Solutions to the discontents the market creates.
Jerry Z. Muller. The Mind And The Market:The market called attention to the discomfort of the consumer in order to provide a solution to that discomfort, in the process awakening a sense of discomfort where it had not previously existed.
As we have seen, Hegel saw the market as creating new wants that are perceived by the individual as needs. Indeed, the market was a want-creating machine. On the one hand, it created possibilities for the expression of individuality and universality through consumption.
When consumer goods are chosen merely on the basis of ever new induced wants, rather than because they fit in with a rational life plan, the result would be what Hegel called a "bad infinity". It was the latest guise Aristotle had called the 'pleonexia'.
What are some solutions to be proposed to limit the creation of wants and eventually perceived needs by the market? In many ways, if people were taught about what are actual needs and wants, or some distinction between the two and which over which should be given priority in satisfying, then poverty could be reduced?
Comments (5)
'From each according to his ability, to each according to his needs', was one suggested solution of a well-known successor of Hegel.
Cassette tape players, CD players, and MP3 players and their associated media were all new wants to replace the old want of 331/3 rpm vinyl records. Cell phones are a new want to replace land line phones. Fashion is 98% want on top of an ancient need for clothing to protect the body.
All the goods developed for new wants worked -- they weren't scams. Their necessity wasn't dictated by low quality; it was dictated by a need to destroy a former investment and offer a replacement investment. That's what keeps all sorts of firms solvent.
So, there isn't any solution to the rampant waste of perpetually new wants without abandoning capitalism. Abandoning capitalism means changing the way we live, which would entail some good things no matter what angle you look at it.
But, communism isn't a solution. I was expecting more well rounded answers. Not, slogans! :_)
"bad infinity"?
The best that can be expected in a capitalist economy with democratic politics is to control capitalism, and capitalists, to limit their rapaciousness. We have had episodes of restrained and unrestrained capitalist activity. Of the two, restrained capitalism was better -- but it was still capitalism.
Western Europeans have done a better job of restraining capital, allocating far more money than we in the US for social goods. This works especially well in boom times. Whether Europe will be as generous when hard times come, don't know.
There is nothing God Ordained or Eternal about capitalism. The demise of capitalism isn't the same as the end of the world. Capitalism might be especially inconvenient now and in the future as we attempt to ameliorate global warming.