A Critique of the Claim That Consumerism Is a Natural Pattern

This paper explores the nature of modern consumerism by addressing whether economic progress and development inherently lead to a pattern of abundance and consumerism, or whether consumerism arises unnaturally through manipulation of consumers’ wills. Answering this question is crucial to determining whether consumerism should be regarded as a natural, balanced, and desirable phenomenon, or as an artificial, unbalanced, and undesirable one—thus informing efforts to confront its underlying causes and propose alternative models. Through a historical analysis of the evolution of consumption and consumerism in capitalist societies, the study reveals that modern consumerism, particularly in its current form as an ideology and a preferred lifestyle, lacks genuine historical precedent. Instead, it has developed alongside specific cultural, economic, and technological changes. Therefore, consumerism should neither be accepted as a natural pattern nor should any alternative paradigm be dismissed as unnatural or destined to fail. Moreover, the paper highlights that Western societies are increasingly moving toward alternatives to consumerism and proposes an Islamic consumption model as a viable and meaningful alternative.