MONEY AND POSSESSION

SHappiness is not for sale

PUTTING MONEY IN ITS PLACE

We live in a money economy, money oriented world.

However, we do not need to become possessed by money or the things it can buy.

PUTTING MONEY IN ITS PLACE

Enough vs. Excess

We need to develop an accurate perspective towards money and possession.

In order to survive and lead dignified lives, we need money and the things money can buy.

PUTTING MONEY IN ITS PLACE

We have basic survival needs: food shelter clothing medical care transportation entertainment

Money and possessions are necessary. Yet it does not mean that we have to become slaves to money and material things.

PUTTING MONEY IN ITS PLACE

The problem is that even the basic survival needs of food and shelter are understood in different ways.

North America’s suburban version of an adequate shelter would be considered a mansion. It is quite different understanding of a shelter by a farmer in Africa or a factory worker in Indonesia.

PUTTING MONEY IN ITS PLACE

In this relationship between enough and excess we have to consider yet another factor, the so-called discretionary spending. It is an income over and above what will cover necessities.

It is the money one can spend on “extra goodies”.

PUTTING MONEY IN ITS PLACE

Money has an enormous influence not only on our individual life but on our social life as well Money and ethical values Money and free speech Money and politics

So where is the border between Enough and Excess Profit and Greed

THE PITFALLS OF POSSESSING

Talking about the dangers of possessing, we can distinguish three problems;1. Confusing wants

and needs2. Confusing social

image with self-worth3. Confusing spending

with freedom

THE PITFALLS OF POSSESSING

CONFUSING WANTS AND NEEDS

This confusion usually leads to GREED.

Greedy people do not think about themselves as greedy. Rather, they imagine that the things they wand really are needs.

THE PITFALLS OF POSSES Some critics of

the Western world, especially North American society, claim that greed drives much of the economy, because the economy in its large part is based on consumption.

QUESTION - REFLECTION

Read the story on pp. 67-68

Who do you think has the best attitude towards money? Why?

QUESTION - REFLECTION How would you

define the line between needs and wants?

Do you thing that young people in the US feel pressure to have more money? If you do, is the pressure to have money for things they want or for things they need?

THE PITFALLS OF POSSESSING

Confusing social image with self-worth

Another illusion that needs to be examined is the relationship between social image and self-worth.

THE PITFALLS OF POSSESSING

Getting or buying things that will make one look good to others can become a substitute for having a genuine sense of self-worth.

Unfortunately, people (including ourselves) often tend to judge others by what statue items they have (car, house, cloths and so on).

THE PITFALLS OF POSSESSING

Where is the problem?

If we equate self-worth with socially approved consumer items, we will always feel less than adequate. There will always be something bigger, brighter, and newer to buy

QUESTION - REFLECTION What consumer items

are most socially approved or expected among your peers?

Do you agree that possessing certain things make you feel more self-worthy, attractive, important? Why or why not? Explain in writing.

THE PITFALLS OF POSSESSING

CONFUSING SPENDING WITH FREEDOM

What is freedom?

The Western world puts freedom of choice among its most important values.

However, the understanding of freedom as the ability to select from a number if options is a very limited notion of freedom.

THE PITFALLS OF POSSESSING