Casting Away The Likening Conundrum

Here’s an experiment that humans will instantly identify with. Frans de Waal of Emory University trained capuchin monkeys to use stones as a currency. An individual would hold out an open hand, the monkey would drop a stone into it and would be given a slice of cucumber in return. All went well till the cucumber was exchanged for a juicy grape. The catch: the grape was only given to some, not all. And it irked the others who reacted by refusing to play, no longer accepting the cucumber, flinging it to the ground, or sulking. Amusing as it may be, it’s certainly a little too familiar for comfort. Our outcomes are not evaluated in isolation but a comparative process. We don’t assess objectively but rely on comparisons. Before you disagree, answer the following questions: Do we, as a family, earn enough? Am I well paid? Are my children doing well? Do I need a new car? Is...