The Liberation of Consumption and the Pursuit of Meaning: How Is Consumption as Self - Practice Possible

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Journal of Guangzhou University (Social Science Edition) ›› 2023, Vol. 22 ›› Issue (6) : 129-137.

The Liberation of Consumption and the Pursuit of Meaning: How Is Consumption as Self - Practice Possible

  • WANG Xiaozhang, FENG Ting
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Abstract

In a society of scarcity, most of the people′s consumption is bound to the satisfaction of their ″needs″. With the growth of disposable income and free time, if we break free from the domination of capital logic, consumption may get rid of the bound state and be liberated. The liberated consumption no longer faces the question of ″how to live″, but the question of ″why to live″, namely, the meaning and value of life. As a result, consumption activities will become a self-practice oriented to self-realization. Such practical activities are no longer utilitarian or instrumental, but aim at the activities themselves; not one dimensional, but comprehensive; not rigid, but personalized. And in this self-practice, consumption and production are no longer separate ends, but merge into one. Self realization oriented consumption activities as self-practice can only be developed and realized in the cooperative relationship between the subjects who give mutual recognition, that is, only in the real community.

Key words

liberation of consumption; self-practice; recognition; community

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The Liberation of Consumption and the Pursuit of Meaning: How Is Consumption as Self - Practice Possible. Journal of Guangzhou University (Social Science Edition). 2023, 22(6): 129-137

References

[1] 贝尔.资本主义文化矛盾[M].赵一凡,蒲隆,任 晓晋,译.北京:生活· 读书· 新知三联书店, 1989.
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