What is the point of goods once we have enough? | Bhaskar Sunkar, Peter Tatchell, Deirdre McCloskey
47Bhaskar Sunkar, Peter Tatchell and Deirdre McCloskey discuss whether there is a way out of consumerism.
00:00 Introduction
01:08 Peter Tatchell
03:14 Deirdre McCloskey
06:47 Bhaskar Sunkar
Watch the full debate at https://iai.tv/video/a-material-world?utm_source=YouTube&utm_medium=description
Many decry the excesses of consumer society. An outlook that is given additional force by the belief that consumerism is a key factor in driving climate change. Yet the reality is that consumption continues to rise even though the evidence is that it makes us no happier. The average westerner has so many clothes that 75% are not worn from one year to the next. And worldwide we throw away between a third and a half of all food produced. Should we conclude that minor ethical tweaks to our purchases will make little difference, and instead require a wholesale abandonment of over-consumption? Or is consumer culture essential to our broader prosperity providing work and goods for all?
Founding editor and publisher of Jacobin and author of 'The Socialist Manifesto' Bhaskar Sunkara, Distinguished Professor Emerita of Economics and History Deirdre McCloskey and human rights campaigner Peter Tatchell discuss consumer culture. Rana Mitter hosts.
#CyclicalConsumption #SocialistSystem #Capitalism2022
Bhaskar Sunkara is an American political writer. He is the founding editor of Jacobin, the president of The Nation, and publisher of Catalyst: A Journal of Theory and Strategy and London's Tribune.
Peter Tatchell is a prominent activist, author and co-founder of the queer human rights group OutRage!. Through the Peter Tatchell Foundation, he campaigns for human rights in Britain and internationally.
Distinguished Professor at the University of Illinois at Chicago, Deirdre McCloskey has been described as "a match for Thomas Piketty" by The Spectator.
To discover more talks, debates, interviews and academies with the world's leading speakers visit https://iai.tv/subscribe?utm_source=YouTube&utm_medium=description&utm_campaign=a-material-world
The Institute of Art and Ideas features videos and articles from cutting edge thinkers discussing the ideas that are shaping the world, from metaphysics to string theory, technology to democracy, aesthetics to genetics. Subscribe today!
For debates and talks: https://iai.tv
For articles: https://iai.tv/articles
For courses: https://iai.tv/iai-academy/courses