Why Work?

by Clair, Robin Patric; Bell, Stephanie; Hackbarth, Kyle; Mathes, Stephanie; Mcconnell, Megan

• ISBN13: 9781557534545
• ISBN10: 1557534543
• Format: Paperback
• Copyright: 2008-01-31
• Publisher: Purdue Univ Pr

Summary

Why Workexplores the contemporary cultural construction of work, beginning with the expression, "A Real Job." This volume examines "work" in the writings of Aristotle, Plato, Confucius, St. Benedict, Adam Smith, Karl Marx, Booker T. Washington, W.E.B. Du Bois, Mother Jones, Emma Goldman, Emile Durkheim, Max Weber, Frederick Winslow Taylor, and Mary Parker Follett to answer the question, "Can the concept of work be divorced from the thinker's past?" A final chapter re-examines the core issue in light of the vary concept of "work" and ask one more time "why work?" This work is a result of an Honors seminar at Purdue University.

Author Biography

Robin P. Clair is a Professor of Communication at Purdue University. Clair is an award-winning author and researcher, as well as a nationally invited lecturer, who speaks on a variety of organizational communication topics. Stephanie Bell, earned a B.A. in Communications from Purdue University and is a Senior Administrative Assistant for Urban Programming at the Center for Special Concerns, University of Notre Dame. Stephanie Mathes, B.A. in Communications from Purdue University currently serves as the Community Relations Assistant for the Indianapolis Colts. Kyle J. Hackbarth, B.A. in Communications from Purdue University is currently serving in the United States Army, in Baghdad, Iraq as a Forward Observer. Megan McConnell, B.A. in Communications and Political Science from Purdue University.

Table of Contents

Preface	p. xi
The Ontology and History of Work	p. 1
The Messy Business of Defining Work	p. 3
Philosophy and Rhetoric of Work	p. 17
Philosophers, Rhetoricians, and Activists	p. 31
Plato and Aristotle: Philosophies of Labor	p. 33
Confucius and St. Benedict: Spiritual Leaders	p. 45
Adam Smith: The Father of Capitalism	p. 57
Karl Marx: A Challenge to Capitalism	p. 69
Booker T. Washington and W. E. B. Du Bois: Out of Slavery	p. 81
Mother Jones and Emma Goldman: Labor Activists	p. 97
Emile Durkheim: The Division of Labor	p. 114
Max Weber: The Father of Sociology and Theorist of Bureaucracy	p. 123
Frederick Winslow Taylor: The Father of Scientific Management	p. 134
Mary Parker Follett: Ahead of Her Time	p. 143
The Meaning of Work	p. 153
Why Work? Concluding Remarks	p. 155
Why Work: An Epilogue	p. 172
References	p. 177
Index	p. 191
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