>More than that is chasing a high via materialistic consumption and pollution.

Yeah that is what we are told by the people who control the information you receive. Live a minimalist life because that's all you need.

There are two sides of philosophy(IMO), those that believe in idealism, and those that believe in realism. I can flip back to Stoic idealism, but there is something real about Humans wanting More.

I don’t think it’s as much that consuming less is important from a philosophical standpoint as it is a practical one. Buy a new phone and you’ll spend time on the transaction and transferring information etc.

There’s a huge influence to always consume more pushed by anyone selling stuff and ever nicer stuff to buy. However, every transaction has a non monetary costs and staying ahead of the curve costs time even if you don’t need to worry about money.

It even extends to exotic vacations and other life experiences people promote. Sure you can got to Antarctica but the going itself means airports etc. Not a big deal once but if you had unlimited money would you really want to spend 5% of your waking hours in an airplane? The point of maximum happiness is far from such extremes.

You are thinking too wholesome.

There are easier, quicker, etc... ways to get dopamine.

And? Just about anything can get you a dopamine hit, but they become less effective over time which is why you can get out of bed in the morning.

Net result you can’t really win the dopamine game. Long term an ascetic monk gets just as much of that high as a billionaire playboy, the playboy just works harder for it.

Cycle where in the brain you are getting dopamine?

It’s produced in many parts of the brain for a bunch of different reasons.

The substantia nigra, part of the basal ganglia, produces it for basic motor functions like eye movements. Which is why it’s linked to Parkinson’s.

Humans wants "More" but you can point that desire. More enlightenment, more friendship, more power, not more expensive things that aren't better than cheap things. Kids and cats know that the box is more fun than the boxed.

I'm not saying to be happy earning less. I'm saying to be happy consuming less.