Which is to say that Veblen applies multiple layers of irony. In the first chapter of The Engineers and the Price System, his irony is directed at the hypocrisy of business and the press in their exaggerated denunciations of the I.W.W. sabotage even as their respectable sabotage is much more widespread and vicious.
Veblen no doubt understood that overtly "supporting" I.W.W. tactics would be no advantage to the I.W.W. but would undermine the force of his critique of pecuniary culture. In a sense, the syndicalist tactic of sabotage could be seen as a bid to participate more fully in pecuniary culture, unless it too is consumed with an ironic grain of salt. On Sun, Jun 3, 2012 at 4:41 PM, Perelman, Michael <[email protected]>wrote: > Be careful with Veblen. Yes, he criticizes business practices and calls > them sabotage but he uses that expression to shock and to undercut the > respectability of the business class. He was also sympathetic to the IWW, > but I have seen nothing to indicate that he is in favor of sabotage in the > common sense of the word. > > Michael > _______________________________________________ > pen-l mailing list > [email protected] > https://lists.csuchico.edu/mailman/listinfo/pen-l > -- Cheers, Tom Walker (Sandwichman)
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