The Problem of Excess

Timothy Finch

PHI100

Professor Greenman

The Problem of Excess

There is an abundance of energy supplied to the planet Earth by the sun. As inhabitants of the earth, humans receive this energy, either directly or indirectly, and must spend it. The Accursed Share, written by Georges Bataille tries to give an understanding as to how humans expel this excess energy. Bataille argues that this energy expenditure can either be glorious or catastrophic depending on how it is used. In this paper I will describe Bataille's theory of excess, including its origins and examples of this excess from past societies as well as how this theory relates to Colby-Sawyer College in current history. I will argue that Bataille's theory of excess is correct and that it is a valid explanation for why we chose to do things that may otherwise seem pointless.

As a planet we receive energy from the sun, and that movement of energy is unidirectional. "Solar energy is the source of life's exuberant development"(p.28, Bataille). The sun is constantly supplying us with energy with no energy given in return. For this reason organisms have an abundance of energy that can be used for functional activities such as growing and reproducing. The theory of excess as explained by Bataille is as follows:

The living organism, in a situation determined by the play of energy on the surface of the globe, ordinarily receives more energy than is necessary for maintaining life; the excess energy(wealth) can be used for the growth of a system (e.g., an organism); if the system can no longer grow, or if the excess cannot be completely absorbed in its growth, it must necessarily be lost without profit; it must be spent, willingly or not, gloriously or catastrophically. (p.21, Bataille)

As I explained earlier the energy we receive from the sun is more than we need to carry out the functions of our day to day lives. From when we are born until the end of puberty, the excess energy consumed from the...