3 ms·
I wonder sometimes how many jobs period feel useful. I think feeling useful might be very different than being useful. We spent most of our evolutionary history
by space_fountain 3y ago
I wonder sometimes how many jobs period feel useful. I think feeling useful might be very different than being useful. We spent most of our evolutionary history in small tribes with personal relationships to the people our work helped. Capitalism has let that all become much more abstract so finding a connection between what we do and it’s impact on others is much more tenuous.
- horsawlarway 3y agoI think there's also been a distinct focus on specialization at a level never before seen. When the economic unit is the household, as it was in basically all pre-industrial periods, basic upkeep means that you have to complete a relatively wide variety of tasks. Farming, cooking, cleaning, home construction and repair, furniture production, clothing production, tool production, animal husbandry, tending/nursing, child care, etc... Even divided on traditional gender roles - there was a lot of diversity in available work. Tasks changed by season and need. Modern society rewards you for specializing - do one thing forever, better than others. But people are hardwired for exploring and learning. We can get bored, tired, apathetic and disillusioned if we follow a monotonous routine at work. Even if that routine is genuinely beneficial to society at large.