Consuming addictions : ecology, economics and the power of metaphor

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Author

Payne, Richard K. See all items with this value

Journal

Hsi Lai Journal of Humanistic Buddhism

Date

2006

Volume

Pages

64-70

ISSN

1530-4108 See all items with this value

Abstract

Metaphor is fundamental to human thought. In contemporary America the metaphor of addiction is very commonly employed. This metaphoric use entails conceptualizing addiction as existing independently. Addiction may seem compatible with Buddhist analyses of individual behavior, including those behaviors creating the economic and ecological crises. However, such usage substitutes “addiction” for more classic ideas of Buddhist psychology. This paper argues that such usage is at odds with Buddhist thought, attributing to addiction independent agency. Analyzing the economic and ecological situation as an “addiction to consumption” actually reduces the ability to control the activities that constitute destructive consumption.