Consumption
Wed, Mar 27
Today, we'll begin to consider the relationship between our consumption-based economy and our prospects for good work.
Goals - by the end of today's class, you will:
- Come away with a deeper understanding of what it means to live in a culture dominated by the values of consumerism;
- Relate these issues to the discussions we've had in this class about the values and virtues of hard work or to the various ways we seek meaning and purpose from our work; and
- Articulate your own picture of "the good life" and connect this up with your views on the nature and purpose of work and consumption in the context of human flourishing.
Read This:
(Access readings on Perusall)
Primary Reading: Saunders, "The Semplica Girl Diaries"
Secondary Reading: Skidelsky & Skidelsky, How Much Is Enough?, Ch. 1
Do This:
After completing the readings for today, consider the following questions (which we will talk about in class):
- To what extent do you think our attitudes toward wealth, and our desires for material goods, are shaped or influenced by broader cultural and economic forces?
- What's your reaction to the protagonist in Saunders's story, "The Semplica Girl Diaries"? Do you find his motivations, attitudes, and actions familiar? Do you find him to be a sympathetic figure?