The instinct of workmanship, and the state of industrial arts

Name: The instinct of workmanship, and the state of industrial arts
Author: Thorstein Veblen

By Thorstein Veblen

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About This Book

An analytical essay argues that the human impulse to make, improve, and take pride in work is a foundational determinant of technological habits and social institutions. It traces development from primitive tool-use through predatory and handicraft phases to machine industry, showing how ownership, competition, and status-seeking shape or distort productive impulses. Separate chapters consider contamination of original productive instincts by predatory motives, the institutional role of property and competitive systems, and the reorganization of workmanship under mechanization. The inquiry proceeds on materialist premises and treats technological practice as both conditioned by and conditioning wider cultural conventions.

About the Author

Thorstein Veblen

Thorstein Veblen was an American economist and sociologist, best known for his critique of capitalism and his analysis of social behavior. His seminal work, "The Theory of the Leisure Class," introduced the concept of conspicuous consumption, exploring how social status is expressed through consumption patterns. Veblen's writings often examined the intersection of economics and culture, emphasizing the role of social institutions in shaping human behavior. In addition to his influential essays, such as "The Place of Science in Modern Civilisation," he contributed significantly to the understanding of industrial society and the dynamics of social classes. His ideas continue to resonate in contemporary discussions of economics and sociology.