The Economy of Desire

Reading time: 5 minutes

‘Keeping people in a constant state of lack, in perpetual desire, strengthens the marketplace economy. Lovelessness is a boon to consumerism. And lies strengthen the world of predatory advertising.’ – Bell Hooks

The above quote from the social commentator Bell Hooks crystalises part of what we all sense about our world, namely that our desires are manipulated for financial gain. Whilst this is most acutely felt in advanced late -stage capitalism due to its individualistic nature, the truth is that no matter the specifics of a system, money and ‘stuff’ go hand-in-hand with human drivers and impulses. No surprise therefore that the Bible tells us that ‘the love of money is a root of all kinds of evils.’ (1 Timothy 6:10 ESV).

  Another Bell – Daniel Bell, authored a book called ‘The Economy of Desire’. His principal argument is that our economic system preys on our desires, even warping them to the point that we are led to believe we want certain things which have little to do with our interests or goals, and little to do with how2behuman.

Considering this subtle deception, what steps do we take to purify, refine, and defend our desires? If passion is that which drives the beast, how do we operate within it? Again, the Bible calls us to ‘guard our hearts’. (Proverbs 4:23 ESV)

 Even a sceptic will admit that this comes across as sound advice, wisdom which cultivates our first step – awareness. If we can be aware of how patterns of consumption seek to manipulate us, then we can consider how to defend our inner self.

Elsewhere, we read that we are to ‘be diligent’. No doubt, we need to be disciplined to navigate a path through a myriad of complex systems. The principals of discipline and defence can enable us to constantly review our desires. What is it that we wish for? What do we want to see? Are our desires, aspiration and goals simply reflections of the system in which we find ourselves in, or do we have the discipline, will and courage to stand firm and nurture purer ambitions?