The present economy offers the opportunity for reflection not just on the most recent politics and policies which led to our current fiasco but on larger principles and trends that undergird the system. One such principle which has helped the American economy become the behemoth that it is, something that is also largely unique to our country, is the American work ethic, broadly construed. Yet this work ethic- which is of utmost importance to a successful economy and prosperous people- has been under attack for the better part of the twentieth century and continues under our present administration.
Roger Hill, in his essay “Historical Context of a Work Ethic”, paints a lucid and comprehensive picture of work (specifically hard, manual labor) within the history of Western civilization. He traces the general views of the Greeks, Hebrews, Romans and Christians and their varying positions on the matter. He notes that all four groups had a generally similar view of work: it was not only to be avoided, but it was a detriment to one’s virtue and certainly antithetical to a gentile way of life.
“It was not until the Protestant Reformation,” wrote Hill, “that physical labor became culturally acceptable for all persons, even the wealthy.” In fact, the Protestant Reformation provided not just a radical departure from ten centuries’ previous views of work, but also the economic foundation upon which the American colonies and nation would later be founded. It was revolutionary, to say the least.
Today we find this work ethic very much under attack. Not directly, of course, since few are willing to say that work should be avoided, but less directly in our nation’s quiet acquiescence to greater unionization, higher taxes and other anti-capitalist policies. Take for example impending card check legislation which would permit 51percent of employees at any given company to force the opposing 49 percent in to a union. An opponent of unionization at his or her work place, who is likely someone who believes that hard work and talent can get him or her ahead, is forced to adhere to the ensuing union rules, which often regulate work hours and force businesses to reward workers based upon experience and not talent and hard work. The anti-unionization worker might posses great American work ethic, but the desire and willingness to practice such is undercut by his fellow worker with the backing of pro-labor government policies.
The ironic part of it all is that such policies are pursued under the banner and guise of “labor,” as if policies which limit one’s ability (and volition) to work can be considered pro-labor.
“The cultural norms of the classical era regarding work were in stark contrast to the work ethic of the latter day.,” Hill wrote, Perhaps they were for a time. Unfortunately, it seems we have come full circle today.
Chadwick Ciocci, FCRH ’10, is a philosophy major from Trumbull, Conn. He can be reached at cciocci@aol.com
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