SOME OF THE QUESTIONS AND ISSUES WHICH THIS TOPIC EXPLORES

Bob Corbett
1988

1. What does a "simple lifestyle" mean?
2. Clarify the distinction between simplicity and misery.
3. Clarify the distinction between needs and luxuries. (Are all non-needs luxuries?)
4. Why have people voluntarily chosen lives of simplicity?
5. Why would anyone want to voluntarily choose a life of simplicity?
6. Are there obligations of justice to live more simply?

   IF SO

   :
   1. What are the roots of these obligations?
   2. What case can be made that the non-simple lifestyles of some cause the misery of others?
   3. What case can be made that the non-simple lifestyles of some cause serious damage to the ecosphere?
7. How can defenders of necessary simplicity reply to the primary counter-arguments against simplicity?
8. How can the defenders of voluntary, non-necessary simplicity reply to objections that their lifestyles are unnecessarily miserable? (The question of joy.)

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