Status Anxiety (NON-FICTION)

by Alain de Botton

The category of the successful person comprises both men and women, of any race, who have been able to accumulate money, power and renown through their own activities (rather than through inheritance) in one of the myriad branches of the commercial world (including sport, art and scientific research). Because societies are practically trusted to be ‘meritocratic’, financial achievements are understood to be ‘deserved’. The ability to accumulate wealth is prized for reflecting the presence of at least four cardinal virtues: creativity, courage, intelligence and stamina. The presence of other virtues – humility or godliness, for example – rarely detains attention. Achievements are not attributed, as in past societies, to ‘luck’, ‘providence’ or ‘God’ – a reflection of modern secular societies’ faith in individual willpower. Financial failures are, correspondingly, judged to be merited, with unemployment bearing some of the shame of physical cowardice in warrior eras. Money is imbued with an ethical quality. Its presence indicates the virtue of its owner, as do the material goods it can buy. Like jaguar teeth for the Cubeo, a prosperous way of life signals worthiness, while the ownership of an ancient car or threadbare home may spark suppositions of moral deficiency. Aside from offering high status, wealth is promoted on the basis of its capacity to deliver happiness, through access to a range of ever-changing consumer goods – whose absence may fill us with pity and