Until our century the connection between work and the apprehension of time used to be a subject that was hardly observed. One of the main reasons may well be the fact that the everyday authority of time is so complete that it is usually taken for granted and, consequently, rarely appears to be problematic.
With increasing awareness of the complex time-work relation, this issue is nowadays discussed from different perspectives within as well as beyond the field of sociology.
To understand the sense of time and work in present days, it is interesting to examine how it has developed in history, especially under the influence of a changing industrial system. The focus of this essay will therefore be the question how capitalism has transformed the human sense of time. To discuss this I will concentrate on the theory of E. P. Thompson, its main ideas as well as arising problems and questions. I will start by outlining this theory in detail and continue to summarise its main points of criticism in connection with Richard Whipp's idea of an alternative model of time perception. Finally, I will conclude by giving a future outlook of the problem.
Table of Contents
1. Introduction
2. Thompson: Task- and Time-Orientation
2.1. Overview
2.2. Task-Orientation
2.3. Time-Orientation
2.4. Working patterns today
3. Whipp: Criticism and Alternative Model
3.1. Criticism of Thompson's theory
3.2. Whipp's alternative model
4. Summary and Future Outlook
5. Conclusion
Objectives and Core Themes
The primary objective of this essay is to analyze how the advent of capitalism transformed the human perception of time, transitioning from a task-based approach to a rigid, clock-governed structure. It explores the sociological implications of this shift and evaluates how industrial systems have redefined time as a commodified unit of labor.
- The historical transition from task-orientation to time-orientation.
- E. P. Thompson’s analysis of work-discipline and industrial capitalism.
- Critiques of linear progress models in time perception by Richard Whipp.
- The commodification of time and its effects on modern working patterns.
- Future possibilities for active time policies and employee autonomy.
Excerpt from the Book
2.2. Task-Orientation
In the pre-industrial world, the rhythm of work was usually induced by natural needs. This co-ordination of labour according to duties and necessities is called task-orientation.
In task-orientation, the timing of work is primarily determined by nature or by needs which disclose themselves as an essential conditioning, such as the tides in fishing, the changing seasons in agriculture and the need of milking cows at regular times. This way different work-situations are often provided in relation to the rhythms of nature.
As a consequence, the passing of time is measured by natural circles and the duration of completing a given task. In other words, a specific job takes as long as is needed to finish it; there are hardly any abstract periods of time fixed for a certain amount of work.
Furthermore, the working day lengthens or contracts with occurring tasks and the time it takes to carry them out, which leads to an irregular circle even within the working week. Probably the most widely discussed example is the one of so-called "Saint Monday". It refers to the common habit in pre-industrial society to extend the weekend by working very little, or not at all, at the beginning of the week.
Summary of Chapters
1. Introduction: Outlines the historical invisibility of the time-work relation and establishes the essay’s focus on how capitalism has reshaped human time perception.
2. Thompson: Task- and Time-Orientation: Examines E. P. Thompson’s thesis on the transition from pre-industrial task-oriented labor to the modern time-oriented, industrialized system.
3. Whipp: Criticism and Alternative Model: Discusses Richard Whipp’s critique of Thompson, arguing against a linear evolution and proposing a multi-level model of time experience.
4. Summary and Future Outlook: Analyzes the alienation caused by commodified time and explores alternative concepts like active time policies.
5. Conclusion: Summarizes findings, emphasizing that the clock is a social construct rather than a universal truth, and suggests the need for multi-disciplinary study.
Keywords
Capitalism, Time-orientation, Task-orientation, Industrialization, E. P. Thompson, Richard Whipp, Work-discipline, Commodification of time, Alienated labour, Labour process, Time perception, Fordism, Taylorism, Social construction, Synchronisation
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the central focus of this academic work?
The essay explores the historical transformation of how humans perceive and organize time, specifically how the transition to industrial capitalism replaced natural task-based rhythms with rigid, clock-based discipline.
What are the primary theoretical frameworks discussed?
The analysis is centered on the theories of historian E. P. Thompson regarding "Time, Work-Discipline and Industrial Capitalism" and the subsequent critique and alternative model provided by Richard Whipp.
What is the core objective of the author?
The objective is to examine how the commodification of time under capitalism has influenced modern working habits and to determine whether this "time-orientation" is an inevitable or natural state.
Which scientific methods does the text employ?
The text employs a qualitative historical and sociological analysis, synthesizing existing theories and literature to compare pre-industrial and modern temporal perceptions.
What key themes are covered in the main body?
Key themes include the differences between task-orientation and time-orientation, the "tyranny of the clock," the Marxist concept of alienated labor, and the multi-level nature of time experience at the sector, community, and enterprise levels.
Which keywords best describe the essence of this research?
Central keywords include capitalism, commodification of time, task-orientation, time-discipline, industrialization, and labor rhythm.
How does the author explain the concept of "Saint Monday"?
It is cited as an example of pre-industrial, task-oriented behavior where laborers would voluntarily extend their weekend by working little or not at all at the start of the week, reflecting a rhythm not governed by the clock.
What specific alternative model does Richard Whipp propose?
Whipp proposes that time is experienced at three distinct levels: the sector (industry-specific), the community (social/family influence), and the enterprise (organizational/managerial objectives).
Does the author believe that time-orientation can be reversed?
The author suggests that while time-orientation dominates, active time policies—such as job-sharing and flexible hours—may mitigate the alienating effects of commodified time.
- Quote paper
- Jenny Walther (Author), 2000, Time, Work and Organisation, Munich, GRIN Verlag, https://www.grin.com/document/37765
