Debate: Ban on advertising

Should advertising be banned?

Background and Context of Debate:

Morality: Is advertising in principle immoral?

Pro

• Advertising promotes non-rationality. There is nothing moral about encouraging customers to be non-rational and impulsive in spending.

• "Advertising manipulates small children even before they reach the age when they are legally responsible for their actions." [Vance Packard, "The Hidden Persuaders"]

• Advertising exploits our deepest fears, sensitivities and yearning. There is nothing moral about such actions, the less for commercial purposes.

• Advertising creates an attitude of wastefulness. There is no justification for encouraging the "psychological obsolescence" of products currently in use.

Con

• Advertising leaves everybody better off. Not only do the consumers benefit from the products they buy thanks to adverts, but also the whole economy benefits from these "impulsive" buys, thus leaving everybody better off (both the producers and consumers). Thus, advertising cannot be really immoral.

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Pro

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Con

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Pro

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Con

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See also

• Debate: Ban on advertising targeting children

External links and resources:

Books

• Vance Packard - The Hidden Persuaders