Lecture 19

Question 1

Who was Adophe Chaillet and what was the ‘everlasting lightbulb’

Answer 1

He invented a long lasting lightbulb but its adoption was suppressed due to the 1924 Phoebus cartel which aimed to limit the lifespan of lightbulbs globally

Question 2

What was the Phoebus cartel and why was it significant?

Answer 2

• Formed in 1924 the Phoebus cartel consisted of major companies working to limit lightbulb lifespans ensuring continuous consumer demand
• It became a model for modern planned obsolescence leading to unsustainable goods and environmental damage

Question 3

What is planned obsolescence?

Answer 3

It is a business strategy where products are designed with a limited lifespan to encourage repeated purchases contributing to consumerism and environmental harm

Question 4

What lessons can we learn from Indigenous Peoples about sustainability?

Answer 4

• Use only what is needed and avoid waste
• Work for the collective good of the community
• Respect nature and the environment
• Set boundaries on the use of technology to preserve natural resources

Question 5

What is Serge Latouches ‘Anti-Growth Model’

Answer 5

• Serge Latouche critiques the modern growth-based economy advocating for a society that prioritizes sustainability over constant economic expansion
• He emphasizes minimizing waste respecting the environment and rejecting the technopoly-driven mindset

Question 6

What is technopoly, and how does it relate to consumerism

Answer 6

• Technopoly refers to the dominance of technology and science over social and ethical considerations
• It perpetuates consumerism by prioritizing profit and technological advancement over sustainability

Question 7

Why is the failure of the ‘everlasting lightbulb’ important?

Answer 7

It illustrates how economic goals can override innovation and sustainability leading to a system reliant on consumerism and planned obsolescence

Question 8

What are the social critiques of the growth economy presented in this lecture?

Answer 8

Growth economies focus on profit and consumption at the expense of the environmental and social well being
Alternative models like the Anti-Growth Model challenge the idea that economic expansion is inherently positive

Question 9

How does consumerism impact our value system?

Answer 9

Consumerism prioritize material wealth and consumption over sustainability, community well being and respect for natural resources

Question 10

Consumerism prioritize material wealth and consumption over sustainability, community well being and respect for natural resources

Answer 10

The root of the problem lies in societal values and economic models which need to shift toward prioritizing sustainability and collective good rather than relying on technological fixes alone