Read the book, Shop Class as Soulcraft: An Inquiry Into the Value of Work by M.

Question

Read the book, Shop Class as Soulcraft: An Inquiry Into the Value of Work by M. Crawford. Ideally you would read the whole book butdefinitely read the following: Introduction, Chapters 1,2, 6 & 7. It is an easy read! Summary by chapter--> http://mportfolios.blogspot.com/2013/01/shop-class-as-soul-craft-book-summary.html

In your first post, summarize Crawford's argument made in the book about the special nature of manual work, changes in the way manual work is valued in our society, and the implications of these changes for our individual lives and the economy. Conclude with a few sentences about what the argument of the book means to/for you

Explanation / Answer

Crawford expresses important arguments about manual work and it's value in the society, the implications of change in individual lives and economy in the book Shop Class as Soulcraft. It provides a challenging philosophy by starting with the background of Crawford's story and outsourced mass production. It ha his important stories about motorcycle garages and speed shops. He includes details regarding the way mechanic problems are solved. It is an interdisciplinary and engaging book regarding the personnel management theory, surprise mortgage crisis and covering diverse subjects like history of higher education in America. Taylorization, occupational prestige and the nature of creativity are important topics covered in the book. Crawford speaks about his experience of working from age nine to fifteen as his group moved every six months.

Crawford makes an argument that the there is a false dichotomy presented between knowing and doing by the ideologies of knowledge economy.

He talks about the importance and value given to cognitive ability for highly educated people who have high status jobs. Physical ability is not given importance and he explains this by writing in detail what takes to rebuild a Volkswagen engine. This is included right from grinding the gasket joining for intake ports of cylinder heads with the help of file, tracing the fit of gasket etc. The table like removal of metal with a pneumatic die grinder and other tasks asserts the importance of manual Labour which is not valued.

He places importance on progressive republican order wherein there is no sacrifice made of moral ties of binding workers and entrepreneurs.

Related Questions

Navigate

• Browse (All)
• Browse R
• Subjects

Integrity-first tutoring: explanations and feedback only — we do not complete graded work. Learn more.