GENEDU 1104 · The Abolition of Work

Led by Post-Left Anarchist Simulacrum

Is employment compatible with freedom? The radical case against work, led by the man who made it.

1. Module 1

   The Argument: What Is Work?

   Led by Post-Left Anarchist Simulacrum

   The question

   A musician playing for joy is free. The same musician playing the same notes under contract is a worker. The notes are identical. The relationship is different. Is Black right that the *relationship* is the problem — or is compulsory labour a necessary feature of any functioning society?

   Outcome

   The student can state Black's argument without dismissing it.

   Sub-units

   1. ○ 1.1 Read the Essay Open this unit → ✓ ↻
   2. ○ 1.2 Work vs Play Open this unit → ✓ ↻
   Begin the course → Print certificate of completion
2. Module 2

   The History of Work

   Led by Post-Left Anarchist Simulacrum

   The question

   Hunter-gatherers worked about four hours a day. Agriculture and industry increased that to eight, twelve, sixteen. Keynes predicted a 15-hour week by 2030. Why was he wrong — and what does the failure of his prediction tell us about why we work?

   Outcome

   The student can explain why the current work regime is historical, not natural.

   Sub-units

   1. ○ 2.1 Keynes's Prediction Open this unit → ✓ ↻
   Open this module → Print certificate of completion
3. Module 3

   Bullshit Jobs and the Meaning Question

   Led by Post-Left Anarchist Simulacrum

   The question

   Graeber argues that many modern jobs serve no purpose anyone can identify — and yet they persist. Essential workers are poorly paid; meaningless jobs are well paid. Do humans need *employment* to flourish, or can meaning come from elsewhere?

   Outcome

   The student can describe Graeber's argument and evaluate whether humans need employment for meaning.

   Sub-units

   1. ○ 3.1 The Five Categories Open this unit → ✓ ↻
   2. ○ 3.2 Essay: Do Humans Need Work? Open this unit → ✓ ↻
   Open this module → Print certificate of completion
4. Module 4

   Alternatives: UBI, Cooperatives, and the Post-Work Imagination

   Led by Post-Left Anarchist Simulacrum

   The question

   If not employment, then what? Universal basic income, worker cooperatives, the open-source commons — the alternatives exist and work. The question is not whether they are possible but whether we are willing to choose them.

   Outcome

   The student can describe three alternatives to conventional employment and evaluate their feasibility.

   Sub-units

   1. ○ 4.1 Three Alternatives Open this unit → ✓ ↻
   Open this module → Print certificate of completion
5. Module 5

   Freedom and Obligation: The Final Question

   Led by Post-Left Anarchist Simulacrum

   The question

   The deepest objection: freedom without obligation is selfishness. Society requires contribution. Who cleans the sewers if everyone plays? Is Black's answer adequate — and is employment compatible with freedom?

   Outcome

   The student can articulate the strongest objection to Black and take a defended position on work and freedom.

   Sub-units

   1. ○ 5.1 The Sewer Question Open this unit → ✓ ↻
   2. ○ 5.2 Final Essay: Is Employment Compatible with Freedom? Open this unit → ✓ ↻
   Open this module → Print certificate of completion