Labour Society in Crisis? A Discussion

Abstract

The concept of labour society derives from Hannah Arendt, who criticized the theoretical thinking and practical life of the modern age for hero- worshipping labour and neglecting all other 'human conditions' (Arendt 1960). During recent years many sociologists have proceeded to use this concept when refernng to industrial societies, where - as Rahkonen (1984) formulates it - the economic, social and moral order principle is labour, in a way without parallel in history. At the same time, they have claimed that this order principle no longer functions effectively - that labour society is in a fundamental crisis.