Ethics, spirituality and consumption

a reading based on Gilles Lipovetsky

Abstract

The present article analyzes contemporary ethics, spirituality, and consumption in light of the writings of the French thinker Gilles Lipovetsky, born in 1944 and still a prolific writer. According to the philosopher, we live in the era of Hypermodernity—a term he coined in 2004 in his work The Hypermodern Times—characterized by excess and saturation, leading to the loss of meaning and existential purpose. The large-scale production system, initiated in the 19th century, created a consumerist ethic focused on the individual. With the personalization of consumption established in the second half of the 20th century, shopping has taken on a somewhat spiritualized and emotional posture. However, individuals no longer feel happier despite the autonomy granted to them. To address this disorientation, Lipovetsky proposes the possibility of a “spiritual ecology,” a means of spiritual development and promotion of human intelligence capable of balancing the individual within their cultural, social, and political environment. For this research and its conclusions, a bibliographic study was conducted based on three of Lipovetsky’s key works: The Empire of Fashion (2005), Happiness Paradox (2007), and Globalized Culture (2011).in relation to various other contemporary philosophical sources.