In your webct reading, I include just a tiny bit from H.D. Thoreau, who is sometimes considered the most American of philosophers, and D H Lawrence, the poet/ novelist, who really took on the American work ethic in his critiques. I think they are helpful, as will be my description of a life (I use some Europeans I know as examples) of more ease than the “typical” life of a business family here.
They raise possibilities that Americans are accused of not even acknowledging. A life full of leisure and indirection. Daily fun. There is a funny book called “Hello, Laziness” that has been written by a French woman who is now well known for her critique of business life (she has a job as an accountant, but tries to get away with doing as little work as possible in it). It will be relevant later in the course. But try to imagine the non-business life. What would be the benefits, the losses?
8 responses so far ↓
Emily Clayton // October 21, 2007 at 4:27 pm |
A non-business life would certainly leave more time for leisure and relaxation. There wouldn’t be any pressing deadlines or quotas or bottom-lines; in theory, an individual’s life could be all-around less stressful. However, the business is life can be very lucrative, and without it people would also lose some of the luxuries that a busy, business life can help afford. It’s a fast-paced life that provides a lot of different job opportunities and prosperity to those who work hard at it.
Elizabeth Cote // October 22, 2007 at 2:20 am |
A life without business would be no life at all. Yes, people would have much more leisure time, but that is only because almost everyone would be unemployed. When people think of a non-business life they probably imagine a world lacking large corporate monsters. But, the truth is, every job is somehow connected with the fast paced buying and selling of the business world. Without business life docotors would have no equipment, aid workers would not have the supplies to give relief, and our children would not have any books in the classroom. If business life stopped, our world would move at a much slower pace, so slow, it might cease to move at all.
Kayla Glasscock // October 22, 2007 at 3:07 am |
I think it would be impossible to completely eliminate business from the world. Like people said earlier, it takes money to be lazy–if not your money, than someone else’s. Even if business had a lesser influence, I think it would always been in the background somewhere. If we all started focusing on art, for example, there are still people buying and selling supplies and pieces. Business is necessary.
Jan Gambardella // October 23, 2007 at 1:37 am |
I don’t see how business could be eliminated or even lessened. How would the world progress? We’d be stuck in a world that brings forth no innovations or excitement. It’s impossible to take business out of the world, for its a natural process. Everything that is done is somewhat involved with the nature of business. There is a huge different with eliminating corrupt corporations and eliminating business all together. If the goal is to get back to the basics, then another route needs to be sought.
Jessica Bialas // October 23, 2007 at 3:15 pm |
A non-business life would definitely have its high and low points. It might make a person a little bit more moral and honest. Without the competition between companies, fellow workers, corporations, etc, a person would not be inclined to fight underhandedly to surpass the other. Business also forces a materialistic view on a society. The pushing of material goods compels a society to forget about what truly is important.
If everyone abstained from a business life however, the world would be a completely different place. It is the business people who are the reason why we have so many advancements and so many jobs. Without business, the quality of life would plummet for all.
Emily Lindberg // October 23, 2007 at 3:47 pm |
A non-business life would allow for people to stop and take a look at the world around them. Thoreau believes that people work too hard sometimes only because they think it is what they are supposed to do. He argues that men work only for the accumulation of material things that won’t even matter and that they waste their days away in this pattern. Without business, men would have the ability to explore other aspects of their lives. They would be able to cultivate talents. They would not be so materialistic. However, without business the world loses competition and motivation. People would not have to worry about competing with others and would become lazy. The world would most likely not be able to progress. It certainly has its ups and downs.
Joe Goodman // October 23, 2007 at 5:21 pm |
In my view a non-business life is an impossible fantasy, for by my understanding of the word, business is any interaction between two forms of life which benefit one or both bodies. Considering that every living body on Earth requires assistance from some other living body, a life without business would not be life at all. Business in a corporation sense is a system which provides a service or product to a population; a business of a flower is to provide pollen for a bee such as a business of a farmer is to provide nutrition to his neighbors. Therefore a life without business is simply nonexistent.
Alex Searles // October 23, 2007 at 5:58 pm |
The world could not exist without business. Without business we’d lose our competitive drive and all progress would cease. In an ideal world business would not be required but that fantasy could never be achieved; business creates the motivation that drives progress in our society. The easiest way to eventually achieve this ideal is simply through hard work with the eventual opportunity for retirement.