The Economist, last week: “[EA] doesn’t seriously question whether attempting to quantify an experience might miss something essential about its nature. How many WALYs for a broken heart?” (Nov 2022, Source)
HLI, this week: ”...Hence, an overall effect of grief per death prevented is (0.72 x 5 x 0.5) x 4.03 = 7.26 WELLBYs”
Well, if we think feelings matter, we should try to quantify them in a sensible way. That’s what we try to do.
But I share the sentiment that you really do miss something if you try to quantify feelings by measuring something other than feelings, such as income.
The Economist, last week: “[EA] doesn’t seriously question whether attempting to quantify an experience might miss something essential about its nature. How many WALYs for a broken heart?” (Nov 2022, Source)
HLI, this week: ”...Hence, an overall effect of grief per death prevented is (0.72 x 5 x 0.5) x 4.03 = 7.26 WELLBYs”
Great article – well done!!!
Well, if we think feelings matter, we should try to quantify them in a sensible way. That’s what we try to do.
But I share the sentiment that you really do miss something if you try to quantify feelings by measuring something other than feelings, such as income.