Samuel Alexander | The Simplicity Collective

Jun 1, 2023 Posted by Samuel Alexander

Camus on Art and Revolt: Overcoming Nihilism in an Absurd Universe

Below I have posted the latest essay in my new collection called S M P L C T Y: Ecological Civilisation and the Will to Art. This essay is called ‘Camus on Art and Revolt: Overcoming Nihilism in an Absurd Universe.’ The PDF is also available. Camus on Art and RevoltDownload ‘The demands of rebellion are really, in part, aesthetic demands.’ ‘I rebel – therefore... read more

May 28, 2023 Posted by Samuel Alexander

An Aesthetic Justification of Existence: The Redemptive Function of Art

I am continuing to publish my new essays as I finish them. The full collection, called S M P L C T Y: Ecological Civilisation and the Will to Art, will eventually be posted here. Below I have posted the latest essay, ‘An Aesthetic Justification of Existence: The Redemptive Function of Art.’ The PDF is also available below. An Aesthetic Justification of-ExistenceDownload ‘We... read more

May 28, 2023 Posted by Samuel Alexander

Pessimism without Despair: Suffering, Desire, and the Affirmation of Life

I am in the process of publishing a collection of essays on aesthetics called S M P L C T Y: Ecological Civilisation and the Will to Art. In recent days I published the Preface, the Introduction, and the opening two essays, ‘The Cosmos as a “Readymade”: Dignifying the Aesthetic Universe‘ and “Creative Evolution and the Will to Art.” The latest essay, ‘Pessimism... read more

May 22, 2023 Posted by Samuel Alexander

Creative Evolution and the Will to Art

I am in the process of publishing a collection of essays on aesthetics called S M P L C T Y: Ecological Civilisation and the Will to Art. In recent days I published the Preface, the Introduction, and the opening essay, ‘The Cosmos as a “Readymade”: Dignifying the Aesthetic Universe.’ Below I post the second of the substantive essays, “Creative Evolution and the Will to... read more

May 21, 2023 Posted by Samuel Alexander

The Cosmos as a ‘Readymade’: Dignifying the Aesthetic Universe

I am in the process of publishing a collection of essays on aesthetics called S M P L C T Y: Ecological Civilisation and the Will to Art. In recent days I published the Preface and the Introduction, and below I have posted the first of the substantive essays. The PDF is also available below. The Cosmos as a ReadymadeDownload ‘For the nature of humanity is art. Everything for which there is a... read more

May 19, 2023 Posted by Samuel Alexander

Introduction: The Aesthetic Dimension

Below I have posted the Introduction to my new collection of essays called S M P L C T Y: Ecological Civilisation and the Will to Art. The PDF is also available. Introduction-–-The-Aesthetic-Dimension-1Download ‘Rising, tram, four hours in the office or factory, meal, tram, four hours of work, meal, sleep and Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday, Friday and Saturday, according to the same... read more

May 15, 2023 Posted by Samuel Alexander

Preface: The Apocalyptic Sublime

Below I have posted the Preface to my new collection of essays, called S M P L C T Y: Ecological Civilisation and the Will to Art. I will publish these essays over coming months, as I complete them, with the Introduction ready for publication later this week. The PDF of the Preface is also available for download below. Preface-–-The-Apocalyptic-Sublime-2Download ‘The bleaker and emptier... read more

May 15, 2023 Posted by Samuel Alexander

S M P L C T Y: Ecological Civilisation and the Will to Art

Over the last year I have been working on a collection of aesthetic essays called S M P L C T Y: Ecological Civilisation and the Will to Art. Although this project may still be a few months off completion, I’ve decided to start publishing essays as I finish them. Below I have posted the provisional Table of Contents for this project and the cover page. As I publish each essay, I will update this... read more

Apr 7, 2022 Posted by Samuel Alexander

The Rebellion Hypothesis: Extinction Rebellion and Civil Disobedience (Part VII of Ecological Civilisation)

Can civil disobedience ever be justified in a democracy? How does Extinction Rebellion relate to other social movements in history that have also practiced civil disobedience to advance societal progress? In this presentation I critically examine these questions and present an analysis I call the ‘rebellion hypothesis’. This is Part VII of the Ecological Civilisation series. The series is... read more

Mar 26, 2022 Posted by Samuel Alexander

Video – Ecovillage Future: And How Access to Land is a Barrier (Ecological Civilisation Series)

What is an ‘ecovillage’ and how do practices and values different from ordinary life within consumer capitalist societies? And what would the world look like if there were millions of ecovillages emerging to replace industrial civilisation? In this presentation, I examine these question and draw on research which attempts to measure the energy and resource reductions of ecovillage living.... read more

Invitation / Incitation

The Simplicity Collective is founded upon the idea that a 'simpler life' of reduced resource and energy consumption is a viable and desirable alternative to consumer culture.

Our position is that simple living will improve not only our own lives, but the lives of others, as well as help save our planet from the environmental catastrophe towards which we are so enthusiastically marching.

We must not just fall in line, then, and continue the march ‘business as usual.’ We must explore alternative ways to live. We must experiment creatively, like the artist. We must be the poets of our own lives and of a new generation.