The word work is a convention. Sustainable has, as Eva has pointed out,
become very trendy. Put sustainable in front of anything and-- voila--
grants are given, research is funded. And calling something sustainable is
like saying, why its ecologically sound. Good for the environment. Like
paradigm, as Eva has pointed out, again, sustainable will find its proper
place in the jargon dustbin. Sustainable came out of the Brundtland report
and has really served no good purpose except to divert society from the
reality of limits. A whole generation of thinkers seems to be thinking of
nothing else but how to define sustainable. Hmmm.
My two cents on sustainable work was an attempt to point out that we need to
sustain community, individuals, the sense of purpose and meaning that is
needed by all in society, 'workers' and 'non-workers alike' so that social
cohesion can be maintained. So that alienation can be minimized.
For me I define work as something that I get paid to do that, at that
moment, I don't much feel much like doing. By luck or through careful
planning (or rationalization!!!) I find that my work time coincides with my
interests. For all those economists out there I might add that I am
earning economic rents. But that is another story.
arthur cordell
----------
From: Neva Goodwin
To: Cordell, Arthur: DPP
Cc: deborah middleton; [EMAIL PROTECTED]
Subject: Re: Sustainable work
Date: Monday, January 25, 1999 9:16AM
At some point, we need to ask, why are we using the word, "work"?
There are other good words -- "self-actualization" (well, that's not
a very euphoneous one, but it has a good meaning), "play" -- I've
tended to assume that "work" had to do with an output of some kind
that was of value, not only to the doer, but also to at least some
others in society. Thus, child care, while not paid, and writing
a novel, in hopes that it will be published (even if that seems
unlikely) could be work, while taking singing lessons and practicing
every day, if one never intends to offer the results to others, might
not (by this definition) be included.
So, before we figure out "sustainable", it seems we still
need to settle on "work"!
On Sun, 24 Jan 1999, Cordell, Arthur: DPP wrote:
> I guess I would like to add that sustainable work is that which is
something
> that the doer finds interesting and/or creative and/or a reflection of
> him/her self. Something that seems to provide meaning for the doer.
> Something that even in the absence of payment, the doer might continue to
> have some interest in.
>
> arthur cordell
> ----------
> From: Neva Goodwin
> To: deborah middleton
> Cc: [EMAIL PROTECTED]
> Subject: Re: Sustainable work
> Date: Saturday, January 23, 1999 8:21PM
>
> Shouldn't an important part of sustainable work be that it produces
> something that people want -- that, indeed, enhances the lives
> of those using the output? I'd be inclined to put this very high
> on the list. (See my essay on "Human Values in Work" in _The
> Changing Nature of Work_, ed. Ackerman et al, Island Press '98)
>
> Neva Goodwin, Co-director
> Global Development And Enviroment Institute
> [EMAIL PROTECTED]
> web address: http://www.tufts.edu/gdae
> street address:
> G-DAE, Cabot Center
> Tufts University
> Medford, MA 02155
>
>
Neva Goodwin, Co-director
Global Development And Enviroment Institute
[EMAIL PROTECTED]
web address: http://www.tufts.edu/gdae
street address:
G-DAE, Cabot Center
Tufts University
Medford, MA 02155
