Work is far from a simple concept. Work is as much an identity as it is an activity. Individuals in society are largely defined by their contribution to others. And this often has little to do with how they are compensated for their efforts.
The concept of work is so ingrained in our individual and collective psyches that any meaningful discussion is difficult without some deconstruction of it’s meaning. A good place to begin this inquiry is to look at the concept of ‘need’ that arises from our simply being alive. To live sufficiently well enough to raise a family, we need food, water, shelter, fuel, clothing and other supplies. Do we live in a world where these necessities exist in abundance just for the taking? Far from it, according to most. Then it is no surprisethatour history has been dominated by the scourge of scarcity accompanied by its evil cousin, poverty. The never-ending burden of securing sufficient resources to ensure survival has been the predominant activity of humans throughout history and continued to this day. In this respect, we are little different from other life on this planet.
Like other species, we are social beings. Many of the ways in which our ancestors interacted revolved around their relative access to specific resources. These included not only the materials listed above, but also opportunities for reproduction and advancement. And almost without fail, these interactions over time resulted in a powerful minority gaining control of a disproportionate share of resources. The vast majority was left to struggle for what remained. Why?
For at least two millennia, this systemic scarcity and inequality have been explained in broad theological terms. In Christian culture, we associate our plight with the biblical story of the ‘fall’ from heavenly grace with Adam and Eve’s expulsion from the Garden of Eden. Other religious traditions offer similar myths to explain why their chosen people continue to suffer under the stern eye of a judgmental heaven. In many cases, human beings are deemed collectively guilty of some ancient sin, and that is why we’ve apparentl
