Waste Not, Want Not

In his article "Faustian Economics," Wendell Berry directly addresses the problems of "prodigal extravagance" and "assumed limitlessness" inherent within the modern American society. These desires for limitlessness extend into the realms of our environment, politics, education, science, and technology. As a result of this desire for more, Berry explains that we have adopted a "moral minimalism," or a need to do things simply, quickly, and efficiently, with minimal effort from ourselves. Berry cites Christopher Marlowe's Tragical History of Doctor Faustus and John Milton's Paradise Lost to make clear that the dangers of limitless knowledge have been known for years, and that it is seemingly part of the human condition to want to break these bounds.

Berry believes that what we need most now is "sciences and technologies of limits, of domesticity" that would work "within self-imposed limits," which is how "the best humans always have worked." Again pointing out American greed, Berry states that "our human and earthly limits, properly understood, are not confinements," as some may argue, "but rather inducements to formal elaboration and elegance, to fullness of relationship of meaning." Finally, Berry recalls his initial argument about the environment, explaining that we cannot exhaust our natural fuels and resources because we do not get a second chance with these. Instead, it is "once-for-all."

Berry makes a very strong argument in favor of conserving our natural resources. Instead of simply focusing on ecological and environmental facts like many nature advocates do, Berry cites examples from science, politics, literature, and art to convey his message. This keeps the reader interested in what he has to say and helps to drive his point home in general. By exposing American tendencies toward greed and waste, Berry might cause some people to re-think their every-day decisions, thus helping the environment, even if only in a minor way. Overall, Berry's article poses a successful, convincing, and creative argument.