Material Objects... Do they define my identity?

Material Objects

Materialism is a form of philosophical monism which holds that matter is the fundamental substance in nature, and that all phenomena, including mental phenomena and consciousness, are identical with material interactions.

What do my possessions mean to me?

Most people would say they 'need' everything they own, their car, their technology, how can I live without it? But really they don't 'need' it, I don't 'need' everything I own. Need seems like such an open word, but really what people mean is they want these things. The greed we all live with just makes us want more and more, no wonder we live in a world like we do, were killing someone is more important than saving a life, because people would rather have money then company. 

I'm sat here writing this on a computer, which I don't really need, I could be writing this down. It's just more convenient in a world full of technology and computers. 

The only things people really need in the world, is the air we breath, the food we eat ( but not all of it ) and the people we love. For example I own lots of things, do I ever really use any of it, no. So why do I have it ? Honestly I don't know. There are a few things that have meaning, but that's usually things that have come form someone else, not something I have bought myself. Something that has a memory linked to it is far greater than something you buy on impulse.

I could remove everything in my room and I'm sure I wouldn't miss half of it, because I don't need it. In the world we live in today, all I need is what keeps me alive, air, food, my friends and family, and maybe my clothes, because apparently that's indecent!

Back to the question I started with, I don't think the acquisition of material objects defines your modern identity, why should it ? We live in a very modern world yes, but why does that mean my possessions impact on my identity? I may dress a certain way because it reflects on my personality, but that's why we have friends, because they see that when they talk to you, so I shouldn't worry about how I dress or what I own should I? Correct, I think.

I do think I do contradict myself in a way though, for example, I would much rather own a book then read it off of a tablet, but I think that just makes me old fashioned and nostalgic. There is nothing nicer than reading from something real, instead of off a piece of metal and plastic, whether is costs me more or not. The feeling is far more worth it, and I think that's what really counts. I'm also the sort of person who says, I cannot live without my phone. Honestly its ridiculous and I know I can, but its nice to always be in contact with people and have all the answers to things with you at all times.
But people seemed happy enough before phones and computers and cars. Well apart from plague and pillaging and the general pain of walking miles, but where would we be if none of these things were invented? Probably happy and healthy, not worrying whether we had the next new thing or if our make-up was on point. 

It seems stupid to envy someone, and no I don't mean someone with a flashy car or a new phone. I'm talking about monks, Buddhist monks to be exact. Tibetan monks live their lives following their vows. However they are not obliged to follow every one. Buddhism is so open and accepting, it really is much very extraordinary. 

Better idea of how their vows work.

The lay prātimokṣa consists of five vows that are also known as the Five Śīlas:

1. To refrain from killing.
2. To refrain from stealing.
3. To refrain from false speech.
4. To refrain from sexual misconduct.
5. To refrain from using intoxicants.

One is not obliged to take all five vows. The commentaries describe seven types of lay followers:

1. Promising to keep just one vow.
2. Promising to keep certain vows.
3. Promising to keep most of them.
4. Promising to keep all five.
5. Keeping all five and also promising to keep the pure conduct of avoiding sexual contact.
6. Keeping all five, pure conduct, and wearing robes with the promise to behave like a monk or a nun.
7. Lay follower of mere refuge. This person is unable to keep the vows but he promises to go for refuge to the triple gem until death.

I bring up Buddhism because they do not believe in Lobha (greed). Buddhism to most is not about wanting, they do not need possessions to be happy, they want to fulfil enlightenment, and that is true happiness

The Tree Poisons.

Moha, or Ignorance
Dvesha, Hate
Lobha, Greed

Visual Research - Movies

They Live movie (1988)

They Live is a 1988 American satirical science fiction action horror film written and directed by John Carpenter. The film stars Roddy Piper, Keith David and Meg Foster. It follows a nameless drifter (called "John Nada" in the credits), who discovers the ruling class are in fact aliens concealing their appearance and manipulating people to spend money, breed, and accept the status quo with subliminal messages in mass media.

I chose to include this movie in my research due to the fact it still has great relevance to the idea that material objects can mentally control you without you seeing it directly. Whether you are scrolling through Facebook on your phone or mobile or driving down the road, advertisement is everywhere, getting in your head. Without the technology we have, we wouldn't be as bombarded with adverts for things we don't need.

The idea behind this film has really helped me with my project idea, and has actually changed the direction I 
was planning on going with. I'm now thinking of using material possessions and the idea that technology is 
taking away our own identities and leaving us as shells filled with commands and ideas of others. 



Other movies based off the new idea of control:

The Truman Show is a 1998 American science fiction comedy-drama film directed by Peter Weir and written by Andrew Niccol. The film stars Jim Carrey as Truman Burbank. The film chronicles the life of a man who is initially unaware that he is living in a constructed reality television show, broadcast around the clock to billions of people around the globe. Truman becomes suspicious of his perceived reality and embarks on a quest to discover the truth about his life.

The Butterfly Effect is a 2004 American psychological thriller film that was written and directed by Eric Bress and J. Mackye Gruber, starring Ashton Kutcher. The title refers to the butterfly effect, a popular hypothetical example of chaos theory which illustrates how small initial differences may lead to large unforeseen consequences over time.

Kutcher plays 20-year-old college student Evan Treborn. Evan finds he has the ability to travel back in time to inhabit his former self (that is, his adult mind inhabits his younger body) and to change the present by changing his past behaviors. Having been the victim of several childhood traumas aggravated by stress-induced memory losses, he attempts to set things right for himself and his friends, but there are unintended consequences for all. The film draws heavily on flashbacks of the characters' lives at ages 7 and 13, and presents several alternate present-day outcomes as Evan attempts to change the past, before settling on a final outcome.

The Matrix is a 1999 American–Australian science fiction action film written and directed by The Wachowskis, starring Keanu Reeves. It depicts a dystopian future in which reality as perceived by most humans is actually a simulated reality called "the Matrix", created by sentient machines to subdue the human population, while their bodies' heat and electrical activity are used as an energy source. Computer programmer "Neo" learns this truth and is drawn into a rebellion against the machines, which involves other people who have been freed from the "dream world".

Chosen theme, 'The acquisition of material objects is an important aspect defining modern identities'

Why i chose this question 

I chose this question because i was quite interested into researching the idea between material objects and the happiness it can or cannot bring to an individual. I was also very interested into putting it into a religious view using the idea of buddhism, and their idea about fulfilling enlightenment to be truly happy and not needing material possessions to make that happen. I thought this would be a good starting point to get me into this project.

What is happiness ?

Happiness is a mental or emotional state of well-being defined by positive or pleasant emotions ranging from contentment to intense joy. A variety of biological, psychological, religious and philosophical approaches have striven to define happiness and identify its sources. Various research groups, including positive psychology, are employing the scientific method to research questions about what "happiness" is, and how it might be attained.