Temperance and economic assumptions

Conclusions

The preceding arguments illustrate the inability to adeguately account for the notion of temperance through mainstream contemporary economics. They also bring to light additional anomalies concerning other intangible virtues, e.g., truth, beauty, and knowledge. However, the problems associated with discounting such concepts do not negate the importance of material concerns. Just as people must crawl before they walk, so must they be able to eat before they can think. Before human beings attempt to exercise virtuous qualities in their daily lives, they must first satisfy some level of the basic needs for survival. Without realizing this necessary condition, the search for virtues, particularly temperance, is meaningless.

In highly developed, industrialized societies there is no overriding concern for the society’s ability to meet the basic needs of people. In fact, there is an overabundance of commodities which have generated circumspection about Galbraith’s “created wants” and Veblen’s “conspicuous consumption.” The implication is that less attention should be devoted to materialistic activities and more to intangible considerations.

This observation is related closely to the initial assumption that social theories can significantly affect people’s actions. An economic structure which predominantly utilizes materialistically-based theories and measures will instill similar attitudes within the general populace. Such beliefs may be debilitating to the extent that they produce the realization of intangible goods and can lead to assorted vices like hedonism and greed.