'There is no ethical consumption under capitalism' is a wrong view (hexbear.net)

submitted 3 weeks ago by Vampire@hexbear.net to c/chapotraphouse@hexbear.net

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Not because there is ethical consumption under capitalism, but because ethical purity is the wrong goal.

Leftists keep getting distracted by moralising. The aim is to lift the working class.

'There is no ethical consumption under capitalism' is a catchcry used to argue against consumer action because it is morally impure. I don't care whether my actions are morally pure; I care about the results they produce.

Leftists are shit at focusing on the results of their action. The end-game of leftists is to feel morally superior: never mind that no good results have been achieved.

Using syllogistic logic:

Surface premise: 'There is no ethical consumption under capitalism'
Hidden premise: And we should only take actions that are ethically pure
Conclusion: therefore we shouldn't reform consumption

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[-] PKMKII@hexbear.net 24 points 3 weeks ago

I always interpreted as “shifting consumption patterns under capitalism won’t end capitalism.” Not that shifting consumption patterns is in and of itself, a bad thing, but that it has to be understood that it has its limits in what it can accomplish.