EXPLOITATION IN THE NAME OF PROGRESS: A PHILOSOPHICAL CRITIQUE OF INDUSTRIALIZATION AND CONSUMERISM

This paper examines the interconnected forces of industrialization and consumerism, exploring how their evolution has shaped modern society. It begins by defining industrialization and outlining its transformative impact on economic structures, technological development, and patterns of human labour. The study then investigates the rise of consumerism, analysing the social, economic, and psychological factors that drive increasing consumption and its effects on individuals and communities. By presenting industrialization and consumerism through a cause-and-effect lens, the paper highlights how mass production fuelled mass consumption, creating cycles of demand that continue to influence global markets and cultural values. Finally, it addresses the darker side of progress, illustrating how unchecked industrial and consumer growth contribute to environmental degradation, resource depletion, and social imbalance. The findings emphasize the need to critically reassess contemporary notions of progress to ensure a more sustainable and equitable future.