Hyper-consumerism: Rethinking Virtue Ethics and Moral Solution in Contemporary Society
Keywords:
moral and hyper-consumerism, ethics, VirtueAbstract
Hyper-consumerism is a new philosophical assumption of humanity but it is worthy to ask whether it propels goodness in the society? If no, then we have to rethink about ethical education that would cultivate virtues among people in the society. This review therefore advocates a re-think of virtue ethics and moral solution in contemporary society towards hyper-consumerism. Turning to virtue ethics, it will enable a person to attain practical wisdom or prudence which is very important in deliberation including consumption choices. Here, a moral agent examines himself whether he needs to consume this or that. Additionally, virtue ethics emphasizes on cultivation of moral virtue of temperance which enables moral agents to have a sense of moderation to matters regarding pleasure. However, the virtuous life cannot be attained overnight. So, there will be an exposition to ethical education and cultivation of virtues as habit. Since the virtuous life encompasses a sense of moderation and prudence, it enables us to replace consumerism as motivated by greediness with a status of mindfulness whereby we take only what is needed for our survival while preserving the rest for the future generations. Indeed this will bring about sustainable development.
References
Anthony, M. C. (2011). Principles and Foundation and Modern Consumerism. Ignis, 41, 1,
-28.
Balot, K. R. (2001). Greed and Injustice in Classical Athens. New York: Princeton University
Press.
Bostock, D. (2000). Aristotle’s Ethics. Nairobi: Oxford University Press.
Carter, J. (1979). Confidence Crisis. Televised speech, July 5. Available Online at: http://
www.history.com/this-day-in-history/jimmy-carter-speaks-about-a-national-crisis-inconfidence. Accessed on 27/09/2015.
Chackalackal, S. (2009). Editorial, Sex and Religion: Contemporary Responses. Journal of
Dharma 34, 1 (January-March), 3-18.
Chackalackal, S. (2013). Introduction: Logic of Market Exploitation versus Contradictions
of Gratuitousness. In: Saju Chackalackal (Ed.) Towards A Strong Global Economic System,
-16. Bangalore: Dharmaram Publications.
Clive B., Cafaro P. and Newholm T. (2005). Philosophy and Ethical Consumption. In:
Harrison Rob, Newholm Terry, Shaw and Deirdre (eds.) The Ethical Consumer, 11-24.
London: Sage Publications.
Drefcinski, S. (2000). Aristotle and the Characteristic Desire of Justice. Apeiron: A Journal
for Ancient Philosophy and Science, 33 (2), 109-123.
Fagothey, A. (1953). Right and Reason: Ethics in Theory and Practice. California: C.V Mosby
Company.
Irwin T. (Translation) (1985) Aristotle's Nicomachean Ethics. London: Hackett Publishing
Company.
Kamtekar, R. (2013). Ancient Virtue Ethics: An Overview with an Emphasis on Practical
Wisdom. In: Daniel C. Russell (ed.) The Cambridge Companion to Virtue Ethics, 29-46.
Cape Town: Cambridge University Press.
Keenan, F. J. (2005). Virtue Ethics and Sexual Ethics. Journal of Louvain Studies, 30, 3
(Fall), 180-197.
Keys, M. M. (2006). Aquinas, Aristotle and the Promise of the Common Good. Cape Town:
Cambridge University Press.
Kochuthara, G. S. (2013). Sexuality: Changing Perspectives. In: Shaji George Kochuthara
(Ed.) Moral Theology in India Today (499-524). Bangalore: Dharmaram Publications.
Msafiri, A. (2008). Globalization of Concern I. Dar es Salaam: University of Dar es Salaam
Press.
Sandel, M. (2012). What Money Can’t Buy: The Moral Limits of Markets. New York: Straus
Press.
Sherman, N. (1997). Making a Necessity of Virtue: Aristotle and Kant on Virtue. New York:
Cambridge University Press.
Van, H. S. (2006). Understanding Virtue Ethics: Eudaimonia. London: Acumen.
Xianzhong, H. (2007). An Analysis of Aristotle’s Virtue of Justice. Frontiers of Philosophy
in China 2, 2 (April), 265-279
