So, a bit of an André Gorz question here: If we try to further the economy via working towards consumption, or buying what we want outside of basic needs being met, social inequality will still be a problem. Think, for instance, of someone who might be disabled and can’t find the extra employment to afford a car or something on one end, and me being jealous of my neighbor’s PS5 on the other. We’d be effectively driven to compete yet again for the jobs that we thought we could escape, progressing consumer culture as the end goal. Do you think a different goal is possible?
That’s hard to answer. I’m not sure if humans would be able to create a stable society that didn’t rely on consumerism. We’re wired to try to maximize our resources, and this doesn’t seem to stop even when basic needs have been comfortably met. I can’t say I’m at all knowledgeable about this though. I’ll have to think more on it.
So, a bit of an André Gorz question here: If we try to further the economy via working towards consumption, or buying what we want outside of basic needs being met, social inequality will still be a problem. Think, for instance, of someone who might be disabled and can’t find the extra employment to afford a car or something on one end, and me being jealous of my neighbor’s PS5 on the other. We’d be effectively driven to compete yet again for the jobs that we thought we could escape, progressing consumer culture as the end goal. Do you think a different goal is possible?
That’s hard to answer. I’m not sure if humans would be able to create a stable society that didn’t rely on consumerism. We’re wired to try to maximize our resources, and this doesn’t seem to stop even when basic needs have been comfortably met. I can’t say I’m at all knowledgeable about this though. I’ll have to think more on it.