Is Luxury a Sin?
I feel guilty often. Due to my wife's hard work, talent, and ambition, we have a good income which allows me to indulge myself in finer pleasures. There's nothing but happiness in this. No complaints at all. Where it becomes a difficult issue is when my tastes in luxury somehow become the topic of conversation amongst other people. I feel incredibly guilty even conversing about any of my less miserly hobbies. And often, I can't explain it. I can't explain why its worth it to spend so and so amount of dollars on something, when the person I'm talking to is staring at me like I'm the poster child for materialism and excess.
So a question comes to fruitiion almost every day - is luxury wrong?
What is luxury? What is materialism? When does it become wrong?
Some quick searches for the definition of the word luxury reveals various opinions in itself. ONe states that it is anything in excess of necessity. Which then leads to the question, what is necessity? Technically, basic physiologic function is only what is necessary to humans. So really all we need is food, water, and some excercise. So does this mean that clothing is a luxury?
Another definition states that luxury describes anything that carries with it high value and uniqueness, such that it is considered the finest example of a class of activity, good, etc. I tend to think this is the more correct definition. This means that the appreciation of luxury is not an appreciation of excess per se, but rather an acknowledgement of the pinnacle of that class of acitvity, good, etc. This definition lends itself to a slightly more focused and friendly view of luxury, but it also requires examination of how each characteristic of luxury is correct - how do we know that Picasso's art is near the pinnacle of painted art? How do we know that Bentley's are the pinnacle of automotive transportation? Who determines this?
My thought is that luxury is okay. There's nothing wrong with luxury even when defined by BOTH of the above definitions. Desiring a Porsche is in excess of what is necessary, while acknowledging its superiority and high quality in the automotive world. Desiring this luxury on 4 wheels is not at all a sin.
What of materialism then? Materialism can be loosely defined as the desire for possession of wealth and material things. Note that the definition does not mention appreciation of the finer points of welath and material things. It just says that a person desires things.
Is this wrong? If I suddenly become a hip-hop mogul with 20s on my whip with monstrous mansions with recording studios and hos hanging off me like I'm a reincarnation of a Vietnamese pimp - am I being materialistic? And if I am, am I wrong?
I say materialism is both right and wrong. By definition, it contains encompasses those that desire luxury and the pursuit of finer things (and unfortunately, in our capitalistic society - we place a price on finer things - even nature costs money these days). It also encompasses those that, for lack of a better word, flaunt.
I hold no ill will towards those who wish to pursue finer things for their own sake. For example, I love hi end audio. I spend too much money on amplifiers, speakers, wires, etc to eek out the best reproduction of music possible. But this stuff is in my house. No one knows its there unless they come over and discover it by accident. Its only for my own happiness. Purusing luxury for one's own happiness tends to pervade every aspect of one's life. For example, I seek the best in my cars, my audio, my literature, my clothes, etc. It's a distinct perfectionism that seperates a person from the type of people I describe in the next paragraph.
Where I have issues is those who flaunt luxury for purposes of reputation and show. They simply want to portray an image of luxury and an image of understanding of luxury. They really don't know, but they think that flaunting it will automatically make them luxurious. You know who I'm talking about. They think that one thing that costs a lot will give them an air of money. For example, the FOB driving the lexus in his tshirt and pajamas trying to look hard. The loud and obnoxious patron of an expensive restaurant who forgot that it was a jacket and slacks restaurant. The prada toting female wearing only juicy coutre sweatpants to the night on the opera.
Even worse, there are those who have no idea why what they buy costs so much. The Porsche driver who has no idea why a Porsche is so much better than most othe rsports cars. The purchaser of automatic chornographs who have no idea what makes expensive watches so expensive. The lists go on and on.
To them, luxury is the action of flaunting money, and in the process luxury defines their self-esteem. I don't get that.
I have no need to flaunt my luxury (even though I am at the entry level of luxury in my hobbies and interests). I know what I like and I know why I like it. I research it thoroughly. I read about it every week in magazines and online. I embrace the enjoyment of luxurious things, because I appreciate the quality that it represents. Do I care if you notice it? Not really. Will I be happy if you ask about it? Of course. LIke anybody, I love to talk about my interests and what drives me. Does this mean I'm a materialistic, uncaring blowhard? No - I just like fine things.
I know, this particular blog will sound horribly elitist. And some will read into it that I'm spoiled and that I'm not acknowledging the fortunate situation I'm in.
I'd just like to remind those people that my father slaugtered cows to feed and clothe myself and 12 other members of my family who slept and lived in a trailer house in Wisconsin. Oh yeah, and in the meanwhile leaving behind a life of prosperity in a war-torn country. I'd also like to remind people that its not like I've been sitting on my ass enjoying luxury. I actually work, and work hard my whole life to be where I am.
So, am I materialistic? In the fact that I like luxury and that luxury requires money in this day and age - yes. IN the sense that I flaunt materialism - no. But I'll let you decide and see where the chips may fall.
So a question comes to fruitiion almost every day - is luxury wrong?
What is luxury? What is materialism? When does it become wrong?
Some quick searches for the definition of the word luxury reveals various opinions in itself. ONe states that it is anything in excess of necessity. Which then leads to the question, what is necessity? Technically, basic physiologic function is only what is necessary to humans. So really all we need is food, water, and some excercise. So does this mean that clothing is a luxury?
Another definition states that luxury describes anything that carries with it high value and uniqueness, such that it is considered the finest example of a class of activity, good, etc. I tend to think this is the more correct definition. This means that the appreciation of luxury is not an appreciation of excess per se, but rather an acknowledgement of the pinnacle of that class of acitvity, good, etc. This definition lends itself to a slightly more focused and friendly view of luxury, but it also requires examination of how each characteristic of luxury is correct - how do we know that Picasso's art is near the pinnacle of painted art? How do we know that Bentley's are the pinnacle of automotive transportation? Who determines this?
My thought is that luxury is okay. There's nothing wrong with luxury even when defined by BOTH of the above definitions. Desiring a Porsche is in excess of what is necessary, while acknowledging its superiority and high quality in the automotive world. Desiring this luxury on 4 wheels is not at all a sin.
What of materialism then? Materialism can be loosely defined as the desire for possession of wealth and material things. Note that the definition does not mention appreciation of the finer points of welath and material things. It just says that a person desires things.
Is this wrong? If I suddenly become a hip-hop mogul with 20s on my whip with monstrous mansions with recording studios and hos hanging off me like I'm a reincarnation of a Vietnamese pimp - am I being materialistic? And if I am, am I wrong?
I say materialism is both right and wrong. By definition, it contains encompasses those that desire luxury and the pursuit of finer things (and unfortunately, in our capitalistic society - we place a price on finer things - even nature costs money these days). It also encompasses those that, for lack of a better word, flaunt.
I hold no ill will towards those who wish to pursue finer things for their own sake. For example, I love hi end audio. I spend too much money on amplifiers, speakers, wires, etc to eek out the best reproduction of music possible. But this stuff is in my house. No one knows its there unless they come over and discover it by accident. Its only for my own happiness. Purusing luxury for one's own happiness tends to pervade every aspect of one's life. For example, I seek the best in my cars, my audio, my literature, my clothes, etc. It's a distinct perfectionism that seperates a person from the type of people I describe in the next paragraph.
Where I have issues is those who flaunt luxury for purposes of reputation and show. They simply want to portray an image of luxury and an image of understanding of luxury. They really don't know, but they think that flaunting it will automatically make them luxurious. You know who I'm talking about. They think that one thing that costs a lot will give them an air of money. For example, the FOB driving the lexus in his tshirt and pajamas trying to look hard. The loud and obnoxious patron of an expensive restaurant who forgot that it was a jacket and slacks restaurant. The prada toting female wearing only juicy coutre sweatpants to the night on the opera.
Even worse, there are those who have no idea why what they buy costs so much. The Porsche driver who has no idea why a Porsche is so much better than most othe rsports cars. The purchaser of automatic chornographs who have no idea what makes expensive watches so expensive. The lists go on and on.
To them, luxury is the action of flaunting money, and in the process luxury defines their self-esteem. I don't get that.
I have no need to flaunt my luxury (even though I am at the entry level of luxury in my hobbies and interests). I know what I like and I know why I like it. I research it thoroughly. I read about it every week in magazines and online. I embrace the enjoyment of luxurious things, because I appreciate the quality that it represents. Do I care if you notice it? Not really. Will I be happy if you ask about it? Of course. LIke anybody, I love to talk about my interests and what drives me. Does this mean I'm a materialistic, uncaring blowhard? No - I just like fine things.
I know, this particular blog will sound horribly elitist. And some will read into it that I'm spoiled and that I'm not acknowledging the fortunate situation I'm in.
I'd just like to remind those people that my father slaugtered cows to feed and clothe myself and 12 other members of my family who slept and lived in a trailer house in Wisconsin. Oh yeah, and in the meanwhile leaving behind a life of prosperity in a war-torn country. I'd also like to remind people that its not like I've been sitting on my ass enjoying luxury. I actually work, and work hard my whole life to be where I am.
So, am I materialistic? In the fact that I like luxury and that luxury requires money in this day and age - yes. IN the sense that I flaunt materialism - no. But I'll let you decide and see where the chips may fall.
posted by Richard at 4:50 PM
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