When you go to the supermarket to buy vegetables, the prices are displayed. The final indicator of all the factors involved in growing the vegetable is its price. That price acts as a signifier. However, the price often changes. What causes the signifier to change? The reason could be the farmer, the climate, the distributor’s situation, or one of these factors might contribute. However, in today’s complex systems, another variable unrelated to vegetable cultivation could also affect the price, such as the COVID-19 pandemic. The result of the interaction of these variables is the price. A change in the previous price points leads to a singularity in the ecosystem. Understanding what that singularity is and why it occurs can help us see the world differently. Depending on the analysis, we either take profits or identify the cause of losses. We should focus on singularities that alter the state of equilibrium. - Joseph’s “just my thoughts”
Aristotle believed that happiness was the ultimate goal of human life. We often comfort ourselves by saying that wealth does not guarantee happiness, especially when money is tight. But is that really true? How much wealth do we actually need to feel happy? Psychologist Professor Eun-guk Seo suggests that Aristotle’s view is just a personal perspective—not a scientifically proven fact. He explains that, in nature, survival is the primary goal, and happiness is more of a tool for survival than an end in itself. So why do we work hard and strive to earn money, even in tough times? While money may not guarantee happiness, it can help us live more comfortably. In the end, economic activity is about survival—if we can’t meet our basic needs, it’s hard to enjoy happiness or convenience. - Joseph’s “just my thoughts”