Did The Pandemic Free Us From Capitalism?

Coronavirus has ripped apart the fabric of our society and forced us to adapt to a new way of life. Although it initially felt like our lives were out of control, we actually in some ways regained it. Our schedules were not dictated by our 9-5 jobs or filled with consumerist pursuits, and there was a sudden reduction in air pollutants.   

As the dust settles from the initial lockdown it’s easy to see the benefits of a society not ruled by capitalism. When the daily hustle was paused emissions dropped and the natural world was given time to heal. We were also given the chance to check in with ourselves and reconnect with our loved ones.  

This new way of life caused a shift in thinking. A poll from YouGov found that just 6% of the British public wanted to see a return to our “pre-pandemic economy” and instead would prefer a “fairer and greener” system. Though the pandemic has proven that a more utopian society is possible, the government is refusing to adapt to the changing needs of its citizens and the planet. There is a constant pressure to return to normal, despite the fact that our old ways were slowly poisoning us all. We need to devise a more sustainable society, one that is driven by ‘alternative hedonism’ rather than consumerism.  

Kate Soper is a British philosopher and author of Post-Growth Living: For an Alternative Hedonism. She defines “alternative hedonism” as a rebellion against “affluence as providing the ideal model of the ‘good life’ because of its emphasis on the more negative aspects of the consumerist lifestyle: time-scarcity, stress, insecurity, pollution and ill-health, road congestion, excessive and often toxic waste, the commercialization of children and the general dominance of the work-and-spend existence.” A more utopian version of society is possible, which prioritizes wellbeing over economic growth. Global warming and social inequality are both caused by a capitalist society. We need to break the consumerist cycle if we are to truly tackle these issues.  

“I insist that there can be no sustainable global future without the promotion of much greater equality both within and between nations and that this, in turn, will require a commitment to a radically revised economic order - one much less dependent on continuous growth and profit.” Though the pandemic has taken its toll on all corners of society, it has also opened up alternative ways of living. It has given us an opportunity to escape the downwards spiral of a world ruled by capitalism, and focus instead on the healing that our planet and society truly need.   

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