We have a market driven society so obsessed with buying and selling and obsessed with power and pleasure and property

We have a market driven society so obsessed with buying and selling and obsessed with power and pleasure and property

Cornel West, a prominent American philosopher, political activist, and public intellectual, has long been a vocal critic of the market-driven society that dominates much of the Western world. In his work, West often highlights the ways in which capitalism and consumerism have come to shape our values, priorities, and relationships, leading to a society that is obsessed with buying and selling, power and pleasure, and property.

West argues that the relentless pursuit of profit and material wealth has led to a culture of commodification, where everything – from goods and services to relationships and experiences – is reduced to a market value. In this market-driven society, individuals are encouraged to define themselves and their worth based on their ability to consume and accumulate possessions, rather than on their intrinsic value as human beings.

Moreover, West points out that the emphasis on power and pleasure in our society has created a culture of competition and individualism, where success is measured by one's ability to dominate others and satisfy their own desires at the expense of others. This obsession with power and pleasure has led to a society that is marked by inequality, exploitation, and alienation, where the pursuit of self-interest often comes at the cost of the common good.