Is life quality really related to materialism? According to an accurate philosophical definition of materialism, this term is related either to the fact that physical matter “is all there is”, or to the preoccupation people usually have with the material world, finding this opposed to a spiritual concept. Without analyzing the denial materialism proposes to any possible concept of Special Creation, and its connection to the Theory of Evolution (as an explanation of itself), this – sometimes- life basis, if this makes any sense, creates an isolated world in every human being, where each person believes material things are above any other thing, and what’s more, where people are judged on their possessions. People, who find themselves somehow reflected on this belief, usually think material wealth is a synonym of happiness and a good life quality. Throughout this essay the alleged connection between materialism and happiness will be analyzed. To begin with, this term can be related to a doctrine, to a philosophy or a belief. In the case of the doctrine, it refers to the fact that material success and progress are the highest values in life. People who relate to the philosophical view, say that existence is only explainable in material terms, with no accounting of spirit or consciousness. Finally, materialism as a belief is the simplest or less complex level, where people accept they are surrounded by matter and therefore admit they might “get distracted” giving excessive value to material things. Furthermore, these people somehow forget spiritual or intellectual “dimensions” to just focus their whole attention on their possessions. On the one hand, some people find a strong connection between their material wealth and their happiness. It is true that up to certain extent all of us are materialistic beings; however, not all of us base our pleasure and ecstasy on those –empty- things. These people let material things become an obstacle in their lives, meaning that they allow all of these things control their day-to-day lives believing they are benefiting themselves, their development and even relationships. Materialistic people usually put a great value, even emotional/sentimental value, on their possessions. This connection between materialism and happiness comes from the idea that material things could materialize –no redundancy intended- human needs. For instance, a TV satisfies the need to entertain oneself. Its creator could materialize that need. A mobile phone satisfies the need of communication. Its creator could materialize that need. Materialism is sometimes defended as it can be related just to the fact that it makes a person give just a value to a product, rather than giving it vital importance. “A real materialistic person is the one who values the origin of what he/she gets, thanks its inventor paying for his genius idea and cares for the product which has had cost, with no shame of saying ‘I am materialistic’”. The positive side of materialism lacks of strong arguments. On the other hand, several negative views might be proposed involving different “dimensions”, to just give it a name, for instance the religious or spiritual point of view, the social one, which is
connected to self-development (considering oneself a social being) and the intellectual view. Firstly, the religious or spiritual view will be analysed, taking into account, not only how materialism is seen from this point of view, but also the impacts and effects of it. Taking into account materialism as “the promotion of idolatry of possessions or material wealth. Possessions are believed to fill all human need and characterize quality of life”, this concept can be considered as atheist. Religions, or at least the Catholic one, do not promote the idolatry of possessions. Materialism denies any spiritual conception or relation to human beings, as they place both their interests and beliefs on material elements. At the same time, while spirituality stands for happiness within, materialism stands for happiness without. What does this mean? Spirituality seeks after finding happiness with oneself, with the environment and our fellows. Spirituality promotes selflessness, “unconditional love” towards our equals and the expectation of a more illuminated life. Unlike this, materialism promotes happiness based on material possessions, it teaches to be in a constant state of materialistic desire, meaning that materialistic people will reach their ideal happiness, if this ever happens as it can be considered as a vicious circle, once they acquire material wealth. Secondly, the social view will be developed. Materialism creates isolated worlds within materialistic humans. While promoting selfishness, it develops interest and love based on comparisons with the others in relation to material wealth. Materialism divides somehow societies. Unfortunately, the ones who have reached a superior level of materialism (meaning that they have acquired a large amount of material wealth) will not treat those ones who lack of these possessions equally. By adopting materialism as a lifestyle, people are unable to reach the real state of happiness in their lives. Materialism can be regarded as empty as satisfaction if instantly connected to a thing, element, sometimes, unnecessary possession. As Bertrand Russell has said, “It is the preoccupation with possessions, more than anything else that prevents us from living freely and nobly.” Besides creating isolated worlds, materialism leads to a fake lifestyle. It is true that possessions are necessary up to certain point. However, it is not right to deify these elements and put them above all the others which connect us to our true roots; nature. We are animals living almost freely in this world. However, we have transformed the natural and spiritual (not necessarily religious) way in which we should live, into a plastic one. Will materialistic people take their possessions to their graves? What does materialism really refer to? It can be stated that it fulfills superficial or trivial needs and desires. It fulfills momentary happiness and comfort. However, it does not make the person really happy. It somehow “hides” a deep desire. It helps its “victim” avoid a deep, maybe, problem or emptiness. Last but not least, there is a connection between materialism and somehow an intellectual dimension based on this belief. Could it be possible that materialism is strongly related to brainwashing? Materialistic people believe, or were pushed to believe, that material
possessions are all they’ve got. As mentioned before, material things have become an obstacle in their lives. These obstacles prevent them from really finding their happiness and improving their life quality. Human beings get distracted by these things that up to certain extent are not necessary at all. “Material” means tangible, physical, real. However, it can be said that the happiness based on material possessions is empty. This emptiness is related to the fact that even though a person can acquire any possession wanted, the momentary happiness will lack of true happiness, if this makes any sense at all. A life full of possessions might be luxurious, enjoyable or even perfect. But is that a good life quality? Being materialistic is, from my point of view, a selfish way to see the world. Possessions are both put above –the world- and as a filter to judge other people. And by this I do not mean that possessions are wrong or sinful. It is good to possess elements that satisfy certain needs. However, when we create needs so as to come into possession of worldisolators or elements mentioned before, we put excessive value on them. We become obsessed monsters fed with belongings; obsessed monsters whose motivation is –onlyrelated to purchasing things. If materialism is related to the fact that we all possess things, then all of us are materialistic. But if we relate the concept to the “deifying” of possessions, the extreme admiration of these, and to the growth of isolated worlds within ourselves which lead to the dark abysm that keeps to expand between us and wipes out equality (with no intended connection to political or religious views, but to a conception related to nature, our roots), then just a few unfortunate ones are victims of it. To sum up, I strongly believe there is no real and deep connection between a good life quality and materialism. What’s more, there is no connection at all between happiness and materialism, although it is true that some people’s happiness depends on the purchasing of the latest Apple iPhone, or the smartest television. If our lifetime goal is to reach happiness, then let’s do something that does not rely upon an “empty” piece of plastic and money. Materialism can be connected to market methods or strategies, to be more precise, which make us believe we need certain things, when in fact we do not. It is a vicious circle.