Consumption, Ethics of

Abstract

This article begins with a discussion of the sources of value in which human needs and wants for commodities are grounded. Next, a brief initial overview of ethical consumption issues and a discussion about how consumers might be held responsible for them are provided. The essay then considers different kinds of normative ethical theories and the obligations they impose on consumers, and closes by taking stock of the social movements, practices, and campaigns that fall within the scope of the ethics of consumption.