Alain de Botton on An Ethical Advertising Campaign
Advertising has a bad name in society, because it’s associated
with selling us things we don’t really need: chocolate, 4 x 4 cars,
diamond rings. We may appreciate the artistry, intelligence and
wit that’s often found in adverts – we’ve just got problems with
what goods are being sold.
So imagine a different way of using advertising: one that would
use the aesthetic talents of advertising but direct these to a really
grand and noble project: that of nudging us to be the best of
ourselves. Imagine an ethical advertising campaign that wanted
to promote virtues of character applicable and relevant to our
own lives, virtues like kindness, patience, humility, generosity,
courage and humour. Read more here