Preface; 1. The dual nature of the Protestant work ethic and the birth of utilitarianism; 2. Locke and the progressive work ethic; 3. How conservatives hijacked the work ethic and turned it against workers; 4. Welfare reform, famine, and the ideology of the conservative work ethic; 5. The progressive work ethic (1): Smith, Ricardo, and Ricardian socialists; 6. The progressive work ethic (2): J. S. Mill; 7. The progressive work ethic (3): Marx; 8. Social democracy as the culmination of the progressive work ethic; 9. Hijacked again: Neoliberalism as the return of the conservative work ethic; 10. Conclusion: What should the work ethic mean for us today?; Acknowledgments; Major works cited; Notes; Index.
Shows how the work ethic has been used to oppress workers, and also to liberate them.
Elizabeth Anderson is the Max Mendel Shaye Professor of Public Philosophy, Politics, and Economics at University of Michigan. She is the author of Value in Ethics and Economics (1995), The Imperative of Integration (2010), and Private Government: How Employers Rule Our Lives (and Why We Don't Talk about It) (2017). She is a MacArthur Fellow and Fellow of the American Academy of Arts and Sciences. In 2019, The New Yorker described her as 'a champion of the view that equality and freedom are mutually dependent […] Anderson may be the philosopher best suited to this awkward moment in American life.'
'Hijacked is an important and fascinating book that tells the
spellbinding story of the struggle between conservatives and
progressives over the Protestant work ethic. Nobody matches
Anderson's distinctive combination of historical, political, and
philosophical insight.' Stephen Darwall, author of Modern Moral
Philosophy: From Grotius to Kant
'This critical examination of the Protestant work ethic and its
evolution in social and economic theory outlines the challenges of
preserving rewarding and purposeful work in liberal economies where
free market capitalism has eroded both aspirations and
capabilities, undermining the intrinsic dignity and meaning of
work.' Richard Donkin, author of The History of Work
'Most of us will spend a significant part of our lives at work. But
work conditions differ radically and the working poor often face
brutal and dehumanizing workplaces. In this brilliant book,
Anderson uncovers the role of a skewed version of the work ethic in
shaping these harsh conditions. This skewed version turned the
values of industry, prudence, and frugality against workers, while
leaving the predatory and idle rich off the hook. Not only does
Anderson offer a subtle diagnosis of the origins of today's
stigmatization and deprivation of the poor, but she offers creative
ideas for reclaiming the work ethic in the service of democracy.
Her superb analysis, connecting political philosophy with both
history and political economy, will stimulate wide debate.' Debra
Satz, coauthor of Economic Analysis, Moral Philosophy, and Public
Policy
'As rigorous as it is approachable, this poignant plea for worker
dignity contextualizes one of today's most salient economic
issues.' Publishers Weekly
'If we arm ourselves with Elizabeth Anderson's superb history of
the work ethic, we obtain a powerful lens with which to explore at
a perfect time - during party conference season - how different
visions of work form the beating heart of ideological struggle.'
Morning Star
'Hijacked is a substantial achievement - scholarly, rigorous, and
rich in detail, with the author's learning evident on every page.'
Helen Hester, Los Angeles Review of Books
'… compelling reading for everyone on the left and the right who
needs employment in a paid job to survive, so today's neoliberal
conservative work ethic no longer gaslights us to believe our
dignity demands our exploitation.' Tim Gurner, LSE Review of
Books
'Hijacked is compelling reading for everyone on the left and the
right who needs employment in a paid job to survive, so today's
neoliberal conservative work ethic no longer gaslights us to
believe our dignity demands our exploitation.' Magdalene D'Silva,
LSE Review of Books
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