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Encyclopaedia of Ecological Economics (OEEE). International
Society for Ecological Economics (ISEE). Full text available as:
Imagine a situation where, after debating for years on what
makes you happy, you finally decide that it is about time you
start put these ideas into practice and effectively make
yourself happy(ier). If you are really determined, you will be
keen to stop convincing yourself that you are happy if you are
not: you will want to check whether you are really making
progress towards achieving your goals. You will have identified
different components of your happiness and will assess some of
them, progressing cautiously, step by step. You will also be
aware of the links between these components, links that
determine your overall state of happiness. In the situation
described above, now replace the term 'happiness' by that of
'sustainability' - like concepts such as justice, truth, or
happiness indeed, it is a desirable objective,