Desire and Absence: A Study of Consumerism through the Lens of Anupalabdhi in Indian Epistemology

This research investigates the phenomenon of modern consumerism by analyzing it through the epistemological category of anupalabdhi (non-cognition/knowledge of absence) in Indian philosophy. Consumerist desire is often driven not by genuine needs but by the perception of absence— “I don’t have this product, therefore I must acquire it.” Using Bhāṭṭa Mīmāṁsā, Advaita Vedānta, and Navya-Nyāya perspectives, this paper examines how absence becomes epistemically constructed and exploited in consumer markets. The study further integrates consumer psychology and marketing strategies with classical Indian theories of absence, ultimately offering insights into consumer awareness and ethical consumption.