NEW PERSPECTIVES ON WORK AS VALUE

The concept of work and the all-important role it has acquired in west ern societies are historical constructs, not an expression of the esse nce of humanity. To charge work alone - under the ambiguous label of ' 'activity'' - with the creation and maintenance of the social bond is to submit to the exchange-based version of that bond promoted by econo mics. It passes over the primary concern of philosophers and citizens, namely the idea of the ''good society'', the proper goals of society, the nature of social wealth, and the distribution of basic goods (inc luding work) most likely to promote social cohesion.