Description

A radical reconsideration of the meaning of freedom and morality in the modern world, boldly arguing that the Western pursuit of personal freedom is the underlying cause of rising depression and consumerism
The past two centuries delivered individual and political freedoms that promised unprecedented opportunities for personal fulfillment, yet citizens of affluent countries are encouraged to pursue lives of consumerism, endless choice, and the pleasures of the body. Clive Hamilton argues here that the paradox of modern consumer life is that people are deprived of inner freedom by the very pursuit of their own desires. He turns to metaphysics to find a source of transformation that lies beyond the cultural, political, and social philosophies that form the bedrock of contemporary Western thought. His search takes him to an unexpected conclusion: that we cannot be truly free unless we commit ourselves to a moral life. The implications of this conclusion are profound, and they challenge many deeply held beliefs in modern secular society. This bold and important work goes to the heart of what it means to be human.