for me, wealth is potential for future freedom from constraints on life choices. Money is one format, relationships, friendships and favours owed are another; education also counts, as do health, fitness and certain key possessions (but not so many that dealing with them constrains you; thus actually, very few, and mostly of a tool-like nature). Some of these things are not distinct, exclusive goods, but can be shared or copied amongst large groups. Focusing on doing so without being distracted on needlessly stocking (maximising) the un-shareable (distinct) parts of wealth, is a productive way forward for humanity.
Ask HN: What is Wealth?
41–50 of 64 posts
Re: Ask HN: What is Wealth?
#42You cannot exclude things that "people want simply because they believe others will want them more later". Money is one of those things. If an oracle told you the American empire will crumble tomorrow, you'd do well in getting rid of all your US dollars.
Speculation is underrated.
Re: Ask HN: What is Wealth?
#43Wealth = freedom. Freedom to do what you want, when you want to be happy. For some people, that freedom is the ability to take your kids to/from school every day, coach their sports teams, and go on a yearly vacation. For others, it's to buy expensive cars, live in big houses, and go on crazy trips. Totally different in terms of money, but the same in wealth.
Re: Ask HN: What is Wealth?
#44The ability to spend time doing what one loves is what I consider the point at which you can say one is truly wealthy.
Re: Ask HN: What is Wealth?
#45Health. Years ago, when my father was very sick, I made a stupid remark like, "Maybe you can get some financial benefit from this." He responded, "I'd trade everything to be healthy again." Sometimes it takes extremely trying circumstances to really put things into perspective. Ever since that conversation, I have never looked at the subjects of health, wealth, or happiness in the same way.
You don't know the seriousness of the illness unless you get to that stage. Losing a leg isn't as easy as it seems. Human has a very strong relation with its' organs and he is very prudent/fearful about his health when he is ill.
Re: Ask HN: What is Wealth?
#46utility * scarcity
Re: Ask HN: What is Wealth?
#47Health. Years ago, when my father was very sick, I made a stupid remark like, "Maybe you can get some financial benefit from this." He responded, "I'd trade everything to be healthy again." Sometimes it takes extremely trying circumstances to really put things into perspective. Ever since that conversation, I have never looked at the subjects of health, wealth, or happiness in the same way.
You don't know the seriousness of the illness unless you get to that stage. Losing a leg isn't as easy as it seems. Human has a very strong relation with its' organs and he is very prudent/fearful about his health when he is ill.
Who thinks losing a leg is easy? It doesn't seem easy to me at all, it seems absolutely terrible.
Re: Ask HN: What is Wealth?
#48http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Wealth "Wealth is the abundance of valuable resources or material possessions or the control of such assets."
Exactly.
Why beat around the bush with all this "warm milk and cookies in bed" rhetoric?
Re: Ask HN: What is Wealth?
#49Earlier quoted context omitted.
What if you have a cushy job that earns you $100k / year working 4 hour a week? (lifestyle business like Ferris like)
Protip: No one has that (including Ferris).
There is at least one person on HN who credibly claims to have that, and I know of a few software entrepreneurs who work about that much when in parking mode.
Re: Ask HN: What is Wealth?
#50Wealth is an abundance of freedoms.