by Tori Polen

Created on: January 17, 2011

Defining work is extremely difficult due the vast amount of different kinds of work one can do.  One type of work is “useful work” or work that requires effort applied to deliver or produce a product which is how most modern people interpret work.  Though, there may be other types of work such as “contemplative work” or research work which does not necessarily produce a physical product but instead unveils findings.  Is it enough to work to sustain life and not find enjoyment or fulfillment in that job?  With today’s economy it is get what you can get and don’t complain.  The job market is filled with people that will just do a job to survive but sometimes I see those shows on the Discovery Channel such as, “How Things Are Made” and wonder how someone can sit in a chair and sort avocadoes day in, day out, all week long.  I guess it is just the way I am built.  I need multitasking, communication and a dynamic work environment to feel like I’m actually engaged and doing something.  Yes, the person sorting avocadoes is doing something too but it doesn’t seem to me like it would take much effort to sort bad avocadoes from good avocadoes.  This is a good example of how Josef Pieper sees those that work just to survive. “The ‘worker’, it has been seen, in our brief analysis of that significant figure, is characterized by three principle traits:  an extreme tension of the powers of action, a readiness to suffer in vacuo unrelated to anything, and complete absorption in the social organism, itself rationally planned to utilitarian ends.” (Peiper pg. 48)   Can one be truly completely utilitarian and still feel fulfilled and happy? 

Thoreau on the other hand believes that living the simple life will guide one to inner fulfillment; closer to nature and that is all one needs.  He does not consider a mix of the two, being utilitarian but still living simply can make one content.  He takes his views to the extreme and assumes anyone that is working for gain toils in despair.  "The mass of men lead lives of quiet desperation." (Thoreau pg. 117)  He then goes on to contradict his views on industry and commerce where he states it takes enterprise and bravery to conduct commerce; this coming from the same person who shunned people who work for gain.  "What recommends commerce to me is its enterprise and

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