The Ethics and Politics of Consumption

Abstract

In this project, I critically assess Western consumerism by focussing on five main ethical and political issues: consumption activity frequently injures the consumer, it injures third parties (especially those involved in the production of commodities), it is very inefficient, it alienates consumers from the objects of their consumption, and it is subject to considerable inequality. Linking social and individual practice theory with human and individual need theory, I argue that both communities and their members need well-developed practice portfolios – otherwise we cannot consume well. I also argue that justice requires the satisfaction of basic needs, defined in terms of agency and citizenship requirements, to be given the greatest priority. Politically, a community has a responsibility to manage its social practice portfolio such that its members are able to flourish as human beings without nonconsensually compromising the ability of people in other communities to do the same. As citizens, all of its members have a responsibility to participate in an ongoing critical dialogue about how such flourishing is to be construed and in which ways the needs that arise from it can legitimately be satisfied. Ethically, the individual consumer has a responsibility to manage her individual practice portfolio, for example, by performing regular portfolio and practice audits. To address her need for objective connectedness, she has a responsibility to dealienate herself from the objects of her consumption. And with regard to TV media and museums, to use two particular examples of service consumption, she has reason to participate in the relevant practices rather differently than Westerners typically do