Materialism

I am sure we all have heard this term “Materialistic” so what does it mean.. In simple explanation it is defined as “preoccupation with or emphasis on material objects, comforts, and considerations, with a disinterest in or rejection of spiritual, intellectual, or cultural values.” Or if you are looking in philosophical terms than it is defined as “the philosophical theory that regards matter and its motions as constituting the universe, and all phenomena, including those of mind, as due to material agencies.”

I don’t want to get into heavy ethics of materialism, but do want to bring attention to it. We all are materialistic in some exacting way. Materialistic is not only about hoarding money it also concern our hoarding habits. Being attached with physical possessions, locations or people. Before you deny it. I would say take a look at the collection of  your clothing record players, or something that you collect. You might have started that with some good intentions but later it turned into this difficult habit which you cannot let go off.

Greek philosophers have given their two cents about materialism. Various schools of thoughts now going deep into philosophy  defines Materialism is a philosophical system which regards matter as the only reality in the world, which undertakes to explain every event in the universe as resulting from the conditions and activity of matter, and which thus denies the existence of God and the soul. It is diametrically opposed to Spiritualism and Idealism, which, in so far as they are one-sided and exclusive, declare that everything in the world is spiritual, and that the world and even matter itself are mere conceptions or ideas in the thinking subject. Materialism is older than Spiritualism, if we regard the development of philosophy as beginning in Greece. The ancient Indian philosophy, however, is idealistic; according to it there is only one real being, Brahma; everything else is appearance, Maja. In Greece the first attempts at philosophy were more or less materialistic; they assumed the existence of a single primordial matter — water, earth, fire, air — or of the four elements from which the world was held to have developed. Materialism was methodically developed by the Atomists.

Materialism started from a fundamental underlying reality of human existence: that in order for human beings to survive and continue existence from generation to generation, it is necessary for them to produce and reproduce the material requirements of life. Humans collectively produce the necessities of life.

So in modern life Materialism which was born out of necessity have turned into this contemporary culture of consumerism and materialism affects our everyday happiness and psychological health. Other philosopher’s have shown that once we have sufficient food, shelter, and clothing, further material gains do little to improve our well-being. People’s materialistic desires relate to their well-being. People whose values center on the accumulation of wealth or material possessions face a greater risk of unhappiness, including anxiety, depression, low self-esteem, and problems with intimacy—regardless of age, income, or culture. In essence materialistic values actually undermine our well-being, as they perpetuate feelings of insecurity, weaken the ties that bind us, and make us feel less free.

So basic idea is about not getting sold to idea of consumerism. Live by the means of necessity, not by desire. After all we are 25% of people of the world who are lucky enough to have these advantages in our life.