Asking AI about democracy and the future (15/18): ChatGPT’s answer (4/7)

Why Democracy Still Matters: Hope in a Time of Crisis (4/7)

 

Part 4: Materialism and the Erosion of Civic Virtue

 

Gen with ChatGPT

Democracy does not merely require laws—it requires citizens. And citizenship, in the truest sense, is a moral posture: one of responsibility, solidarity, and care for the common good.[1] But in an age of relentless consumerism and materialism, these civic virtues are increasingly hard to sustain.

The question is not whether people vote, but whether they see themselves as part of something larger than themselves. Materialism, by design, turns inward.[2] It isolates. It encourages private gratification over public obligation, and efficiency over empathy.

 

From Citizens to Consumers

 

In market societies, our identities are shaped not by our shared responsibilities, but by our consumption patterns. We are told we are what we buy, wear, or drive. Success is measured in possessions, not participation; fulfillment in wealth, not wisdom.

This corrodes the very soul of democracy. For democracy requires a sense of shared fate, a willingness to sacrifice for others, and an ability to delay personal gratification for the sake of justice and the common good.

 

The Algorithm of Alienation

 

Digital capitalism intensifies this. Algorithms are designed to maximize engagement, not understanding. They feed us what we want to hear, not what we need to hear. They fragment attention, polarize opinion, and commodify outrage. In such a climate, dialogue withers, and with it, the possibility of a democratic commons.[3]

Even more dangerously, this commodified digital world often replaces real community with virtual performance. Likes replace solidarity. Trends replace truth. Citizenship becomes a brand rather than a burden shared.

 

The Loss of Meaning

 

When the dominant cultural message is that meaning comes from things, and freedom means choice without consequence, the deeper values that sustain democracy—truth, dignity, empathy—begin to decay.

Without a counterbalance, materialism dulls our capacity for moral imagination. It reduces others to means or competitors. It turns politics into a transactional space, devoid of vision or virtue.

 

A Historical Vignette: The Fall of the Roman Republic

 

By the 1st century BCE, the Roman Republic was unraveling. Its political system, once grounded in civic virtue and shared norms, gave way to elite excess, widening inequality, and civic apathy. Wealthy aristocrats prioritized personal gain over the res publica (the public thing).

Amid this vacuum, demagogues like Julius Caesar rose by promising the people bread and spectacle while consolidating power. The republic did not fall overnight. It decayed from within—eroded by the very materialism and corruption its citizens failed to challenge.

Rome’s story is not a blueprint, but a warning. Democracies do not collapse solely from external assault. They rot when their civic heart is hollowed out by unchecked greed and indifference.

 

Recovering Civic Imagination

 

To revive democracy, we must reimagine freedom not just as the absence of restraint, but as the presence of purpose. We must rebuild habits of solidarity, generosity, and service. This is not the work of policy alone—it is cultural, spiritual, even philosophical.

 

We need spaces—schools, houses of worship, local associations—where people can encounter one another not as consumers, but as neighbors. Where character is shaped, and conscience is formed.

 

Democracy is not just a system. It is a soul. And the soul must be nourished.

 

In the next part, we explore the purpose of education in a democratic society—and why it must go beyond test scores and economic utility to nurture the habits of heart and mind that democracy needs to survive.

 

Footnote

[1] The "common good" refers to societal conditions that benefit all or most members of a community. It encompasses shared goals, resources, and values that promote the well-being of everyone. Examples include clean air, safe streets, and access to education, all of which contribute to a better society for all. Google AI Overview, viewed on June 21, 2025.

[2] In essence, while material goods exist in the external world, the driving force behind materialism and its ultimate "payoff" are deeply rooted in the individual's desires, perceptions, and sense of self. It's a system designed to fulfill personal needs and wants, thereby turning attention and energy predominantly inward. Quoted out of a Q/A with Gemini, June 21, 2025

[3] The "Democratic Commons" refers to a vision and, in some cases, a concrete initiative aimed at enhancing democratic processes and participation through open access to information, technology, and collaborative platforms, often involving the use of AI. It envisions a space where citizens can engage with political data, participate in discussions, and contribute to decision-making in a more transparent and inclusive manner. Google AI Overview, viewed on June 23, 2025.