The trade-off argument is right as far as it goes, but that might not be as far as we think: the metaphor of the “will power points” seems problematic. As MichaelDickens and Jess note, many lifestyle changes have initial start-up costs but no ongoing costs. And many things we think will have ongoing costs do not (see, e.g., studies showing more money and more things don’t on average make us happier; conversely, less money and fewer things might not make us less happy). An earning-to-give investment banker might use the trade-off logic to explain why she is not selling her sports car for a Honda Civic, and while that might be right in some cases, I think more often it would be wrong. Point being, it would be a shame if we used the trade-off argument to avoid trying lifestyle changes that, long term, might have no (or small) ongoing costs to our quality of life.
More generally, diet is not a binary choice. Avoid animal products when it’s convenient; don’t when it’s inconvenient. Over time, you might learn it’s not as inconvenient as you thought.
″ (see, e.g., studies showing more money and more things don’t on average make us happier;”
The studies do show having more money does make people feel happier. See RCTs of cash transfers like GiveDirectly’s, and household data within and between countries. You get less happiness per dollar as you have more, but an n% fall or rise in income still has happiness effects in the same ballpark.
The trade-off argument is right as far as it goes, but that might not be as far as we think: the metaphor of the “will power points” seems problematic. As MichaelDickens and Jess note, many lifestyle changes have initial start-up costs but no ongoing costs. And many things we think will have ongoing costs do not (see, e.g., studies showing more money and more things don’t on average make us happier; conversely, less money and fewer things might not make us less happy). An earning-to-give investment banker might use the trade-off logic to explain why she is not selling her sports car for a Honda Civic, and while that might be right in some cases, I think more often it would be wrong. Point being, it would be a shame if we used the trade-off argument to avoid trying lifestyle changes that, long term, might have no (or small) ongoing costs to our quality of life.
More generally, diet is not a binary choice. Avoid animal products when it’s convenient; don’t when it’s inconvenient. Over time, you might learn it’s not as inconvenient as you thought.
″ (see, e.g., studies showing more money and more things don’t on average make us happier;”
The studies do show having more money does make people feel happier. See RCTs of cash transfers like GiveDirectly’s, and household data within and between countries. You get less happiness per dollar as you have more, but an n% fall or rise in income still has happiness effects in the same ballpark.