The postmetaphysical climate
of postmodern consumption. A matter
of (un)sustainable human development
More details
Hide details
1
Wyższa Szkoła Gospodarki Euroregionalnej
im. Alcide De Gasperi w Józefowie
Publication date: 2016-03-31
JoMS 2016;28(1):11-26
KEYWORDS
TOPICS
ABSTRACT
The article is an attempt at a philosophical overview of the contemporary phenomenon
of consumption. The purpose of this reflection is, therefore, the recognition
of what makes us interested in the “it is and what it is” phenomenon. Thus, the
method of philosophical analysis applied here will be identification as the search for
the direct cause for a given effect. It seems that the cause for the contemporary phenomenon
of consumption is the “rule of irrational passions” (Bauman). Hence, the
reason for the existence of the consumer society lies in the desires, wishes and needs
of its citizens, which are first created by the media and, then, kept in the state of
unfulfillment by the mechanisms of economy. The reason behind the strengthening
of the appetitive power (the will) is, in fact, the weakening of the cognitive power
(the intellect). The decline of the metaphysical reflection on the purpose and meaning
of human existence and the increased development of the hedonistic lifestyle
with no reference to the transcendence testifies to that phenomenon. In this sense,
one can say that contemporary consumption takes places in the postmetaphysical
climate.