This for me sums up the choice, dilemma, or the opportunity that the world now faces.At one pole we have material "things" or possessions and at the other we have the non-material. The more we move towards the material the further we are from immaterial, or spiritual. Fromm also considered that Marx's contrast between labour and capital expresses the same principle- capital represents "things" and labour represents "life".
The sentiment that says "we don't know what we have until its gone" gives us a clue to the problem since the material world is visible, audible and its reality is beyond common dispute, whereas the spiritual, non-material is less definable or able to be shared.
So, for me it is clear that the balance is now clearly in favour of the material and we are consequently suffering spiritually.This situation is represented for me in a multitude of ways-- the omnipresence of big-business, supermarkets and obsession with consuming at all levels; the loss of individuality and its replacement with uniformity; the focus on quantity rather than quality and its consequent effect on the apparent "availability" of time. And the practical challenge for me is how to unravel and escape the material and at what level of "materiality" to live.
The choice is complicated by the fact that we, as humans, are social, pack animals and need others to remain sane and happy. The human hermit is not an option worth considering. And yet, as David Edwards in his book "Free to be Human" explains, we cannot be happy or balanced emotionally in an unhealthy environment. The book's subtitle "intellectual self-defence in an age of illusions" defines the challenge-- to overcome the all-pervading illusions presented to us in this consumer age and see the reality of our lives. But to be happy we need to be able to share, meaningfully, this perception of reality with others.
And unfortunately, the majority of mankind are seemingly quite happy with their own perception of reality as they see it. The fact that the media, politicians and others in positions of power and responsibility promote a reality coinciding with the requirements and interests of global corporations is not widely recognised or accepted. An important aspect of this manufactured "reality" is the perception that "winners" in this culture are happy, whilst only losers are dissatisfied. That is to say, that if you are unhappy in this society- this is your fault and has no bearing on the mental and emotional make up of the consumer society.
That the majority share this promoted myth of happiness becomes clear when doubters raise their concerns in public. It used to be religion. or sex, but now raising fundamental, basic issues of reality, spirituality or happiness is not decent practice in public or even in company with friends.Such behaviour only attracts defensive reaction or embarrassed silence. It appears we underestimate the power of conformity, of collusion, when faced with apparent consensus of the majority or of accepted authority-- Stanley Milgram's (and others) experiments wherein his subjects were able to inflict great pain on others when instructed to do so, demonstrates this human trait.
Thus to break free of these "chains of illusion" is likely to be a lonely task, requiring that we seek out fellow travellers in order to share common emotions and experience and develop sane responses.However, some solace might be had from the knowledge that this has been a path often trod and that path has often been one towards simplicity and away from materialism. Its an acceptance of oneness, a rejection of ego and the illusion of good and bad.
And unfortunately, the majority of mankind are seemingly quite happy with their own perception of reality as they see it. The fact that the media, politicians and others in positions of power and responsibility promote a reality coinciding with the requirements and interests of global corporations is not widely recognised or accepted. An important aspect of this manufactured "reality" is the perception that "winners" in this culture are happy, whilst only losers are dissatisfied. That is to say, that if you are unhappy in this society- this is your fault and has no bearing on the mental and emotional make up of the consumer society.
That the majority share this promoted myth of happiness becomes clear when doubters raise their concerns in public. It used to be religion. or sex, but now raising fundamental, basic issues of reality, spirituality or happiness is not decent practice in public or even in company with friends.Such behaviour only attracts defensive reaction or embarrassed silence. It appears we underestimate the power of conformity, of collusion, when faced with apparent consensus of the majority or of accepted authority-- Stanley Milgram's (and others) experiments wherein his subjects were able to inflict great pain on others when instructed to do so, demonstrates this human trait.
Thus to break free of these "chains of illusion" is likely to be a lonely task, requiring that we seek out fellow travellers in order to share common emotions and experience and develop sane responses.However, some solace might be had from the knowledge that this has been a path often trod and that path has often been one towards simplicity and away from materialism. Its an acceptance of oneness, a rejection of ego and the illusion of good and bad.
