Money, happiness and eternal life - Greed (Director's Cut) | DW Documentary

9,200,373
0
Published 2017-06-23
Can money and power ever make us happy? How much is enough? Our constant desire for more is part of our human nature.

Some call it a useful dowry of evolution, others a fault in the human genetic make-up: The old mortal sin Greed seems to be more ubiquitous than ever. Why can't people ever get enough, where is this self-indulgence leading - and are there any ways out of this vicious circle of gratification?

"People like to have a lot of stuff because it makes them the feeling of living forever," says American social psychologist Sheldon Solomon, who believes today's materialism and consumerism will have disastrous consequences.

Anyone who fails to satisfy his or her desires in this age of the Ego is deemed a loser. But with more than 7 billion people on the Earth, the ramifications of this excessive consumption of resources are already clear. Isn’t the deplorable state of our planet proof enough that "The Greed Program," which has made us crave possessions, status and power, is coming to an end? Or is the frenzied search for more and more still an indispensable part of our nature? We set off to look for the essence of greed. And we tell the stories of people who - whether as perpetrators or victims or even just as willing consumers - have become accomplices in a sea change in values.

Chapters:
00:00 – Intro
02:53 – Greed - A Fatal Desire
03:42 – Anxiety
16:57 – Ego
36:10 – Happiness Machine
42:49 – Seizure
50:47 – Babel
57:52 – Collapse
01:05:15 – Hope
01:14:41 – Death
01:20:53 – The Good Life
01:26:54 – Epilogue

#documentary #dwdocumentary #greed
______

DW Documentary gives you knowledge beyond the headlines. Watch top documentaries from German broadcasters and international production companies. Meet intriguing people, travel to distant lands, get a look behind the complexities of daily life and build a deeper understanding of current affairs and global events. Subscribe and explore the world around you with DW Documentary.

Subscribe to:
⮞ DW Documentary (English): youtube.com/dwdocumentary
⮞ DW Documental (Spanish): youtube.com/dwdocumental
⮞ DW Documentary وثائقية دي دبليو (Arabic): youtube.com/dwdocarabia
⮞ DW Doku (German): youtube.com/dwdoku
⮞ DW Documentary हिन्दी (Hindi): youtube.com/dwdochindi

For more visit: www.dw.com/en/tv/docfilm/s-3610
Follow DW Documentary on Instagram: www.instagram.com/dwdocumentary/
Follow DW Documental on Facebook: www.facebook.com/dwdocumental

We kindly ask viewers to read and stick to the DW netiquette policy on our channel: p.dw.com/p/MF1G

All Comments (20)
  • @williumbill
    I have stage 4 pancreatic cancer. I'm coming to terms with the fact that my life will now be measured in months. It is not easy to do (despite coming close to death earlier in the year with post-operative complications). This film has helped enormously. Thank you. I'm in the process of selling the 'stuff' I've accumulated, and this has inspired me. If I can help somebody each day, make their lives a little better, even if it's just saying 'hello', I get more satisfaction than any purchase of unnecessary 'stuff'. I'm going to share this film with my family, who will have to bear the consequences of my illness long after I am dead, in the hope it gives them some comfort.
  • @nerukun7979
    Money has its limitations.Norwegian poet Arne Garborg said that with money “you can buy food, but not appetite; medicine, but not health; soft beds, but not sleep; knowledge, but not wisdom; glitter, but not beauty; splendor, but not warmth; fun, but not joy; acquaintances, but not friends; servants, but not faithfulness.”
  • @YufaNezumi
    I grew uo basically homless, then taken by the social services and placed into fostercare in a middle class family. Later I was placed in this upper class couples farm and it really opened my eyes. They were so greedy, could buy anything they wanted but were still not happy. Money is never gonna make you happy. Maybe more stable with food and housing, but beyond that its just ridiculous. I'm in my late 20´s now, no family, no money but I've fulfilled my dreams and I have amazing people surrounding me.
  • "No matter where you go and how much you travel and discover...no body has changed and everyone still remains the same"....never truer words.
  • @demonslayer9772
    I watch this video about once a month to remind myself how Blessed I am because I still have my health, roof over my head, food on the table, and children who still love me. Everything else is just a distraction from what values the most.
  • @scottcarlon6318
    Spent my entire working life acquiring the next new thing, and a home to store all this stuff . What I have come to realize is that all my stuff has become more of a burden than a comfort.
  • @muthukumaranl
    Kudos to the DW team for putting together this extremely wisdom filled piece...this needs to be seen more widely...
  • @tcaldwell1782
    Not everyone desires more. Some of us are satisfied with basic necessities.
  • @salamanderz5847
    Happiness isn’t getting what you want, it’s wanting what you have 🤗
  • Society needs this kind of more documentaries which shows the real condition of the current state of our mind and society.
  • @LM-hb2ze
    I've seen quite a few documentaries which address the similar issues, but this really hits home. It's explained and connects all the dots: this should be shown in schools, universities and colleges. Knowledge is power ✊🏾 give young minds the chance to succeed where we have failed, instead of polluting them with commercial branding and capitalistic ideals
  • My rule for life is don't put material things over people. We are ALL just passing through this place, and we should help one another as much as possible.
  • I am 35 and until I watched this I was clueless... This video has truly changed something inside me. Thank you for the enlightenment.
  • The Shaman's amazing, traditional Inuit drum singing is formidable! I felt a strong wave of electricity & energy flowing right throughout my body, from head to foot. It made me feel, so very much alive. Such beautiful sounds. This documentary is superb & it really gives we humans so much more to consider. To consider what's truly most important in this life. To respect, care for, to love each other and to not only be so self serving. It's very eye opening & enlightening. Thank you DW Documentary for another superb documentary! My best wishes to all humans.
  • Thank you for this eye opening documentary. I realized, a long time ago, that I have to be the change I want to see in the world regardless of how it affects or doesn’t affect the world. The monster of excess and greed, that no one likes yet continues to feed, does not care when I stop feeding it. There is always someone, who has not learned to resist the trap, eager to take my place. I must accept, for my own peace of mind, that I may only be able to save myself.
  • I'm 52. Aside from my work tools and my bicycle, everything I own fits comfortably into one suitcase.. happier than I've ever been..
  • Money can't buy happiness, this is true. However, poverty will, to a certainty, guarantee your misery.
  • This documentary should be translate on all languages in the world!
    Thanks DW for the TRUTH!