Smiles For $ 10: The Conclusive Answer To An Age Old Question

Dykhuizen 1

Holden Dykhuizen

ENC1101

Prof. Jewell

26 July, 2015

Smiles for $10: The Conclusive Answer to an Age Old Question The question “Can money buy happiness?” has persisted for generations. Yet, no number of philosophy majors, economists, and think tanks has been able to provide an answer. I believe that the reason for this is that the question itself is flawed. The question doesn’t correctly define what happiness is, and the use of the word buy puts you in a materialistic mindset. So in order to answer you first need to resolve several parameters. What is happiness, can money buy true happiness, and can money offer material happiness. Only after answering these questions you will be able to finally decide if money can indeed buy happiness.

The answer is obvious, absolutely. In fact, money’s only purpose in the world is to buy material things. The idea of material evidence is a prevalent mantra in today’s society, especially in the Hip Hop music industry. I think that the best way to prove this point is in a verse from one of my favorite rappers, Kanye West. In one of his songs he says “I had a dream I could buy my way into heaven, when I awoke I spent that on a necklace.” Though Kanye is talking about himself in this verse, he is speaking on the phenomena experienced by many people of poorer backgrounds across the country. These people are sacrificing their basic beliefs for materialistic and non-essential items such as expensive clothes and jewelry. These items provide happiness but don’t offer any real

So, can money provide one with true happiness? No, it cannot, well at least not on its own. Money can provide one with the necessary means to survive; it can buy food, water, and a home. Money can come along with the feeling of satisfaction; a person who started their own business and then grew it to the point where they make a large amount of money can be satisfied. However money cannot buy love. Friends and family cannot be bought, they are not just a commodity that can be cultivated and traded. Friends are just something that one gets throughout life. Family is something that one is just born with, they love you unconditionally, but they can still be lost. True happiness has no price