Voluntary simplicity is not to be confused with poverty, which is involuntary, degrading and debilitating. Neither does it mean that people must live on a farm or reject progress or technology or do without what is necessary for their comfort and welfare. For example, we need food and shelter but we don't necessarily need to eat steak and lobster or to live in a palace. In today's world, most of us need a computer and an internet connection for work and school, but at home we don't need a computer in every room - and we don't need to spend our time endlessly surfing the internet.
To practice voluntary simplicity, one must differentiate between what one wants (psychological desires) and what one needs (basic requirements of life), and seek a healthy balance that is compatible with both. In a consumer society where advertising bombards us with the message that without this, that and the other product we are unsuccessful, undesirable and unimportant. Being clear on what you really need and resisting what you don't can be an ongoing struggle.
The beauty of voluntary simplicity is that it is a philosophy, and not a dogma. How one goes about it depends on an individual's character, cultural background and climate. Although there is no single right way to practice voluntary simplicity, there are some general guidelines that one can apply to one's individual circumstances:
Choose the suitable option to complete the following sentence:
The author says that voluntary simplicity is a philosophy and not a dogma because:
Answer & explanation
Correct answer: option 1
The correct answer is Option (1) → it depends on an individual's character
A dogma is a fixed set of beliefs that everyone must accept in the same way. The author calls voluntary simplicity a philosophy, not a dogma, because "How one goes about it depends on an individual's character, cultural background and climate"; there is no single right way to practise it.
Why the Other Options are Incorrect?
Option 2: it is dictated by society — Incorrect. Contradicted: something dictated by society would be imposed from outside, which is the nature of a dogma. Voluntary simplicity is a personal choice.
Option 3: it is degrading and debilitating — Incorrect. Wrong link: these words describe poverty, with which voluntary simplicity must not be confused.
Option 4: it makes us feel unsuccessful — Incorrect. Wrong link: it is advertising in a consumer society that makes us feel unsuccessful, not voluntary simplicity.