The social or political goals put forward by others are consistent with the anti-consumerism movement, including the protection of ethics, social justice and sustainable development. Duane Elgin once said: "We can call the simplicity of pursuing ourselves a lifestyle with a more frugal appearance and a richer heart, a most real and vivid way, which allows us to contact life directly and consciously."
As an idea, simple life is different from life forced by poverty, and it is a lifestyle of voluntary choice. Although asceticism also advocates simple life and abandons luxury and indulgence, not all followers of simple life are ascetics.
Basic Introduction Chinese Name: Simple Life mbth: Simple life history, practice, modern examples and the development of "self-seeking simplicity" in experiment, politics, science and technology, economy and history are closely related to asceticism, which can be traced back to the Iron Age in India. Sakyamuni and Nazirite in the Bible (especially St. John the Baptist) were early ascetic monks. Many famous people said that spiritual inspiration made them advocate a simple lifestyle, such as San Francesco, Amon Hennashi, Tagore and Mahatma Gandhi. The epicureanism advocated by the Athenian philosopher Epicurus flourished from the 4th century BC to the 3rd century AD. Epicurus advocated a carefree life as a model of happiness, which can be achieved through careful choice and escape. In particular, Epicurus pointed out that maintaining a luxurious life caused more trouble than happiness. Therefore, he concluded that the necessary conditions for happiness are physical comfort and maintaining the lowest cost of living, while other things should be reduced or avoided. For centuries, religious groups, such as earthquake believers, Mennonites, Amish, harmonious society and some Quakers, have adopted a lifestyle of rejecting wealth and technology (in some form) for religious or philosophical reasons. North American naturalist and writer Thoreau 1854' s Notes by the Lake is considered as a famous non-sectarian work advocating a simple and sustainable life. Henry Stephens salter, an admirer of Thoreau, advocated a "simple and rational lifestyle". In Britain, other advocates of simple life include Edward Carpenter, william morris and members of the New Life Association. C.R. Ashbee and his followers also practiced these ideas, thus linking the concept of simple life with the arts and crafts movement. John Cobb powys, an English novelist, advocated a simple life in his book The Lonely Philosophy. George lorenzo Noyce, a naturalist, mineralogist, development critic, writer and artist, lived a wild life. He advocates a sustainable life and respects nature through a simple life. In 1960s+0920s and 1960s+091930s, southern agronomists in the southern United States advocated a lifestyle and culture centered on traditional and sustainable agricultural values, and opposed the urban industrialism that dominated the western region at that time. From1920s to1960s, some famous modern writers expounded the theory and practice of simple life, such as Richard Gregg, economists Ralph Soddy and Scott Norlin, anthropological poet gary snyder and utopian novelist Ernest Kromba. Greg published the book "The Value of Voluntary Simplicity" in 1936, and several decades later, Duane Elgin published the influential "Simplicity of Finding Yourself" in 198 1 year. Today, ecological groups in the United States and Canada advocate a simple lifestyle. The British Compassionate Life Movement advocates not using animal products, advocating simple life and self-reliance as remedies for exploiting human beings, animals and the earth. Some people practice simplicity in order to reduce the need to buy goods or services, and then reduce the exchange of time for money. Some people will leave their spare time to their families or others. Others use it to improve the quality of life, such as engaging in creative activities such as arts or crafts. Krumba examines the philosophy behind these choices in the non-fiction book "Life of the Poor with Style from 65438 to 0972". In addition, there are hundreds of pages of simple life skills and guides for voluntary or involuntary practitioners to use. Another way for Amish people to use wagons and villages without electricity and running water is to pay attention to the fundamental motivation of buying and consuming. Although we live in a society that often pursues happiness, materialism often fails to satisfy us, but it increases the pressure of life. Some people say, "making money and accumulating things should not stifle the purity of our souls, the life of our hearts, the cohesion of our families or the beauty of our society." British National Downshifting Week was established in 1995, which is a grassroots publicity activity to encourage participants to "actively embrace simple life". Tracey Smith, a British writer and propagandist of healthy and sustainable living, once said, "The more money you spend, the more time you earn money, and the less time you have to do what you want." The National Slow Life Week encourages participants to "slow down and get green", and there is also a list of suggestions for individuals, enterprises, children and schools to help adopt green or ecologically beneficial policies or habits, develop all social and environmental responsibilities in public places, and create ecological agreements for work and national courses respectively. Another way to practice is to adopt a simplified diet. Eating raw vegetarian food and other dietary methods can simplify domestic food production and consumption. Modern examples and experiments: The New England Literature Project of the English Department of the University of Michigan is an experimental literature and writing course, which started in the 1970s and was established by professors Allen Howes and Walter Clark. They adopted Thoreau's ideals of nature, autonomy and community to create this academic course. Today, students are studying the works of Thoreau and other New England writers from 19 to the 20th century in Lake Sebago, Maine. Students taking this course must promise not to touch drugs and alcohol during this period, and not to use mobile phones and computers in their lives. As part of their experience and research on New England literature, history and culture, they must minimize the use of electricity and heat sources. Politics Many environmentalists also advocate simplicity. Therefore, they oppose genetically modified, nuclear energy and other technologies that they consider dangerous. Green people support simplicity based on reducing the use of natural resources and reducing environmental impact. This concept is embodied in Kromba's "green triangle", which is composed of ecology, thrift and health. Many similar views are not included in green politics, but support green non-ism, trying to realize faith in a smaller scope, such as ecological villages. And often criticize globalization as "neo-colonialism" of imperialism or neoliberalism. The connection between economic growth and the war to control and develop natural or human resources is considered as a good reason to advocate simple living. Avoiding the "resource curse" is also the goal of many followers of simple life. Some people live a simple life in order to reduce the tax burden. Although the simple life of science and technology often belongs to the secular pursuit, it is still necessary to rethink the personal definition of "appropriate technology", just as Amish and Mennonite Baptists did. People who avoid using modern technology are usually regarded as followers of the Luddite movement or the New Luddite. People who practice simple life have different views on the role of science and technology. People like Kirk Patrick Sayre strongly criticize technology, while others regard the Internet as a key element in the simple life in the future, including reducing personal carbon footprint and reducing dependence on paper through telecommuting. Seeking simplicity may use high-tech elements, such as computers, Internet, solar panels, wind engines and hydro-generators, and other cutting-edge technologies to make simple life in mainstream culture easier and more sustainable. Food mileage refers to the distance of ingredients from the farm to the table. Simple Life adopted its ideas and supported locally produced food. At present, this idea has been recognized by the public, resulting in bestsellers such as 100 mile diet and Barbara Kinsolfer's "Self-cultivation: A Miracle Year". The authors of these two books spent a year reducing their carbon footprint by eating local food. Advertising is criticized as stimulating people's consumerism. Many people who advocate simplicity agree that stopping or reducing watching TV is a key factor in a simple life. Some people use the Internet, podcasts, community radio stations and underground radio stations as substitutes. Economy From 65438 to 0972, after the United Nations Environment Conference, the new economic movement rose. There is only one earth, the limit of growth and the blueprint for survival were published in the same year, and small is beauty-people-oriented economics was published the following year. Recently, David Wann introduced the concept of "simple abundance", which can be used in sustainable sexual life. According to him, it is also the starting point of real sustainable development: "It is important to ask ourselves three basic questions: What are we commuting and spending for?" What is the economy for? Finally, why are we more unhappy now than when we started to pursue wealth? " Therefore, simple life opposes the modern pursuit of wealth, so that it no longer pays attention to quantity, but pays attention to the preservation of cities, traditions and nature. James Robertson's "new economy of sustainable development" has the viewpoint of involving new economy. Robertson believes that the transition to sustainable development requires a broad shift from increasing income to reducing expenditure. The new economic principle established by Robertson is: systematically empowering people (opposing dependence) as the basis of people-centered development. Systematic protection of resources and environment is the basis of environmental sustainable development. From the "national wealth" model to the world integration model, from today's domestic economy to the ecologically sustainable, decentralized and multi-level single world economic system. Restore the central position of politics and ethics in economic life and thought. Respect the value of quality, not just the value of quantity. Respect women's values, not just men's values.