Evolution of the Work Concept - Essay Example

?The Evolution of Work Work is an extremely important part of life. Every person must work at their job to live their lives in the manner that they would like in a fast-paced world. The word ‘work’ itself has become very complex, and the definition of work has evolved as our history as people has advanced. This is due, in part, by the enormous economic development. First, I will cover the general definition of the word ‘work’, and move on to what the sense of work ethic is. I will also cover the historical meaning of work, and relate it to American Protestantism. The significant changes in work ethic will be covered as well with relation to history and economy. The definition of work is the physical and/or mental efforts and other activities associated with the accomplishment of a specific duty. The applications of work in everyday life provide a more complicated meaning in part due to the constantly changing actions of humans themselves. This has caused historical context to become more important in the definition of the word. One noteworthy piece of history, which provided work, a new definition, was in the 15th and 16th centuries. The age of navigation was at its peak, and the colonial age became an integral part of history. In this time, work could be defined in two different ways. The first was through thte eyes of the colonizers themselves, and the other was through the eyes of those that were colonized. There was a plethora of work readily available about the western power, as well as in context of the un-colonized world at the time. In respect to the western power, work was generally defined as parenthood. For these people, conquest was bringing civilization to what they perceived as an uncivilized world. Thus, the processes of conquests were important in the achievement of creating civilization among uncivilized people. The colonizers took the memories they had of their schoolmasters and used them, as they were the learned ones who were charged with the education of the uneducated and to show them a better life (Geddes). However, that definition of work that was exclusive in the eyes of the western power was masked. The plans of the colonizers sounded promising, as they promised a better life and way for the un-colonized people. They introduced the concept of civilization and education through their conquests as a primary source of bringing the life that they had experienced in the lands from which they came. The definition of work was not the same for those who were colonized. For the natives, the definition of work as acculturation and conformity to their masters demands (Geddes). Although the promises of a better life through the development of the economy was seen as a compromise of the colonies, the benefits of this process being one-sided. This compromise was only beneficial to the colonizers. They began exploiting natural resources and introduced the idea and development of slavery. They took it upon themselves as a burden of their powers to civilize the native people and take the economic advantages they gained for themselves as part of a new development for their homeland (Geddes). Work for the natives ultimately meant the physical aspects of its definition. The natives were placed in forced labor, similar to the curve of the British Empire in India. Work for the colonized people was very hard, as they had to suffer the dictation of the colonizers along with the abuse of their masters (Geddes). As happens with historical progression, economic development and the definition of work became more diluted. Mercantilism became moot and capitalism began through the Industrial Revolution. It was in this time that the complications of work became evident through the new technology developing at the time. New machines were invented and introduced, allowing for mass production for the first time. This allowed them to produce products in greater volumes at lower costs. Capital investing and saving were being more strongly considered, and the introduction of wages for workers and profits for companies became more prevalent. Production lines and mass production were the trends that took hold (Judis). With the complications that were induced because of economic development, the people in the perspectives of work had suddenly become very different. The terms the colonizers as well as the colonized used disappeared. ‘Capitalist’ and ‘worker’ replaced them. In addition, other terms and the working conditions between the two were created: investment, production expansion, workers wages, industrialization and subsistence (Judis). As the centuries unfolded in the development of work and economic progress took hold, the definition of work was changed again. Economic flow was enveloped by liberalism, globalization and modernism as results of capitalism. The people that introduced this type of economic development during the age of navigation and the industrial revolution were always there, but had dispersed significantly in comparison to the prior centuries. Interaction and organization became the high value themes during these times. The concept of supply and demand was at the heart of it all. Everything depended solely on supply and demand. The organization of national companies was created and the interaction of companies with one another became more prevalent (Geddes). The word ‘work’ was now connected firmly to economic development. Work was not only connected to the colonized, the colonizer, the capitalist and the worker any more. Work meant attachment to the growing, bustling economy. When someone works, they are active participants in the development of their economy in the period in which they live. Work was synonymous with economy itself (Geddes). What has been provided in historical context has defined work by its association to the economy and profit accrual. The objective of work, however, is not confined solely to economy. People’s driving force for work is often associated with religion. Religion secures a belief system and often people’s ways of life. Therefore, a partnership begins to grow between accrual of profits and religious fulfillments. A prime example can be seen in society itself, specifically Protestantism. This religion drives people to work and produce to contribute to the growing economy. At the turn of the 19th century, Protestantism was widespread, particularly in northeastern states where the Founding Fathers created the colonies. Protestantism was absorbed in every aspect of life, and the citizenry knew the goal of their lives on earth was salvation. With this belief and their staunch hold and practice of their religion, they developed the attitude that work was for the glory of God. This meant that their daily efforts in fulfilling chores and other work was the same as achieving salvation. The accrual of profits was also intended, in part, to become in God’s favor. Work was a means of avoidance of temptations from sex to dancing. In the mid-19th century, work was a way to resist sin and was a way to purify the body of undesirable pleasures (Judis). Work satisfied the demands of strength of the person, the economy and religious salvation. As time wore on, protestant work ethic was strong in those who were protestant. They were distinctive of others in the work place. Some of them took a stand to be differentiated from others in their attitude toward work itself. Generally, Protestants were composed and they always attributed this demeanor to the strength from God. They also showed differences in work ethic in their ability to stand up, support, defend what was right, and avoid what was wrong. They exercised their morality to appease their religion and God (Sikkink). Their work ethic has had positive effects on the economy, such as governance and clean working environment. Their honesty allowed them to handle money and their inherent biblical standards produced a trustworthiness that made the economy and business transactions smoother, thus increasing productivity (Sikkink). Similar to the constant change of the definition of the word work, the religious aspect in context to work had also changed. This was due to the development of the economy in historical timeframes. Both world wars and America’s recovery from the Great Depression left their marks in the history books, and the economy of the nation has been expanding ever since. Capitalism grew, productivity flourished and the accrual of profits increased dramatically. Demands for new goods were produced in bulk and new outlets for new investing was created. This led to advertisements through the technological advancements, which ran rampant through society. In the partnership of religion and economy, to work ethic had changed. They went from salvation to the pleasure of life at the present time (Judis). Work in relation to economic development had gone from the ultimate of life’s achievements to the desire of a better lifestyle. The early parts of history gave its citizenry a superior outlook on life in the precept of religion, as salvation was the ultimate goal in their lives (Judis). They based their livelihood on the Christian teachings of the bible along with the concepts of religious morality. Thus, the economy prospered along with the satisfaction of the individual’s religious obligations. In prior historical development, work ethic was transformed from the lowly achievement of leisure and desire to have the luxuries that were only available to the rich and prosperous in society. Through the technological advances in present society and the flow of the economy post-Depression, work has become leisure-oriented (Judis). People want the good, relaxed life. Religion was still important in everyday life, but religion oriented work ethic diminished due to the displaying of a comfortable, easy life. The kind of life anyone can have through hard work. This caused the sense of the definition of work to change in relation to its history and economical factors of development. What is currently presented by most is a combination of religious, leisure and luxury oriented work ethic. They strive every day for a better life, on that is full of luxury and simplicity that can fulfill their desires in their lives. As history has progressed and the economy has evolved, the definition of work has changed from its historic meaning into its current, respective context. From the age of navigation, to the Industrial Revolution, to the inception of liberalism, globalization and modernism, work had once referred solely to the colonizer-colonized relationship, the capitalist-employee relationship and international trade. Work and its ethic have evolved well from a partnership of the development of religion and economy, to the leisure and luxury oriented workplaces. Work has evolved immensely and continues to evolve with the ebb and flow of history and economy. Works cited Geddes, Bill. “Capitalism and Work: The White Man’s Burden”. Blog on Capitalism. The History and Nature of Capitalism, 8 Jan. 2011. Web. 4 May 2011. Judis, John B. “Value-Free”. Oxford 1999 Web Page. The New Republic, 3 May 1999. Web. 4 May 2011. Sikkink, David. “Religion at Work: Conservative Protestantism, Religiosity, and Ethics in the Workplace”. University of Notre Dame Web Page. n.p., 2000. Web. 4 May 2011. Read More