The changing career of luxury: From moral threat to material well-being

Abstract

The elusive nature of luxury and its history have been discussed for thousands of years. Previously known to be for the rich and famous, it could be argued that luxury is a moral threat to society, bringing about social divides and tension. But was is the real meaning of luxury? What was once a threat can now be considered to assist with well-being. This article discusses the historical developments of the phenomenon of luxury.

Keywords: Aristotle, demoralisation, desire, Hume, virtue