Responding to Adam’s question point about authenticating desires:

Veblen describes and rejects the traditional idea that the “end of acquisition and accumulation” is “the consumption of the goods accumulated” in order to “serve the consumer’s physical wants.” If you want to find a basis for what might be called “real desires” or “real wants,” I think you need to start by looking at what actual physical needs you have. We all need shirts or shirt like objects to keep warm or avoid sun burn. Nevertheless, we only “need” collared shirts with French cuffs to show status or fit in with others of a certain status in social situations.

The question then becomes what social situations do you “need” to fit into? What status do you “want” to achieve? How you answer these questions will determine what you end up subjectively needing and conspicuously consuming.

-- StephenClarke - 12 Mar 2008