Marx on Consumption

What is it about?

This essay revisits Karl Marx's understanding of consumption, in an effort to rescue it from the overshadowing legacy of critical theory which has construed Marx as inveighing against false needs. It is argued that Marx regarded the expansion of needs entailed by capitalism in a generally favourable way, but saw capitalism as a system yoking use-value to the imperatives of profit accumulation, hence limiting and subjugating the consumption of the masses. While Marx's position was radically different from conventional anti-consumerism it is equally incompatible with complacent affirmations of 'the consumer society' in that Marx at all times aimed at a revolutionary change which will transform consumption both quantitatively and qualitatively.

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Photo by Jon Tyson on Unsplash

Photo by Jon Tyson on Unsplash

Why is it important?

Anti-consumerism drives a wedge between radicalism and the masses. This essay aims to show that Marxism needn't be attached to elitism and disdain for affluence and material well-being.