Login
Create Account
Canadian Store (CAD)
You are currently shopping in our Canadian store. For orders outside of Canada, please switch to our international store. International and US orders are billed in US dollars.
 |
The Limits to SatisfactionAn Essay on the Problem of Needs and Commodities |
eBook Available
At a time when the supply of resources is a problem, William Leiss analyses demand and consumption. Why do we need so much? Does the ability to choose from such a wide range of commodities give us more satisfaction? Why do we accept being pushed into buying products about which we know little because they promise to give us a particular characteristic - freshness, happiness, sex appeal?
Consumerism and capitalist and socialist industry have reached the point where state power is legitimatized by its ability to increase the number of commodities. A unique culture has been created in which marketing is the main social bond. Values no longer shape and condition needs, wants, desires, or preferences.
Leiss draws on economics, psychology, sociology, and anthropology to show the vagueness of our thought on the relation between nature and culture, desire and reason, needs and commodities. This book raises serious, vital questions for all those concerned about the future of our present society.
Consumerism and capitalist and socialist industry have reached the point where state power is legitimatized by its ability to increase the number of commodities. A unique culture has been created in which marketing is the main social bond. Values no longer shape and condition needs, wants, desires, or preferences.
Leiss draws on economics, psychology, sociology, and anthropology to show the vagueness of our thought on the relation between nature and culture, desire and reason, needs and commodities. This book raises serious, vital questions for all those concerned about the future of our present society.
Details
184 Pages
ISBN 9780773506886
June 1988
Formats: Paperback, eBook
"Leiss gives consistency to...a new discipline that challenges the monopoly of economics over social policy. But he does more: he radicalises the concept of ecology." Ivan Illich, Manchester Guardian
"Leiss critically examines the bogus issue of false vs. true needs and shows that Critical Theory, Western Marxism and most radical sociology have been misguided in posing the question in this fashion...It is clearly written, well documented, brilliantly argued. A refreshing break from vacuous sociologese." Paul Piccone, Theory and Society
"Leiss critically examines the bogus issue of false vs. true needs and shows that Critical Theory, Western Marxism and most radical sociology have been misguided in posing the question in this fashion...It is clearly written, well documented, brilliantly argued. A refreshing break from vacuous sociologese." Paul Piccone, Theory and Society
William Leiss is a Scientist, McLaughlin Centre for Population Health Risk Assessment, University of Ottawa; he is a Fellow and Past-President (1999-2001) of the Royal Society of Canada and an Officer in the Order of Canada. From 1999 to 2005 he held the NSERC/SSHRC Research Chair in Risk Communication and Public Policy in the Haskayne School of Business, University of Calgary. From 1994 to 1999 he held the Eco-Research Chair in Environmental Policy at Queen's University. Since the late 1980s he has worked extensively in a consulting capacity with industry and with Canadian federal and provincial government departments in the area of risk communication, risk management, public consultation, and multi-stakeholder consensus-building processes. He has been an advisor on issues dealing with pesticides, toxic chemicals (chlorine, dioxins, and others), tobacco, prescription drugs, electric & magnetic fields, genetic engineering, and many others. He was a member of the Senior Advisory Panel for the Walkerton Inquiry (2000-2002) and in 2000 was Chair of the Task Force on Public Participation for Canadian Blood Services.
