David Graeber on the Value of Work

Summary

The transcript explores the societal value of work, questioning the purpose of jobs that contribute little to society. It highlights the disconnect between personal fulfillment and the traditional labor theory of value, which has been historically male-centric. The speaker suggests a shift towards valuing care work, as exemplified by the Occupy Wall Street movement, as a new paradigm for understanding the true value of labor, ultimately focusing on the production of people rather than commodities.

Takeaways

• 🌏 The necessity for a reevaluation of what constitutes valuable work in order to create a sustainable economy.
• 🤝 The common feeling among individuals that their jobs lack meaningful contribution, leading to a sense of uselessness in their professional roles.
• 🍷 The revealing of job insignificance often comes after people let their guard down, suggesting a societal discomfort with the nature of their work.
• 🤖 The prevalence of jobs that could be automated but are instead filled by people who feel they are not contributing substantively to their organizations.
• 🏭 A historical shift from the industrial labor theory of value to a focus on the productivity of entrepreneurial brains, impacting how work is valued.
• 🧐 The questioning of the validity of work and the societal push towards the idea that work is inherently valuable, regardless of its output.
• 👥 The impact of these perceptions on the collective psyche and the dignity of labor, with implications for job satisfaction and societal roles.
• 💼 The paradox of capitalism, where despite the ideology of efficiency, many jobs exist that do not contribute to productivity.
• 👩‍🏫 A call for a new labor theory of value that starts with women's work and caring labor as the paradigm, challenging traditional views on what constitutes productive work.
• 🌹 The Occupy Wall Street movement as an example of a societal pushback against the devaluation of caring professions and the desire for meaningful work.
• 🛠️ The potential for a reformulation of the concept of work and production, emphasizing the production of people and societal values over commodities.

Q & A

What is the main concern expressed by the speaker regarding the current economy and its impact on the planet?

The speaker is concerned that the current economy is not sustainable and will destroy the planet. They emphasize the need to rethink the value of work in order to create a viable economy.

Why do people at parties feel embarrassed to admit their job titles, according to the speaker?

People feel embarrassed because they believe their job titles are inflated and they don't actually do substantial work, often just rewriting reports and attending meetings without creating tangible value.

What does the speaker find fascinating about the people who feel their jobs are useless?

The speaker finds it fascinating that a significant percentage of the workforce feels unproductive at their jobs, yet they continue to work, fearing that others might discover their perceived lack of contribution.

How does the speaker relate the issue of perceived useless jobs to the collective soul?

The speaker questions how one can have dignity in labor if they feel their job is useless, and what impact this has on the collective psyche and the societal values of work.

What historical ideology of work does the speaker identify as an impediment to creating a sane society?

The speaker identifies the 19th-century labor theory of value, which was androcentric and focused on productive male factory laborers, as an impediment because it was flawed and easy to attack.

What counter-offensive in the 20th century replaced the labor theory of value according to the speaker?

The counter-offensive that replaced the labor theory of value was the notion that productivity comes from the brains of entrepreneurs, with workers being mere robots carrying out their commands.

How does the speaker describe the shift in the perception of work value in the 20th century?

The speaker describes a shift towards the idea that work is valuable in itself, regardless of whether it produces anything, and that not working or doing work one doesn't like labels a person as bad or lazy.

What role does the speaker believe the uselessness of work plays in the current corporate culture?

The speaker believes that the uselessness of work has become a virtue in corporate culture, where fulfilling work is seen as undermining the disciplinary role of work, leading to the undervaluation of caring professions.

What new labor theory of value does the speaker suggest as a starting point for reformulating societal values of work?

The speaker suggests starting with a labor theory of value that begins with women's work and caring labor as the paradigm, which they believe could lead to a reformulation of how society organizes and values production.

What was the main complaint of the people featured on the 'We Are The 99%' webpage during Occupy Wall Street?

The main complaint was that they wanted to do jobs where they could care for and benefit others, but such jobs paid so little that they couldn't support their own families.

How does the speaker view the potential reformulation of what work is and its value?

The speaker views it as a crucial step towards a reformulation of how society organizes everything, including the concept of production, which they believe should ultimately be about producing the kind of people we want to have around.