How do we measure our success, is it based solely on what we have achieved individually or with those close to us or is it based on the whole society? Key question here; Is success a relative think or do we have to adopt an objective assessment criteria for measuring it. I think the latter will be a means to lead us to the right definition. Why? Because an objective assessment is a means to narrow down options and to critically filter out many options. This leads to a critical assessment and questioning of assumptions. It erodes the laziness that is intrinsic in a relativist thinking.
I have stated all this because its important to understand and arrive at the conclusion that we can have an objective definition of success and that success for individuals or nations are objective and should be measured. The assumption that success is relative is wrong and is one of the reasons that answers for the apathy in our society today and the state of the society we are in today.
Ever since the Industrial Revolution, Western society has benefited from science, logic, and reductionism over intuition and holism. The former very much supports objectivity while the latter relies much on relativism. In the end we would need the right objective answer. And at this point it is important to dispense with one wrong assumption, that an objective assessment implies a singularity of answers. We can have an objective assessment and still have many variables that agree with that objective assessment.
What basis then would we need to use to objectively assess success? The book Precarious Japan helps expand in depth the stated points. Would we say Japan is successful in the light of precarious existence of its “lower caste” population? That is up to the Jury to decide. As we wait for the Jury (you are part of the Jury) why not grab the book through the link below and expand your horizon on the subject.
Click the link below to buy it on Amazon. Please note, buying using the link enables me to earn a few bucks and keep the website running.
Credible Reads- Read Smarter. Think Deeper. 
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