Are You Free? How Work Relentlessly Eats Up Our Time
Intelligence Squared
Exploring the Relationship Between Work and Capitalism
The concept of work is not exclusive to capitalism, but the unique characteristic lies in wage labor, which is a foundational element of capitalism. Under capitalism, individuals engage in wage labor by working for an employer to earn income in exchange for their labor, contrasting the communal work for survival seen in pre-capitalist societies. While capitalism has enhanced productivity and reduced the amount of work needed for survival, it has introduced a social pressure to earn an income, leading to longer working hours. This pressure is not imposed by individual businesses but is a structural feature of the capitalist system, compelling businesses to push for extended work hours. To address this issue, a shift in focus from individual actions to systemic change is necessary.
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