'There is no ethical consumption under capitalism' is a catchcry used to argue against consumer action because it is morally impure. I don't care whether my actions are morally pure; I care about the results they produce.

Leftists are shit at focusing on the results of their action. The end-game of leftists is to feel morally superior: never mind that no good results have been achieved.

Using syllogistic logic:

Surface premise: 'There is no ethical consumption under capitalism'
Hidden premise: And we should only take actions that are ethically pure
Conclusion: therefore we shouldn't reform consumption

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[–] A_Manul@hexbear.net 29 points 2 weeks ago (3 children)

For what it's worth, when I see that term used, it's not about criticizing consumption for being amoral. Rather it's about pointing out that, if all consumption is unethical under capitalism, then you can't ultimately live without contributing to that in some way through consumption.

Like, we need food to live for instance, so let's say you get a salad, you'd feel bad because, in America at least, those ingredients probably being farmed by abused immigrant workers for shit wages. But you can't fight to uplift those workers if you're dead by starvation. So try to limit the harm, but understand that no one is living a perfectly moral life under capitalism so don't beat yourself up too much when you don't live perfectly morally either.

That's generally how I see "no ethical consumption under capitalism" used by people. Of course sometimes that itself becomes a shield for criticism but that's a different can of worms.

[–] CptKrkIsClmbngThMntn@hexbear.net 9 points 2 weeks ago (2 children)

Of course sometimes that itself becomes a shield for criticism but that's a different can of worms.

I think that different can of worms is what this post is trying to address.

[–] A_Manul@hexbear.net 9 points 2 weeks ago (1 children)

That's possible, but I feel like the poster seems to think that when we say "no ethical consumption under capitalism" we're telling people not to buy anything in general. Like "Oh you want to get a new PC? That's unethical!" Which, people are, as far as I've seen, not doing. No one's asking you to be pure.

Of course if it that isn't what they are trying to say then I apologize.

[–] CptKrkIsClmbngThMntn@hexbear.net 3 points 2 weeks ago

Ahh maybe I misunderstood. I saw the post as a critique of people saying there's no ethical consumption under capitalism, so there's no point in trying to make any changes to what you or other people consume - it's all bad anyway so you might as well buy Israeli hummus or a new phone every year.

Those last two examples are of course hyperbole that I've never seen actual leftists use as examples, but I'm just trying to illustrate the sentiment. Of course individual action is folly but I'm still vegan for the micro-difference that makes, and like to use my positions of privilege to have as low a footprint as possible.