Idea of Luxury: A Conceptual and Historical Investigation

Title: Idea of Luxury: A Conceptual and Historical Investigation
Author: Christopher J Berry
ISBN: 9780521466912
Publisher: Cambridge University Press
Published: 1994
Binding: Paperback
Language: English
Number of Pages: 288
Section: Business & Economics | Economics | Theory
Publisher Description: In this far-ranging and innovative study Christopher Berry explores the meanings and ramifications of the idea of luxury. Insights from political theory, philosophy and intellectual history are utilized in a sophisticated conceptual analysis that is complemented by a series of specific historical investigations. Dr. Berry suggests that the value attached to luxury is a crucial component in any society's self-understanding, and shows how luxury has changed from being essentially a negative term, threatening social virtue, to a guileless ploy supporting consumption.