Abstract: The United States is currently the largest consumer society in the world, with consumerism dominating the whole society. The people of the United States have lived a comfortable and affluent consumerist life for a long time, but this lifestyle has many serious consequences, leading to criticisms and challenges to consumerism. Nonetheless, consumerism has developed into a mainstream lifestyle recognized by people all over the world because of its legitimacy in terms of economic prosperity, respect for human individuality, and commitment to fulfilling people’s free choice and pursuit of a happy life. Historically, consumerism arose with modernization and has continued to expand along with it. Many theoretical arguments for consumerism in modern and contemporary Enlightenment thought are still highly persuasive today, and some have become part of the common sense of the popular psyche. Given the two-sided nature of consumerism, a viable option may be to coexist with it, to remain vigilant and reflective about its negative aspects, and to reserve sufficient space for exploring different ways of life. Ultimately, there will be a transcendence of consumerism.