Chomsky on work, incentives, and classical liberal values. Excerpts from "Beyond State Socialism" • Motmakt: Noam Chomsky ... and Greek documentary • Video
+Andy80o This is one of the very best videos of Chomsky ever posted. Especially the second part of this video. Although I wish the sound quality was a bit better.
I think that Chomsky is right that, even in a capitalist society, there is work where the economic ends are not the reason for working. But with differentiation and specialization a lot of work will NOT be fulfilling. A lot of work fills a very specific function (non-creative and "hetero-regulated"-meaning that the work needs to be coordinated in a way where each individual is left with little autonomy) in production, in which alienation is inevitable. What we can do is use the increased efficiency in production to work LESS, with a clear division between the socially necessary (for a certain level of production) amount of work and a non-ecnomic sphere were our time is spent doing self-fulfilling activities that are ends in themselves. I really recommend reading Andre Gorz- Critic of Economic Reason! I feel that working less and splitting the "necessary" work is a more realistic approach than the "workerism" that Chomsky implies (his and colleagues passion in their work, doesn't imply that all socially necessary work can be an end in itself).
Some very good points. If a person doesn't work but also doesn't want to die, should they be left for dead? Not all creativity is immediately useful. What should be society's role in such a situation?
