Gifford Lectures (audio) Prof. Kathryn Tanner - Total Commitment
Jun 1, 2018
Prof. Kathryn Tanner, Marquand Professor of Systematic Theology at Yale, delves into how finance-dominated capitalism manipulates worker commitments. She explores the use of fear, insecurity, and surveillance to enforce compliance and the inadequacies of incentive-based motivation. Tanner contrasts the relentless demands of corporate life with genuine Christian commitment, advocating for a God-centered orientation that transcends mundane pursuits. She argues that Christian practices can challenge neoliberal control, offering a pathway to freedom from anxiety and self-monitoring.
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Compliance Through Fear And Insecurity
- Finance-dominated firms induce worker compliance mainly through fear and insecurity rather than stable pay or benefits.
- This creates constant monitoring costs and undermines genuine worker motivation and effectiveness.
Work Designed To Evacuate Distraction
- Firms design tasks to occupy workers' attention so desires that conflict with company aims are displaced.
- Some jobs enforce machinic reactivity that removes room for reflection or alternative desires.
Aligning Worker Desire With Corporate Ends
- Corporations try to align workers' desires with company goals so employees will self-direct for profit.
- This alignment reduces monitoring costs and turns employees into entrepreneurial selves.
