Western meritocracy traps people in emotions of envy, shame and fear, philosophers say
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The rich are getting richer, and poverty is rapidly increasing in Western countries with market economies. This growing inequality has a significant impact on the well-being of citizens.
In their newly released book "Extravagance and Misery," philosophers Alan Thomas, Alfred Archer, and Bart Engelen describe how emotions tied to the market economy—such as envy, shame, and fear—have been internalized and negatively affect our well-being. They also show how individuals and organizations can break free from this rat race by focusing on solidarity, for example.
The book's cover features a bleak detail from an 18th-century painting of a sad-looking girl under a large black umbrella. This atmosphere fits well with the subject of the book, according to Bart Engelen, ethicist and political philosopher, and Alfred Archer, assistant professor of philosophy at Tilburg University.
