Speaking with: Emrys Westacott on the virtue of frugal living

Simple living in a complex time – is a return to frugality the key to happiness? Xurxo Martínez/flickr, CC BY-NC-SAThey say the best things in life are free – or at least, Emrys Westacott seems to think so. For those who have the choice, the rejection of extravagance is deemed highly virtuous. Many of the great thinkers of history have advocated the moral value of frugal living, but in our culture of excess the temptation to indulge can be difficult to overcome. William Isdale spoke with Emrys Westacott, a Professor of Philosophy at Alfred University, New York, about how a return to simple living could bring greater happiness in our increasingly complex world – though there’s a case to be made for the cultural value of extravagance, too. Emrys Westacott is the author of The Wisdom of Frugality: Why Less Is More - More or Less, a philosophically informed reflection on the benefits of frugal living. Subscribe to The Conversation’s Speaking With podcasts on Apple Podcasts, or follow on Tunein Radio. Additional Audio William Hemblton: Hotel Carpe Diem Advertisement Telstra: The Magic of Technology Freesound: dobroide - 20060824.forest03.wav Freesound: InspectorJ - Stream, Water, C.wav Freesound: eastierp - frogs in a pond Freesound: Arctura - AMBIENT LOOP - Perfectly Clear - Wilderness Hillside - FILTERED.mp3 Freesound: pcaeldries - FireBurning_v2.wav Lr33s_ag: All of Donald Trump’s Billions Music Free Music Archive: Blue Dot Sessions - Wisteria Free Music Archive: U.S. Army Blues - Main Stem Free Music Archive: U.S. Army Blues - Not On The Bus Free Music Archive: Jason Shaw - Running Waters Free Music Archive: Gillicuddy - Adventure, Darling Free Music Archive: Gardner Chamber Orchestra - Mozart: Sinfonia Concertante for violin and viola, K. 364 Emrys Westacott received a summer stipend from the National Endowment for the Humanities in 2010 to support the writing of his last book, 'The Wisdom of Frugality.'William Isdale does not work for, consult, own shares in or receive funding from any company or organisation that would benefit from this article, and has disclosed no relevant affiliations beyond their academic appointment.