Than to be constantly consuming more? A high level of consumption does not usually mean a higher level of happiness, in fact psychologically, people who get every whim catered to are not happier, but rather develop more desires. With this in mind it, seems highly doubtful that increased consumption or economic growth will make us happier. Since increased economic growth and consumption do not improve the quality of our lives, but do cause other harms, such as increased stress levels, environmental damage, isolation and atomization of the individual, financial irresponsibilty, to name a few, shouldn’t the goal be to be happier with less consumption?
I was in India and there people live in far worse poverty than you will ever find in the US, but their level of happiness and contentment with life is at least equal, if not greater than what I have observed here. As long as basics such as food, medicine, sanitation, and defense can be taken care of, it makes more sense to consume less.
Tagged atomization, consuming, consumption, desires, economic growth, environmental damage, fact, growth, happiness, irresponsibilty, isolation, level, mind, quality, stress, stress levels, than, whim