Financial Wealth: Real or Perceived?

"The liar uses the valid designations, the words, to make the unreal appear as real; he says, for example, 'I am rich,' when the word 'poor' would be the correct designation of his situation." ~ Friedrich Nietzsche

The common application of the word 'rich' is a term that describes a person's relative financial status compared to other people in his or her immediate environment.  For example, a poor person in America may be considered rich in a third world country.  Rich, therefore, is a classification or designation adopted by the conventions of a given group or society. 

Financial wealth is more of a perceived state than a real one. The true goal for many people is to appear rich.  If, for example, you see a person wearing expensive clothing, driving an expensive car and living in an expensive house, they appear rich.  The reality may be that their sense of self is so small that they must project a large physical representation of self.  Therefore this person must earn and/or borrow more money to meet and exceed the conventional meaning of rich.  In my personal view, this reveals the true nature of the person: They are not rich, they are poor. 

"And, moreover, what about these conventions of language? Are they really the products of knowledge, of the sense of truth? Do the designations and things coincide? Is language the adequate expression of all realities?" ~ Friedrich Nietzsche

Rich, in my humble opinion, is a person who may acknowledge the conventional meaning of the word but does not ascribe to it.  In other words, a truly rich person is equally content with any amount of material wealth, assuming this amount is at least enough to purchase what is required to meet the basic physiological needs of food, shelter and clothing.

What is your definition of rich?

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Related:

What is the Price of Pursuing Happiness?

(Why You Need to) Get 'Rich' Quickly

Comments

[Cranstone]

My definition of rich - when you don't let you wants get ahead of your needs. Because then you have "enough".

[Kent @ The Financial Philosopher]

Cranstone:

I like your definition. There is nothing wrong with wanting, but giving in to wants without limit is self-destructive.

As with everything, there is a balance.

Thanks for the comment...

Kent

[Barry]

rich is a combination of material things and personal satisfaction .I only need enough material things to be comfortable and happy and thus rich in that regard . A family that loves one another and enjoys life together brings fulfillment and happiness and makes for a rich life of personal satisfaction. Teaching basic philosophy to your children goes along way towards achieving the latter.

[FX]

Being "Rich" is the freedom to choose, and follow through the choice with action - I can choose to want X, I am able to source X through Y, and obtaining X. It is as much immaterial as material, since material part provides the feedback. This is even true to learning - you learn, you absorb, and you test the learning to confirm the learning.

You cannot achieve a Rich peace of mind unless the basic needs (YMMV) are satified in some materialistic way, freeing you from its constraint.

[Kent @ The Financial Philosopher]

@ Barry: Yes, having "enough" is a good basis for "rich." I also agree with the idea and practice of teaching philosophy to children. I teach it everyday to my two young boys!

@ FX: Your thoughts remind me of Erich Fromm's two kinds of freedom: "Freedom From" and "Freedom To." Most people desire Freedom From something (i.e. financial debt) but never aspire to finding Freedom To something (i.e. self-fulfilling activities). If you've not read my post on this, here's the link:

http://www.thefinancialphilosopher.com/2010/08/freedom-from-vs-freedom-to.html

[Wealthy Affiliate Review]

Whether this is an issue for the Council or if it's just a “myth perpetuated by the press,” as Councilwoman Carol Wood contends

[Wealth Management Jacksonville]

I agree with Barry. A lot of people which to be rich.