materialism

[Adamore]

y dose it matter how much stuff u have because when u die u cant take it w/ u y waste ur time getting material things y dont people make a big deal about learning somthing that dosent involve material things like spirituality? :unsure: :huh:

[Individual]

Well because of course everyone has their own opinion. Some may have the need to find spirituality. Some (as in Mr. Bush) find the need to destroy the lives of millions. It really all depends on the person.

Materialism does seem like a very odd thing to fancy, yet some find the urge for material possesions. Does it increase their self worth? Maybe to them. Does it increase self confidence? Again maybe to them. Does it increase waste, capitalism, child labor, death, and so on? You can sure as hell bet it does. So I agree with you as to why do people need material things.

I guess capitalists need something else to spend all their money on. And they also need something to do. So why dispose of money like this? Only because they can.

The thing is, you can't put a definition on material. As you move lower down the financial ladder, you will find a broader view of what is material. People of low/no income may ask as to why many of us have a T.V., computer, closet of clothes, etc. The material items in most of our eyes are people with extreme wealth who have nothing else (in their minds) to spend their money on but a handbag made by a child in a third world country. However many of us probably own 'material' items. No not Gucci, Prada, etc. However a Sony, Panasonic, Mitsubishi, etc television. Maybe a pair of Levi's jeans. Nike, Reebok, Adidas, and many 'skater' shoes can be defined as material in the perspective of low income. Why do we need suck fancy things? Can we not live with a blank pair of shoes?

Materialism stems from human desire, whether right or wrong. Material items will always be available in a capitalist society.

[Rasta Sapian]

yes, fuck material goods! If it does not have a logical purpose, ie. a need
give it away! This will help you lose your capitalist greed!
plus, when you move, it will be that much easier! :)

peace yall

[LSD]

Is this really even a question?

Material things let you do stuff, doing stuff is fun, people like to do fun things, hence people want things. Gaining spiritual knowledge is all nice and good, but you can't take that with you either so ultimately it's just as useless as material possesions. In the long run nothing really matters, so people want to enjoy themselves while they can.

Not really that shocking when you think about it.

[cubist]

materialism and material things aren't the same.

a materialist ranks things that are material highly

but some one who doesn't rank them highly can still have them. if that makes any sense.

its alot more personal than people think it isn't just youre a materialist as we all are by that. but its how you look at it, if you buy the best becuase it makes you appear better your matrialistic, if you just buy what you want for its use and quality then your not.

why does everyone view anything as capitalist/non capitalist? there are materialistic socialists!

[RedAnarchist]

The only things a human needs are warmth, food, shelter, something to entertain them, peace, freedom and equality

[cubist]

xphile something to entertain is a bloody broad spectrum, xbox, pc, tv, video, dvd sex, toys, sport, etc.....

[RedAnarchist]

depends on the person. some might like a computer, others a football etc

[Pedro Alonso Lopez]

Lets take somebody musically inclined. A guitar or harmonica as a material object will give them joy thus there is satisfaction in material objects. For knowledge just look at the books you read or the computer you are using.

They are not essential but make life worth living.

If you believe this get rid of your possesions and try to live with nothing. I am sure many poverty strickent individuals will do a swap with you.

[Wenty]

i agree materialism is useless. I think we should concentrate on things which are of real worth.

This being in philosophy it might help to distinguish between the general meaning of materialism and the philosophical meaning of the word, defined as:-

"a theory that physical matter is the only or fundamental reality and that all being and processes and phenomena can be explained as manifestations or results of matter"

[Pedro Alonso Lopez]

Are you a Mrxist Wenty, I just ask out of interest.

Also depending on what version of perception you percieve we may probably never know material objects anyway which I guess would make them useless.

[Wenty]

not a marxist but i share some of his views. I think its important to try and take what was good from his philosophy and apply it to the 21st century, sometimes I feel Marx is very much a victim of his own time.

[Pedro Alonso Lopez]

What aspects do you feel are dated?

[Wenty]

What i meant by being a victim of his own time was that he was reacting to what he saw around him and what he had learnt from history i.e. the paris commune and general conditions of british workers during industrialisation. Also i think the proletariat don't particularly want communism, what they want is better living conditions and a decent wage. He also underestimated the innovative and robust nature of capitalism to find new markets and to bounce back from crisis'. Socialism is also not inevitable, it isn't the logical next up from feudalism and capitalism (this could also bring in a criticism of his dialectic perhaps).

[SittingBull47]

Communism is also based on material goods. The more you have the more you can trade, right? But the point is that there should be no need for the greedy hoarding of things.

[mia wallace]

the point of capitalism is to earn and to be powerful as much as you can and you can so that only if you have a lot of money. if you have a lot of money you'll show that through material things - big houses, swimming pools, cell phones, computers, good chlthes and so on. this is the way i see it