to understand that this 'consumption' of money and materialism doesn't automatically equate to happiness. It's about whether those practices actually bring them fulfillment.

Utilitarianism, with its focus on maximizing pleasure and minimizing suffering, is not a core principle of indigenous cultures. Their philosophies emphasize different aspects of happiness and well-being.

Indigenous philosophies emphasize community, connection to nature, and a balanced lifestyle. Greed, as a driving force for civilization, would contradict these core principles.

The concept of happiness in indigenous cultures suggests that genuine happiness shouldn't be solely dependent on materialistic pursuits. They emphasize finding meaning and fulfillment through community, nature, and a balanced way of life.