Degrowth / Post-Growth | The Simplicity Collective

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Mar 4, 2018 Posted by Samuel Alexander

Degrowth, Permaculture, and the Simpler Way (Collected Essays)

Late last year I published my third book of collected essays – and I never got around to posting about it. The collection is called Wild Democracy: Degrowth, Permaculture, and the Simpler Way and it is available here. My first two books of collected essays are Prosperous Descent: Crisis as Opportunity in an Age of Limits and Sufficiency Economy: Enough, for Everyone,... read more

Oct 21, 2017 Posted by Samuel Alexander

Art Against Empire: Toward an Aesthetics of Degrowth

Last night I launched my new book called Art Against Empire: Toward an Aesthetics of Degrowth. This book is the outcome of a year-long collaboration with culture jamming artists around the world who produced over 170 images that make up the substance of the book. You can see some of the images here and the book is available for purchase here. What role might art need to play in the transition beyond... read more

Oct 16, 2017 Posted by Samuel Alexander

Culture Jamming Art: Book Launch Invite

This is one final reminder for those in Melbourne who might be interested in attending my book launch this Friday, 20 October, at 5.30pm, at Melbourne University. More details and RSVPs at this link, please share with others who may be interested. There will be live music from the amazing Matt Wicking and free beer and cider from the Good Brew Company. There will also been an exhibition of some of the art.... read more

Oct 2, 2017 Posted by Samuel Alexander

Art Against Empire: Book Launch Invitation (Melbourne)

Over the last year I have been working on a new project which explores the role of art and aesthetics in driving social, economic and political change. I am soon to publish a book on the subject called Art Against Empire: Toward an Aesthetics of Degrowth which includes over 170 ‘culture jamming’ images from a range of amazing artists. The book is being launched on 20 October 5.30pm at the... read more

Apr 12, 2017 Posted by Samuel Alexander

Introduction to ‘Entropia’

In 2013 I published my first book of fiction, Entropia: Life Beyond Industrial Civilisation. This book has just been published in French, with a foreword by Serge Latouche, so to mark this occasion I’m publishing the introduction to Entropia below (in English). If you know any French speakers, please share this link with them. The English version is available in paperback here and pdf here. The story... read more

Feb 10, 2017 Posted by Samuel Alexander

A Critique of the Decoupling Strategy: A ‘Limits to Growth’ Perspective

In late 2015 the CSIRO – Australia’s most prominent scientific organisation – published the ‘Australian National Outlook Report’ which argued that Australia can grow its economy and achieve sustainability without questioning consumerist values. In response to that report, the Simplicity Institute has just published a new paper called ‘A Critique of the Decoupling... read more

Feb 2, 2017 Posted by Samuel Alexander

The Dark Cellars Project: An Aesthetics of Revolt

A couple of months ago I made a call out for artists and graphic designers to be in touch if they wanted to explore ways to use art and image to unsettle the normality of consumer capitalism and provoke thought about alternative ways to live and be. I was overwhelmed by the response, with over 50 artists writing back expressing their interest in a culture jamming project. In recent weeks we’ve set up... read more

Jan 4, 2017 Posted by Samuel Alexander

The Moral and Ethical Weight of Voluntary Simplicity: A Philosophical Review

I’ve just published a new Simplicity Institute Report with a friend and colleague, Jacob Garrett, called ‘The Moral and Ethical Weight of Voluntary Simplicity: A Philosophical Review’. I’ve posted the introduction below and the full report is available here. The Moral and Ethical Weight of Voluntary Simplicity: A Philosophical Review Samuel Alexander and Jacob Garrett 1.... read more

Sep 11, 2016 Posted by Samuel Alexander

Introduction to ‘Deface the Currency’

Below I have posted the table of contents and the introduction to my new book of dialogues, Deface the Currency: The Lost Dialogues of Diogenes. The book is available here. ACT I DIOGENES’ LANTERN ACT II THE EMPEROR AND THE BEGGAR ACT III PLATO AND THE REPUBLIC OF DIOGENES ACT IV THE NERVOUS OLIGARCHS ACT V THE RENEGADE ACT VI DIOGENES IN PRISON INTRODUCTION Diogenes of Sinope was a Greek... read more

Sep 9, 2016 Posted by Samuel Alexander

Deface the Currency: The Lost Dialogues of Diogenes

I’m happy to announce the publication of my new book – or, rather, my new ‘philosophical play’ in six acts – called Deface the Currency: The Lost Dialogues of Diogenes. Here is the advance praise the book received from Dr William Desmond, author of The Greek Praise of Poverty. “This is a creative re-enactment of the life, death and ideas of the most influential Cynic of... 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.