The instinct of workmanship

Summary

"The Instinct of Workmanship" is a book written by Thorstein Veblen, an American economist and social theorist. The book was published in 1914 and explores the relationship between humans and their work.

Veblen argues that the instinct of workmanship is a fundamental human trait that drives individuals to create and produce. This instinct is rooted in our desire to improve our own lives and the lives of those around us. However, Veblen also contends that this instinct is often hindered by the influence of social and economic institutions, such as the profit motive, the division of labor, and the competitive nature of capitalist markets.

Veblen explores the implications of these hindrances for individual well-being, social progress, and economic development. He argues that the current economic system is inefficient and wasteful, and that it fails to promote the full expression of the instinct of workmanship. He proposes alternative economic and social structures that could better facilitate the development and expression of this instinct, such as a society based on collective ownership and control of production.

Overall, "The Instinct of Workmanship" is an important contribution to the fields of economics and sociology, and it remains relevant to contemporary debates about the nature and purpose of work, the role of institutions in shaping human behavior, and the possibilities for creating a more just and equitable society.