I’d call it an a-rationality quote, in the sense that it’s just an observation; one backed up by evidence but with no immediate relevancy to the topic of rationality.
On second thought, it does show a kind of bias, namely the “compete-for-limited-resources” evolutionary imperative which introduced the “bias” of treating most social phenomena as zero-sum games. Bias in quotes because there is no correct baseline to compare against, tendency would probably be a better term.
Homer Simpson, on relativity of happiness: “When something great happens to one person, everyone else’s life gets a little worse.”
Source: http://www.springfieldspringfield.co.uk/view_episode_scripts.php?tv-show=the-simpsons&episode=s26e08
This is an anti-rationality quote, right?
I’d call it an a-rationality quote, in the sense that it’s just an observation; one backed up by evidence but with no immediate relevancy to the topic of rationality.
On second thought, it does show a kind of bias, namely the “compete-for-limited-resources” evolutionary imperative which introduced the “bias” of treating most social phenomena as zero-sum games. Bias in quotes because there is no correct baseline to compare against, tendency would probably be a better term.
But it is descriptive of how we are actually wired; perhaps it would be better if happiness were not relative, but it is.
Partially. It’s related to how most of us are in fact biased, and taken to the extreme, the consequence of our implicit thought pattern.
I think the only answer to that is, speak for yourself.