人類有 40% 的工作沒意義？這5種被公認「最狗屁」的工作，到底為何要存在？《 七七說書 》EP 042｜志祺七七

Summary

In this thought-provoking video, the concept of 'Bullshit Work' is explored, where anthropologist David Graeber's insights are highlighted. The video discusses the paradox of increasing joblessness despite technological advancements, attributing it to the proliferation of meaningless jobs. These jobs are categorized into five types, with the financial industry being a significant contributor. The script delves into the psychological and societal impacts of such work and suggests that a universal basic income could be a solution to liberate individuals from the burden of pointless labor, allowing them to pursue meaningful work or opt out of work altogether.

Takeaways

• 🔮 Economist John Maynard Keynes predicted in 1930 that technological advancements would lead to significantly reduced working hours by the 21st century, but this has not transpired.
• 💼 Anthropologist David Graeber introduced the concept of 'Bullshit Jobs'—positions that are inefficient and contribute little to society but are performed for a living.
• 📚 Graeber's article on 'Bullshit Jobs' gained global attention and led to the publication of his book 'Bullshit Job', which includes experiences from various industries.
• 📈 The financial industry is highlighted as a significant source of 'Bullshit Jobs', with many roles contributing to the expansion of power and control rather than societal benefit.
• 🤔 Graeber categorizes 'Bullshit Jobs' into five types: helpers to boost others' status, thugs to increase employer interests, tickers for superficial tasks, task masters creating unnecessary work, and leak-fillers to address known issues.
• 💡 The rise of 'Bullshit Jobs' is attributed to a shift from 'labor results' to 'time' as the primary measure of work value, leading to inefficiency and pretense.
• 📉 Post-1980, there has been a disconnect between increasing productivity and stagnant wages, which is linked to the rise of financial capitalism and the proliferation of 'Bullshit Jobs'.
• 😔 Engaging in 'Bullshit Jobs' can lead to psychological distress and a sense of meaninglessness, impacting an individual's well-being and self-worth.
• 🌐 Graeber suggests that rethinking the value of work and considering the impact of jobs on the world can help in reducing 'Bullshit Jobs'.
• 💰 The concept of Universal Basic Income (UBI) is proposed as a solution to liberate individuals from engaging in meaningless work, allowing them to pursue work that holds personal value.

Q & A

What did economist John Maynard Keynes predict about work in the 21st century?

Keynes predicted that due to technological advancements, work efficiency would increase significantly, and in the 21st century, people would only need to work for an average of three hours a day.

Why has Keynes' prediction not come true, according to the transcript?

The prediction has not come true because the advancement of technology has not reduced working hours as expected. Instead, many people are still required to work at least eight hours a day without overtime, due to the existence of many 'bullshit jobs' that do not contribute much to society.

What is the term 'Bullshit Jobs' as described by anthropologist David Graeber?

'Bullshit Jobs' refers to jobs that are not only super inefficient but also don't contribute much to society, yet people perform them day in and day out to make a living.

What are the five categories of 'Bullshit Jobs' as outlined by David Graeber?

The five categories are: 1) Helper jobs that set off the status of others, 2) Thug jobs that increase employers' interests without societal help, 3) Ticker jobs that involve superficial efforts, 4) Taskmaster jobs that create unnecessary tasks for subordinates, and 5) Leak-filler jobs that deal with known company problems.

Why is the financial industry considered the hardest hit area for 'Bullshit Jobs'?

The financial industry is considered the hardest hit because it has seen a large number of jobs that do not contribute to society but are created to control more power and funds, leading to unnecessary work and inefficiency.

What is the historical context behind the creation of many 'Bullshit Jobs' after the 1980s?

After the 1980s, capitalism turned to financial capitalism, and the standard for measuring salary became 'time' instead of 'labor results'. This led to the creation of many jobs that seemed to fill time rather than produce valuable work.

How does the concept of 'universal basic income' relate to the issue of 'Bullshit Jobs'?

Universal basic income is a solution proposed to reduce 'Bullshit Jobs' by providing everyone with a share of money to cover basic needs, allowing people to choose work that gives them value and not just work for the sake of income.

What is the psychological impact of 'Bullshit Jobs' on individuals, as mentioned in the transcript?

The psychological impact of 'Bullshit Jobs' can include self-doubt, a feeling of being trapped, lack of energy for personal interests after work, and even the need for psychological counseling due to the trauma of engaging in meaningless work.

How does the author suggest we rethink the value of work to address the issue of 'Bullshit Jobs'?

The author suggests using a thought experiment to measure the value of work by asking what would happen if a job disappeared from the world, which can help re-examine the true impact and necessity of different jobs.

What is the paradox mentioned in the script regarding the relationship between job impact and salary?

The paradox is that professions with a great impact on the world are often low-paying, while 'Bullshit Jobs' that are not valuable to society can offer high salaries.

What is the author's view on the societal implications of 'Bullshit Jobs'?

The author believes that 'Bullshit Jobs' not only affect individuals negatively but also contribute to overall societal inefficiency and a misallocation of resources and talents.