Work (philosophy)

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Purpose and a goal of the work

Humans look for different by means of work to achieve goals also diverging. On the abstraction level of the "“category work"” it becomes clear that humans in all society systems - under abolition of systems-inherent contradictions - pursue the always following superordinate goals:

• The individual and thus in sum seen also the social reproduction of the own material living conditions for the satisfaction of its needs.
• The social security and improvement of the acquired status in the society for itself, the own family members, friends, the own group of environments, social class, etc.
• The co-operation and sharing at innovations, cultural and artistic events, new scientific realizations and/or discoveries and at the development of political and social conditions in the society.

Work as the subject of philosophical theories

Who concerns itself with the term "“work"” from the philosophical point of view, encounters a dilemma: Although the "“work"” is into their form varieties a constant of the human existence, there are only little considerable philosophers, who lifted her out from the economics, ethics or theology. Platon saw the leisure for its "“conscious creative argument with nature and the society"” as basic condition. This view is today still comprehensible under the aspect that under obligation sufficient creativity and the need purchase of the work are lost. From the antique one in the Middle Ages applied: Only who extracts itself from everyday troubles and compulsory labors, time, its needs has the head to and freely for new realizations and creative acting.

Aristoteles comes with a category in the sense of "“doing/causing"” the "“work"” quite near, whereby this category refers however to nature altogether. "“Human work"” is partially discussed predominantly however in connection with or even as synonym for "“activity"” and/or "“act"”, "“production"”, "“useful work"”, "“occupation"”, "“gainful employment"”, "“service for the community"” etc. (see work sociology). In the Middle Ages the philosophy of the work was usually led as theological debate (see Benedikt of Nursia).

German philosophers 18. and 19. Century defined the work moral-philosophically and explained they as the moral obligation and living condition of the human existence (see Immanuel Kant, Johann Gottfried Herder, George William Friedrich Hegel or Johann God-dear spruce). At the same time increasingly economic and sociological connections came into the field of vision (see David Hume, Adam Smith, David Ricardo).

Friedrich Engels and Karl Marx supported their society analysis and criticism of the political economics with a developed work philosophy off. In argument thereby 19 is. and 20 in. Century numerous Philosopheme developed to the "“work"” (see Hannah Arendt, Ernst Bloch, Max of webers).

Today system theoreticians see "“human work"” i.e. under - a philosophical category - the adequate aspect, as abstract term for the interactions carried consciously of humans and processes in social systems, whatever kind always these working systems may be.

Historical aspect of the work

Humans set the productive forces free of their society systems in "“working processes"”. They arrange these processes arbeitsteilig after according to the rules and laws of the systems, in which they live in each case and work together. They move in structures, in which they arranged the appropriation and use of work resources and the distribution of the results of work - depending upon culture epoch or system of government -. These structures purpose and a goal of the "“work"” economically, ethicalally and politically. The work experiences thereby a historical development.

Is to be maintained by the work and the cultural and technical developments developed from it humans so far only not succeeded in nature strengthening but the productive forces by exceeding growth so that from it serious danger for the further existence of mankind threatens. This historical aspect of the work moves 20 since center. Century gradually into the consciousness of those humans, understand the work not only as activity or factor of production.

A special historical dimension receives the work by the level of development of the technology. Humans use the highest performance, newest media in working processes - depending upon ability and fortunes - except his worker, in order to guarantee or increase the quality and productivity of its work. Ever technisierter and more interlaced the media however are, the less manpower in the working processes are proportionately needed. From this situations arise, in which humans in working systems are set free or possibly from the participation at certain working processes are socially expenditure-bordered. As far as it concerns thereby acquisition work, becomes under the term "“unemployment"” summarized. Often setting free reasons lie causally in holding back or being able persons concerned. By individual efforts (work) concerning can overcome or go around such setting free and/or Ausgrenzungen, if them in certain working systems, e.g. in enterprises, associations, families, parties, religious communities, etc., to participate to want. Objectively seen consciously acting humans are not unemployed in the sense of the "“category work"” also in life situations of "“unemployment"”.

Under free market conditions there can be however also structural reasons for "“unemployment"”, e.g. in consequence of increasing automation and productivity increases. The development or maintenance of complex technical systems offers to well if necessary new work perspectives trained, qualified workers. These rich however for the compensation of the been void acquisition work not out. In more highly developed industrial nations has the productivity end 20. Century conditions reached, that more than one third of the population of state permits to out-border socially from the acquisition work. The removal of this condition is regarded as one of the major tasks of responsible governments.

In our society still many open tasks within the social and cultural range wait clearly perceptibly for the treatment. By the development of new and improved financing models here acquisition work could do to be generated, those the person employed not only social acknowledgment on socialnational basis increases, but also a work-promoting, socially balanced earned income offers.

In the industrial age humans developed organization forms, in order to arrange the appropriation and use of work resources and the distribution of the results of work by institutionalized labor disputes socially fairer and economicalally more effective. From the history of the labor disputes it can be derived that the introduction of new work time models to the reduction and simultaneous making of the work time flexible probate ways to the medium-term rearrangement of the acquisition work and overcoming of the mass unemployment are. In addition it applies to open fallow-lying or new fields of the acquisition work for the society, e.g. in the educating and training system, in science and research, in the disposal and recycling economy, during the development and world-wide introduction of environmentalcareful technologies. Intensified efforts would be in addition, conceivable for the conquest of space, in order to explore and use if necessary extraterrestrial resources.

Despite everything applies also to the "“category work"” what e.g. Karl Popper in "“the open society and its enemies"” intended, when he supported the democracy: The out free will certainly and solely responsible acting humans is a generally accepted basic condition for the "“conscious creative argument with nature and the society"”. Slaves, forced laborers or in the Kadavergehorsam arrested soldiers foreigncertainly take the role in the context of closely set orders and/or instructions "“media"” and/or "“weapons"”, which render useful services to their making and/or commanders with body strength and intelligence. In accordance with the "“category the Romans in their slaves humans, but speaking tools did not see work"”.