A wide range of global problems are connected to the need for more sustainable thinking and actions. For example, the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals provide templates for change, but also highlight challenges due to the extent of changes that will be necessary to achieve those goals. Social scientists and educators who wish to support these changes must discover effective ways to assist our global society in working toward achieving those goals and more sustainable development. One of the challenges behind making progress on sustainability issues is that of moving global populations and their decision makers to change ingrained ways of life. In particular, global economic consumption, particularly consumerism, is in direct conflict with environmental limits on water, natural resources, and our ability to produce food, as well as contributing to waste and pollution problems. This article reviews what is known in social science about greed and consumerism in order to better understand obstacles to working on more sustainable development. In contrast to current consumptive behaviors, the article also reviews findings on the concept of eudaimonia, known as “The Good Life,” which is defined as “having a good guardian spirit.” Possibilities for reducing greed and motivating humans toward eudaimonia, rather than hedonia, are considered.
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