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Other ORP type . 2026
License: CC BY
Data sources: Datacite
ZENODO
Other ORP type . 2026
License: CC BY
Data sources: Datacite
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Most People Are Morally Obligated to Stop "Working"

Authors: Ranete, Andrei;

Most People Are Morally Obligated to Stop "Working"

Abstract

Throughout history, the word "work" referred primarily to "activity necessary for survival", such as farming and building shelter. Another definition of the word "work" is "created intellectual artifact", such as works of art or major works in philosophy. Today, most "work" in the so‑called developed world clearly fulfills neither definition, so what definition does it fulfill? According to David Graeber (2018), the answer is Bullshit Jobs, as his eponymous book explains. This short essay can be considered a "spiritual successor" to his (2013) initial article called "On the Phenomenon of Bullshit Jobs: A Work Rant". While the author himself referred to the text as a "rant", that was clearly meant modestly, as "to rant" usually means "to speak or write in an angry or emotionally charged manner", which describes neither that text nor this one. This one, however, will focus more on the moral aspect of the unnecessary nature of most modern so‑called jobs.

Keywords

social philosophy, philosophy of work, labor ethics, bullshit jobs, escapism, work and meaning, misallocation of labor

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selected citations
These citations are derived from selected sources.
This is an alternative to the "Influence" indicator, which also reflects the overall/total impact of an article in the research community at large, based on the underlying citation network (diachronically).
BIP!Citations provided by BIP!
popularity
This indicator reflects the "current" impact/attention (the "hype") of an article in the research community at large, based on the underlying citation network.
BIP!Popularity provided by BIP!
influence
This indicator reflects the overall/total impact of an article in the research community at large, based on the underlying citation network (diachronically).
BIP!Influence provided by BIP!
impulse
This indicator reflects the initial momentum of an article directly after its publication, based on the underlying citation network.
BIP!Impulse provided by BIP!
0
Average
Average
Average