Buying a better world: Ethical consumption and the critical social sciences

Research output: Chapter in Book/Report/Conference proceedingChapterpeer-review

Abstract

Consumption has not fared at all well in the sociological and, more broadly, the critical social scientific domain; a domain that emerged in parallel with the very formation of the commodity system that is now globally dominant. The ready subordination of consumption to production by nineteenth century thinkers-with work aligned to a politics of emancipation and the commodity equated with a pathology of fetishistic desire-indelibly shaped the rise and trajectory of critical social science. It is thus no exaggeration to characterize much sociological and related social theoretical critique, especially in the twentieth century, as deeply framed by a condemnation of consumption. Indeed, the onward march of consumerism-as the logic of capitalist exchange-has been unswervingly portrayed as destructive of social bonds, civic engagement, and ethical responsibility.
Original languageEnglish
Title of host publicationEthics and Morality in Consumption
Subtitle of host publicationInterdisciplinary Perspectives
EditorsDeirdre Shaw, Michal Carrington, Andreas Chatzidakis
Place of PublicationNew York
PublisherTaylor & Francis
Chapter8
Pages138-152
Number of pages15
Edition1
ISBN (Electronic)9781315764320
ISBN (Print)9781138790230
DOIs
Publication statusPublished - 14 Apr 2016
Externally publishedYes

Fingerprint

Dive into the research topics of 'Buying a better world: Ethical consumption and the critical social sciences'. Together they form a unique fingerprint.

Cite this