The Gray Area with Sean Illing
A pro-worker work ethic
Jan 15, 2024
Elizabeth Anderson, a public philosophy professor at the University of Michigan and author of "Hijacked," delves into the pitfalls of the Protestant work ethic. She discusses how this outdated mindset links our worth to hard work and profits, perpetuating inequalities. Anderson critiques neoliberal policies favoring profit over dignity and advocates for a pro-worker ethic that prioritizes worker rights. She emphasizes the need for equitable workplaces, community value, and a shift away from the relentless grind toward meaningful work.
41:03
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Quick takeaways
- The Protestant work ethic has been interpreted in two ways: pro-worker, emphasizing workers' rights and well-being, and anti-worker, prioritizing profit for capitalists.
- The work ethic has been hijacked by capitalists, resulting in a neoliberal version that perpetuates income inequality, and reclaiming it requires empowering workers through unions and greater democracy in the workplace.
Deep dives
The Protestant work ethic and its interpretations
The podcast explores the history of the Protestant work ethic and how it gave rise to different interpretations. One interpretation, pro-worker, focused on workers' well-being and fair treatment, while the other, anti-worker, prioritized profit for capitalists. The anti-worker version has dominated society today, but the podcast argues that it didn't have to be this way and understanding the contested nature of the work ethic is crucial to reclaiming it.
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