Why is the society so hell-bent on materialistic pleasures and physical lifestyles?

Answer 1

Loss of traditional values
Loss of spiritual life
Loss of social structures that uphold the family etc.
Consequent emotional and social isolation

They've got to fill their hearts with something, and they think that material objects will do that. But they only relieve the existential pain for a few hours or days, and then there has to be something "new" again.
Result: debt, poverty and ever-increasing loneliness and depression.

Answer 2

I believed that you have somewhat answered your own question here. 'materialistic pleasures' are just that - pleasurable. Why, if someone has the means, would they not seek pleasure, be it in the form of a Porsche or otherwise? Certainly you could not classify the present society's consumer practices as hedonistic, for you seem to have overlooked the charity and altruistic spending that occurs everyday.

Additionally, I am unsure as to whether it is possible to have a lifestyle other than a physical one. Perhaps if meditation could pay the electrical bill it would be more popular.

Answer 3

Is materialistic world not manifestation of the spiritual being. Can you imagine something which has not bee planned by a conscious being.

When we are warned against materialistic lifestyle, it does not mean that we should not materialistic at all. This body and the universe is made of material and will be maintained materially.

Only to think of the life style which we can not sustain with our work puts us in misery and we are warned against it. Very people who warn you about it (I mean religious people) want material help from you.

Answer 4

Humans are material and physical beings, and tend to enjoy materialistic pleasures and physical lifestyles. There are also any number of external forces (such as marketing and advertising) that push us to concentrate on materialism, rather than more important things, but this just urges us on in the direction we naturally want to go.

Answer 5

Because we are human and the physical is what we understand more than anything else. I think as a race we are not mature enough to comprehend anything other than the physical world we live in (and maybe we dont want to understand anything else right now). Im sure we will change eventually but it is going to take a very very long time!

Answer 6

they behave as they are programed to, by the mass media. which is in league with government,which is in league with big business, which sells products.

it is in the interests of these parties that people do not get information from each other, no reality checks here, but that all information be funneled through a few select gatekeepers. mostly TV and newspapers. to create a believable but fictitious reality of a society of material consumption.

Answer 7

We have failed Nietzsche's challenge.
Nietzsche became aware that God was dead, that the idea of God would no longer be a driving force in western culture. He therefore urged man to strive to find a new system of values, to give new meaning to his life.
The danger, of course, was a plunge into nihilism and the grossest form of hedonism, which is of course what happened.

Answer 8

People go in that direction until they realize that material things don't bring real long lasting contentment... then they pursue the Spiritual path.

The Prodigal Son story tells this story and this resource explains the Spiritual Path.

Answer 9

Because those lifestyles bring the most short term satisfation to people.

Answer 10

We've been conditioned to be "consumers" so the big companies can continue to make money and stay in business. They tell us what's important, and we believe them.