![]() The second is a personal choice, or even a philosophical attitude. ![]() Sobriety is similar to another concept, that of “frugality,” which comes from the Latin frugalis, meaning “a good harvest of fruit.” The first term is applied to society and is above all a collective approach. After all, when the French minister for the energy transition, Agnès Pannier-Runacher, spoke of sobriété subie (“forced sobriety”), she was simply referring to poverty. In other words, sobriety is seen as happy austerity – at least for those who choose to remove themselves from consumer society. ![]() However, “sobriety” seems to enjoy a better image than “austerity.” The former is supposedly voluntary, while the latter – a synonym of rolling back social protections – is imposed. Either way, both words imply tightening our belts. In times past, we might have preferred the term “austerity,” describing the strict management of the economy combined with freezing wages and increasing taxes. This new definition therefore claims to promote new jobs and provide an exceptional driver for innovation. They also believe that sobriety requires creating a new definition of well-being, one based on fewer materials, more work, fewer machines, and more intelligence. In terms of consumption, they state that sobriety means focusing on what is essential, opting only for what is necessary, and reducing anything that is superfluous. While sobriety is thrown around liberally in public debates in France, it is generally coupled with a modifier such as “energy” or “digital.” This is not enough to entirely satisfy environmentalists, who believe that the need for restraint applies to all natural resources – particularly raw materials, land, and water. Its synonyms include moderation, abstinence, temperance, restraint, and simplicity, and the term is associated with concepts such as concision and starkness. Sobriety comes from the Latin sobrietas, which, according to the venerable Gaffiot dictionary, means “ temperance in the use of wine.” In modern dictionaries, the term sobriety generally has several definitions, starting naturally with “ the minimal consumption of alcohol,” but followed by “the minimal consumption of food,” “a reserved attitude,” “moderation,” and “the absence of embellishments or frills” (particularly in literature and architecture). Advertisements for wines and spirits in France are accompanied by the recommendation A consommer avec modération (literally “To be consumed in moderation,” the equivalent of “Please enjoy responsibly”). The term sobriety ( sobriété in French) has long been applied to the consumption, or rather the reduced consumption, of alcoholic beverages. Constrained by inflation, rising costs, and energy restrictions, the French are now trying to adapt to avoid going without, according to the Paris-based daily newspaper. “Sobriety for Christmas” was the title of an article in Le Figaro on December 16, 2022, about consumer spending in the run-up to the holiday season. ![]()
0 Comments
Leave a Reply. |
AuthorWrite something about yourself. No need to be fancy, just an overview. ArchivesCategories |