Page:Neurath O. (1942) International Planning for Freedom.pdf/2

Rh mains is not covered by this computation at all, e.g. the "glorious privilege of being independent".

Personal independence and rigid order, voluntary cooperation and superimposed regulations, democracy and one-party system must not only be regarded as 'measures' in accordance with which the standard of living may rise or fall, but also as elements of this standard of living, perhaps competing with technical efficiency.

Social engineers may realize that and much more, e.g., that all homely comfort relates to certain traditional customs and environments and that joy sometimes might depend solely on the fact that something should not be changed according to certain technical and architectural standards. How much 'discomfort' is liked because it is 'ours'. And yet other people like changes and adventure.

That sets a particular goal for social engineers, to find out to what extent new institutions and measures of a planning programme are, as it were, efficient in producing Happiness.

The American Declaration of Independence speaks of 'Life, Liberty and the Pursuit of Happiness' as of 'inalienable rights'. I do not know how we may interpret the expression 'inalienable rights' in an empiricist way, but the question why certain institutions are suitable to make men happier is one for empiricism.

Slavery was not abolished by the publication of the declaration and it is not even normal to investigate scientifically to what extent the American constitution pursued happiness more than other constitutions. This lack may be explained by the fact that scientific analysis concentrates more on testing results which may be counted by 'money reckoning' or at least by household bookkeeping than in describing food and shelter together with friendship and freedom as items of 'happiness conditions'. I see no reason why we should make any distinction between the different kinds of pleasure and pain, they all go to form man's whole happiness.

The problems arising from this kind of questioning are more or less the same at all levels of research, whether we analyze international or local 'happiness conditions'. Let us shortly discuss some of the problems and assume we are interested in the 'efficiency' of the management in two