Meaning in work, philosophically speaking

[ygolo]

There's a hodgepodge of ideas that I think are important for meaning in work.

The first is ikigai.

Ikigai - Wikipedia

en.wikipedia.org

Ikigai: The Japanese Secret to a Joyful Life | The Government of Japan - JapanGov -

The Japanese word ikigai, which has recently gained attention worldwide and enjoys widespread use, refers to a passion that gives value and joy to life. The author who prompted its craze speaks about the word’s appeal and the effects it has on mental and physical health.

www.japan.go.jp

The next thing is the concept of Bullsh*t Jobs.

More than half of societal work is pointless, both large parts of some jobs and five types of entirely pointless jobs:

1. Flunkies, who serve to make their superiors feel important, e.g., receptionists, administrative assistants, door attendants, store greeters;
2. Goons, who act to harm or deceive others on behalf of their employer, or to prevent other goons from doing so, e.g., lobbyists, corporate lawyers, telemarketers, public relations specialists;
3. Duct tapers, who temporarily fix problems that could be fixed permanently, e.g., programmers repairing shoddy code, airline desk staff who calm passengers with lost luggage;
4. Box tickers, who create the appearance that something useful is being done when it is not, e.g., survey administrators, in-house magazine journalists, corporate compliance officers;
5. Taskmasters, who create extra work for those who do not need it, e.g., middle management, leadership professionals.[3][1]

Keynes even had notions along these lines. He wrote this in around 1930 (supposedly drafted in 1928 and finally published in 1930), so keep that in mind. It is a fascinating read with that context. I am not sure which version the attached pdf is. Understanding the evolution of this lecture/essay would be a rabbit hole I wouldn't mind going down.

https://yougov.co.uk/society/articles/13005-british-jobs-meaningless

The extreme ideas opposed to ikigai are things like alienation* and the punishment of Sisyphus.

What are people's thoughts?

 

[ygolo]

The Career Ladder Is Dead—Here’s What To Climb Instead

Traditional career paths are fading. Success now depends on skills, not titles. Build a skills portfolio, adapt and take control of your career for long-term growth.

www.forbes.com

 

[ygolo]

The questions and discussions were good in this. Food for thought, for sure.