Free election of masters does not abolish the masters or the slaves.
Herbert MarcuseRead
Contemporary industrial society is now characterised more than ever by "the need for stupefying work where it is no longer a real necessity."
Interpretation
What this quote means
The quote critiques modern work as being unnecessary and dull, highlighting the disconnect between labor and genuine human needs.
Herbert Marcuse's quote reflects on the current state of industrial society, which often emphasizes work that is tedious and not truly essential for human well-being. He suggests that such work conditions lead to a sense of alienation, as individuals engage in jobs that do not fulfill real necessities or contribute to meaningful lives. This critique encourages a re-examination of the purpose of work and its impact on human existence, pushing for a society where labor is more aligned with genuine human needs and creativity.
Themes
WorkSocietyAlienationNecessityLabor
In practice
Example use cases
This quote can be used in a discussion about work-life balance in a seminar.
More from Herbert Marcuse
All quotes βThe existing liberties and the existing gratifications are tied to the requirements of repression: they themselves become instruments of repression.
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Art cannot change the world, but it can contribute to changing the consciousness and drives of the men and women who could change the world.
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By virtue of the way it has organized its technological base, contemporary industrial society tends to be totalitarian. For "totalitarian" is not only a terroristic political coordination of society, but also a non-terroristic economic-technical coordination which operates through the manipulation of needs by vested interests.
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However, if "free choice" means more than a small selection between pre-established necessities, and if the inclinations and impulses used in work are other than those preshaped by a repressive reality principle, then satisfaction in daily work is only a rare privilege.
Herbert MarcuseRead
The sickness of the individual is ultimately caused by and sustained by the sickness of his civilization
Herbert MarcuseRead
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