Simmel on insatiability in phil o f money
In Georg Simmel's
(1900), insatiability arises from money’s unique position as a purely abstract tool
that can serve any end, making it an "absolute means". Unlike concrete
goods (like food or clothing), which satisfy specific, finite needs,
money has no inherent limit because it is the potential for all goods.Key aspects of Simmel's analysis of insatiability include:
- Money as an Absolute Means: In modern society, money often shifts from being a mere tool for exchange to a final goal. Because it can be converted into anything, the desire for it becomes infinite; there is no point at which one has "enough" potential.
- The Quantitative Nature of Money: Money’s value is expressed solely through quantity. While a person's need for a specific object (like a coat) is limited by its physical use, the desire for a numerical increase in money can grow indefinitely without hitting a natural ceiling.
- Greed vs. Extravagance: Simmel describes greed as the extreme of insatiability where the individual values the possession of money (the potential) more than the actual items it can buy. Conversely, extravagance is an insatiable desire for the act of spending itself, where the pleasure comes from the transaction rather than the commodity.
- Paradox of Value and Distance: Simmel argues that value is created by the distance between a person and the object of their desire. Money facilitates the "overcoming" of this distance but, by making everything attainable through a single metric, it creates a "blasé" attitude where nothing feels truly satisfying, fueling a cycle of further consumption.
- The "Divine" Quality of Money: Because money is perceived as the source of all value and the ultimate reconciler of all needs, it attains a status similar to a deity. This "divine" omnipotence makes the human pursuit of it inherently insatiable, as it represents a quest for absolute power over the world of objects.
Are you looking for how this insatiability connects to Simmel's concept of the "blasé attitude" or its impact on individual freedom?
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please compare with Marx on need creation
While
both Georg Simmel and Karl Marx see modern life as inherently
"insatiable," they identify different culprits for why we are never
satisfied. Simmel blames the
form of money, whereas Marx blames the system of production.1. The Source of Desire
- Simmel (The Psychological/Formal Approach): For Simmel, insatiability is a byproduct of money’s abstraction. Because money is a "pure means" that can buy anything, it represents infinite potential. We are never satisfied because we aren't chasing a specific object; we are chasing the possibility of all objects, which has no physical limit.
- Marx (The Materialist/Production Approach): Marx argues that "needs" are not just natural; they are socially produced by the capitalist class to ensure constant consumption. Capitalists must create "imaginary appetites" in workers to keep the cycle of commodity exchange moving.
2. Quantitative vs. Qualitative Needs
- Simmel: Focuses on the quantitative shift. Money reduces the "what" (quality) to "how much" (quantity). This creates a "blasé attitude" where nothing is special anymore, leading people to constantly seek new, more extreme sensations to feel anything at all.
- Marx: Focuses on alienation. He argues that because workers are alienated from their labor, they try to find their "humanity" in consumption. However, this is a hollow substitute, leading to an endless, unfulfilling loop of buying things to fill a void left by uncreative work.
3. The "Object" of Desire
| Feature | Simmel | Marx |
|---|---|---|
| Why we want more | Money is an "absolute means" with no natural ceiling. | Capitalists must create new needs to realize surplus value. |
| Role of the Object | The object is a sacrifice to get more money/potential. | The object is a "commodity" meant to exploit the worker's desire. |
| Outcome | Indifference (Blasé): Everything feels the same because it all has a price. | Alienation: We lose ourselves in the pursuit of things we don't actually need. |
Summary Comparison
Simmel sees insatiability as a tragedy of culture where the tools we created (money) now dominate our inner lives. Marx sees it as a mechanical necessity of capitalism that will eventually lead to its downfall as people "outgrow" their bourgeois roles.
Would you like to explore how these ideas relate to modern consumer culture or digital economies?
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