MONEY IS FREEDOM?
We live in an age where some consider having the newest phone or any other cutting-edge gadget a necessity. But do we truly need these constant updates, or are we simply caught up in a whirlwind of consumption driven by the allure of novelty and social validation?
It’s often said that money is freedom. However, one might argue that our freedom, in this context, has become tied to consumerism itself. The incessant desire for the latest gadgets and the relentless chase of the “next big thing” have shackled us to a cycle of material dependency. In the chase for these, are we trading our freedom for fleeting moments of satisfaction?
In the days after the new iPhone launch, I saw joy on the faces of many colleagues who had successfully secured an order for the new iPhone. However, one week later, their excitement had dissipated. The new phone had become just another item on their work desks, another device used for communication and taking photos, in addition to taking orders from their bosses.
Weeks later, reports of iPhones overheating became additional stressors for my colleagues, turning them into slaves of their devices, eagerly awaiting new updates in the hope of making their phones better and surviving until the next iPhone is released.
This is where Danish philosopher Soren Kierkegaard’s insight comes into play, and I paraphrase: The unhappy person is never present to themself because he lives in the either the past or the future.
Our perpetual pursuit of newer, shinier gadgets keeps us perpetually focused on what’s next, preventing us from being present in the moment or appreciating what we have.