Is Hard Work Good for You?
We have discussed the value of at least three overlapping but distinct kinds of work: 1) Work as necessary or important responsibilities/chores/actions you may have to fulfill, but which you find unpleasant or wish you could avoid. Examples of this type could include everything from going to school, studying for exams, training for and getting a job, taking care of children or the needy, cleaning the house, etc. 2) Work as employment to produce the goods and services necessary for society while also providing income and an occupation to individuals. This type of work focuses on the economic functions jobs or employment provide for both individuals and communities. For example, manufacturing jobs may help a society produce goods and equipment to perform various functions and services, while also allowing for workers to have an occupation (something to do) and income to cover life necessities and other expenses while stimulating the economy. 3) Work as vocation that gives meaning to ones life directly from either the purpose or experience of the work/task itself. This type of work can be a job you are hired to perform or a self-employed vocation that you choose for yourself. But with this type of work you receive positive well-being (an improved life) directly from the work itself and not (just) because the work helps you make money. So, a job someone does not enjoy or find meaningful, but does anyway simply to make money would only count as work under the first two types, since it is not a vocation. Whereas a job you enjoy and find deeply meaningful, but which also provides food, shelter, and income may qualify as an example of work of all three types since it is a vocation and performs the economic functions of ordinary employment and may also be something you must do even on days when you would rather be doing something else. On the other hand, going to school for example would only count as work of the first type for many people since it is not usually a vocation and it is also not a form of employment, but instead is simply something one must do to either get a job or achieve something else. For this paper topic, consider these three types of work and the role they may play in making life good or bad for individuals and communities and answer one or both of the following two questions. In other words, you can choose to write your paper focusing exclusively on one of these two questions to provider greater depth or answer both questions.
A) Given your probable desire to balance the extremes found in the case of a Life of Leisure with those of Working Life and the article we read regarding the value of work, what do you think work is for in the life of the individual? What role should it play in your life to make your life better? Is a job or career simply a way to make money to survive and pay for goods or should it do more, such as provide a vocation and meaning to your life? For this question, you should discuss all three of the distinct types of work discussed above and determine what role they play in determining the quality of an individuals life.
B) Take a wide social perspective and think about what is good for society as well as for individuals. From a macro-level perspective, what is work for? Is it simply a means of production, a way to produce the goods and services necessary to operate our society and make our lives comfortable? Or is work about more than the outputs it produces? If you think robots should replace some jobs but not others, what is your criteria for determining which jobs should be replaced
PHIL 2306 Ethics Spring 2018
and which should not? Remember, in principle robots can potentially do virtually any task a human being can, so be specific. To answer these questions recall the more mindful and deliberate approach to integrating modern technology that the Amish and New London practice and notice that the Amish and New London place a much higher priority on some of the three types of work identified above when compared to our own society where technology is released almost immediately upon discovery regardless of its impact or threat to various types of work so long as the new technology does not have obvious flaws (such as cause explosions/poison/death etc.) What are the benefits and costs of each approach? Which approach is best for societies overall (or at least best for our society)?
A good essay will:
– For Question B: Identify which of the distinct types of work (of the three identified above) are prioritized by the Amish and New London (they are somewhat different from each other) and what role they play in their respective societies as compared to our own society.
– Briefly consider how each of the three theories of well-being would approach these questions as appropriate.
– Include a thesis that is focused and appropriate given the assignment.
– Clearly and succinctly state the main argument for the thesis.
– Correctly identify and defend your arguments controversial premises using
sound reasoning, well-chosen examples, insightful analogies, etc.
– While defending your argument, make sure you play devils advocate and
try to include and develop the most clear and compelling reasons to reject
your argument/thesis.
– You should then respond to this negative case to the best of your ability to
convince your audience to support your view.
