The Double Economy within our Souls

Saint Paul discusses a battle within ourselves between the flesh and the spirit. The spirit yearns for God while the flesh yearns for earthly pleasures. These two sides are often seen in opposition to each other, but not always. We humans are designed in the image and likeness of God and can only be satisfied by God. However, our flesh desires comfort and indulges in earthly pleasures regardless of our spiritual satisfaction.

Is this dual nature of man’s will reflected in Economics? On one side, is the part of the soul that desires God and cannot be satisfied by earthly pleasure. On the other side, is the part of the soul that has animalistic cravings that refuse to be satisfied permanently. This duality is reflected by two economies: The Economy of Plenitude and the Economy of Desire.

The term plenitude comes from Saint Augustine in the 5th century. He describes plenitude as fullness of being. That all of the possibilities of creation is made possible in order to display the grandeur of God’s creation. This allows for evils to exist in the world, but also for good to exist as well. In the Economy of plenitude, a person lives to their fullness of being without privation and without excess.

The Economy of Desire is the opposite of the Economy of Plenitude. The desire used here is reminiscent of the desire mentioned in Plato’s symposium. How desire only exists for that which is not possessed. We only desire something we do no have, and once we get it our desire for it disappears. We become temporarily satisfied until we are not and the desire for the object returns.

These two economies reflect the conflict that Saint Paul discusses in his letters. When we live within our means and find gratitude in all situations, then we are living in the economy of plenitude. If we are constantly hustling in a frantic attempt to satisfy some insatiable desire, then we are living in the economy of desire. The supply and demand curve is made up of both economies at all times. The significant difference is when someone is content in their fullness of life, or if someone still desires for some mysterious material good for an unknown reason.

The two economies is not on a spectrum of opposing choices. There are those who will pay an exorbitant amount of money to go to a music concert, while others are content with a single purchase for the song, while others still have no desire for the music at all. It is not like no music is the economy of plenitude and expensive ticket is economy of desire, while a mixture of both is the middle. That would be a misunderstanding. These two economies mimic our internal struggle and, similar to the interior struggle between flesh and spirit, the two economies exist within the individual.

In the music concert example, the question comes down to “did the purchase make us content?” Of course, only God can make us truly content. I suppose the question should be “Did the purchase allow us an encounter with God?” We are able to encounter God in all circumstances. It is possible to find God in a music concert. It is also possible that our fleshy desires makes us numb to encountering God at a concert. With proper training and prayer, then we could be better equipped to answer this question.

To make things simple, does your purchase cause you to rest in God’s majesty and glory with gratitude? Or does your purchase only deepen an unsatiated desire? Through this discernment of spirit and flesh, then we can better participate in the Economy of Plenitude instead of the Economy of Desire. The Economy of desire traps us like Tantalous in Greek mythology by deceiving us into thinking consuming material goods will satisfy our holy desire for God. However, only by pursuing God and being true to virtue and prudence will we experience true plentitude in our personhood.

It is quite possible a practitioner of the Economy of Plenitude will be counter cultural to the capitalist consumerist society. Imagine going to an all you can eat buffet and only eat to satisfy your hunger and not commit gluttony. Imagine using dating apps to find a true partner instead of a fling. Imagine choosing to walk instead of drive because enjoying nature is a higher priority than a rapid commute. Imagine living in a smaller house so a bigger vocation can be made possible.

In all these situations, glorifying God with our bodies is the true priority. We are either slaves of sin or righteousness. Let us serve righteousness in our purchases within the Economy of Plenitude. Let the Economy of Desire fizzle out due to a lack of demand. If we rebuke the devil, then he will flee, as scripture says. Perhaps, by striving to please God the capitalist economy will be glorified as well.