Political Science 2237E Lecture Notes - Lecture 2: Conspicuous Consumption, Usury, Epicurus
7 Nov 2016
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Gift economy money does not define wealth. People want to accumulate status or honor = power. Spend to exhibit or reveal your status maintain relationships. Spend to gain or build status: this is a world of conspicuous consumption, conspicuous giving establish relationships with other people and, reciprocity expecting return. Give to the gods in hope that the gods will give something back. Profit economy conception of wealth involves wealth and possession. Usury is the lending money at interest. Pre-money economy vs. money economy: makes accumulation possible. John locke creation of money changed everything. Baudrillard money is the leading edge of us being disassociated with us. Invention of money makes a difference in how we think of the world. Being a merchant or a banker is not respectable. Desire for money is in the way of other important things. Greeks distinguish between two types of merchant: emporos merchant not aristocratic, frowned upon. People who are not respected for what they do.
