This is

This is Philosophy Bites with me David Edmonds

and me Nigel War Burton.

Philosophy Bites is available at

W.w.

Philosophy Bites.

The success of advanced capitalist societies is measured in part by economic growth,

and the success of individuals within these societies is often judged by their job and what

they can purchase with the fruits of their work.

But there are some internal tensions within capitalism, some dystopian elements to it.

Marks and Russo are two of the most prominent thinkers to question so-called progress in

civilization. Both have influenced the philosopher Kate Soper. With the world-facing

environmental catastrophe she proposes an alternative vision of human flourishing.

She calls it alternative hedonism.

Kate Sober, welcome to Philosophy Bites.

Thank you very much. I'm very pleased to be here.

We're going to look at the topic of alternative hedonism, which is a phrase that you've coined.

Could you just say something about what it means for you?

Yes, I mean, alternative hedonism is the general term I've used for the idea that we should be

pursuing and enjoying alternative ways of living and of enjoying ourselves to that of the consumerist lifestyle.

I wanted to point up the way in which in virtue of the ecological crisis it's very important that we rethink our ways of living,

but on the whole one of the problems I think has been

...