Capitalism is Build on Aesthetics

Contemplating on what defines a products value and its worth?

For years, societies have inherently gauged a products value via the functionality and utility it provides to its user. Various aspects affects a products overall utility:

• Usability: In which situation does the product provide value?
• Efficiency: How best or easily does the product do the job it’s intended for?
• Durability: How long does it last?
• Convenience: How optimal is it, in terms of weight, size, durability or cost-effectiveness, energy use (both electrical and manual), maintainability, among others.

Greater the functionality, the higher it’s value. No wonder our phones cost higher than a pocket watch (1 function vs n+ functions.)

However, advent of capitalism has trained our society to value aesthetics more than functionality. “Form over Function” and “Sex Sells” are well known slogans of capitalism. When we value form over function it gives rise to the concept of perceived value, then it’s a slippery slop of trying to outwit the consumer, creating ever new trends and hype giving rise to unsustainable practises and industries like fast fashion, fast food, fast cars, fast and cheap constructions practises all of which leads to a detrimental effect on our environment, our health and a never ending pursuit of gratification.

And that is frankly the root of all problems perpetuated with capitalism. Capitalism needs an additional mechanism of checks and balances to re-align it’s incentives back to functionality instead of form.

Until then it’s up to us to consciously choose function over form at every turn.