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Work and the need for meaning: Comments on ‘should humans work?’

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  • Meinertsen, Bo R.

Abstract

Santos, Kissamtiki, and Chiesa (2020) contend that the question ‘Should humans work?’ should be addressed by keeping separate two notions of work: ‘work as meaning’ and work in a basic-needs-oriented sense. They maintain that the former notion merely obscures the question and so should be avoided, whereas the latter clarifies it and ultimately makes it solvable as a technical and engineering task. By contrast, this short commentary suggests that the notion of ‘basic need’ (i) requires elaboration and (ii) should not be separated from ‘work as meaning’. Interestingly, the authors have conducted small studies that may support (ii). Moreover, consideration of R. Nozick's famous ‘experience machine’ thought experiment shows that their paper prompts us to raise a profound question about when we should or should not work.

Suggested Citation

  • Meinertsen, Bo R., 2021. "Work and the need for meaning: Comments on ‘should humans work?’," Telecommunications Policy, Elsevier, vol. 45(1).
    • Handle: RePEc:eee:telpol:v:45:y:2021:i:1:s0308596120301853
    DOI: 10.1016/j.telpol.2020.102095
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    1. Santos, Sergio & Kissamitaki, Maritsa & Chiesa, Matteo, 2020. "Should humans work?," Telecommunications Policy, Elsevier, vol. 44(6).
    2. Richard Jolly, 1976. "The World Employment Conference: The Enthronement of Basic Needs," Development Policy Review, Overseas Development Institute, vol. 0(2), pages 31-44, October.
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