Materialism/Consumarism

[sc4s2cg]

I wasnt sure if this was to be in the Philosphy or the Ethics/Morality forums, so mods please feel free to move it wherever.

Is materialism harmful?

[FONT=Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif][FONT=Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif][FONT=Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif]New Orleans - Sgt. Ben Glaudi, the commander of the Police Department's Mobile Crisis Unit here, spends much of each workday on this city's flood-ravaged streets trying to persuade people not to kill themselves. [/FONT][/FONT][/FONT] [FONT=Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif][FONT=Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif][FONT=Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif] Last Tuesday in the French Quarter, Sergeant Glaudi's small staff was challenged by a man who strode straight into the roaring currents of the Mississippi River, hoping to drown. As the water threatened to suck him under, the man used the last of his strength to fight the rescuers, refusing to be saved.[/FONT][/FONT][/FONT]
[FONT=Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif][FONT=Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif][FONT=Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif] "He said he'd lost everything and didn't want to live anymore," Sergeant Glaudi said.

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[FONT=Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif][FONT=Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif][FONT=Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif]http://www.truthout.org/docs_2006/062106F.shtml[/FONT][/FONT][/FONT]


[FONT=Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif][FONT=Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif][FONT=Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif]Apparently so.This guy wanted to kill himself for losing everything in New Orleans (understandably). [/FONT][/FONT][/FONT]


[FONT=Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif][FONT=Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif][FONT=Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif]G-d bless,[/FONT][/FONT][/FONT]
[FONT=Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif][FONT=Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif][FONT=Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif]sc
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[Eudaimonist]

Is materialism harmful?

Define materialism. The example you gave was arguably "obsessive materialism", not necessarily materialism as such.

Would it have been materialistic if New Orleans were to have payed more careful attention to having material protection versus flooding? This would have been a material value, and yet it would have saved lives.

Something to ponder.


eudaimonia,

Mark

 

[Hydra009]

Materialism in the sense of obsessive regard for material possessions, yes, can be harmful. I consider being excessively miserly, theft, self-harm or harm to others because of material possessions as bad things. Not the most controversial stance, I admit.

Ok, so where are you going with this?