Does work dignify man? This famous phrase, "Work dignifies man", requires a dispassionate analysis in the light of philosophy and sociology, moving away from common sense and adopting a cold, rational, and well-founded approach. I, as an agent of such craft, will do so in a casual and accessible way in this summary that I will call an article. The word "work" derives from the Latin "tripalium", which originally represented a torture tool used by elites to coerce certain people into producing for them. Although the word has endured, and transliterated, the connotation of torture remains, albeit in a more subtle and sophisticated form, together with a powerful process of brainwashing. This process not only subjugates and tortures people, but also convinces them that this is the only proper way to live, or even worse, to defend the elites who oppress them, as Hannah Arendt and Michel Foucault observed.
I refer to what many call "work" today as a form of contemporary slavery - a more covert, less physical, and more mental form of slavery. This is perpetuated by capitalism, which conditions the population to an unhealthy existence based on comparison and competition. In the capitalist narrative, the "successful" are the ones who humiliate and exploit the most, often at the expense of marginalized communities, the slums, and true slave colonies for the capitalist system. Propaganda imposes false values and standards, such as those of beauty and technology - for example, "the idea that the iPhone is the best smartphone" and "Facial harmonization is the standard of beauty" - fallacies that the population, most of whom are apathetic, accept without question. These standards are internalized by society, feeding a culture of conformity and oppression. After all, it's easier to sell to and manipulate a like-minded population, so disgusted and disgusted am I by the word "standard", which carries with it an absurdly sick and genocidal potential.
As we delve deeper into our studies and discover the contexts and etymologies behind words, we need to revisit our vocabulary. I suggest abolishing the word "work" precisely to leave behind the history of abuse associated with it. In its place, we could adopt a more precise and objective definition, in the case proposed by the SDG "Decent work and economic growth" I suggest: "Exercise of each individual's will to be productive, in a free manner, and economic growth aimed at a fair redistribution of resources". Although this description could be longer, it eliminates any ambiguity that the elites could exploit. The knowledge of our beautiful Brazilian Portuguese language, perhaps the most sophisticated in the history of mankind, allows us such excellence of expression to achieve such objectivity, reducing loopholes for the elites, who are always parasitic. After all, do the test yourself, dear reader, ask a businessman what he means by 'decent work', and he will probably veiledly mention any activity that contributes to increasing his profits, without necessarily considering the well-being of the beings involved. Furthermore, it is important to understand that economic growth often comes at the cost of the exploitation of individuals, which highlights how capitalism and its elites can distort and manipulate concepts for their benefit, thus perpetuating abuses and injustices.
When we talk about SDG 8, we are discussing the creation of an environment in which each person can develop their intrinsic capacities and abilities through a real education, allowing them to choose their careers according to these discoveries, in other words, we are talking about accessibility, social projects, not accumulations, it's not about working to survive as common sense dictates, it's about having a quality life, and only then being able to produce something relevant. However, we must remember that any SDG can be co-opted by the elites to perpetuate exploitative and sick capitalism. It is therefore crucial to deepen our historical, etymological, philosophical, and scientific understanding of each concept and word within this social construction.
The SDGs and human rights (still an ideal to be achieved) are undoubtedly crucial issues today. However, they are part of a complex tangled web of causes and effects, requiring careful and rational analysis. Throughout history, we have seen profound and important concepts manipulated to serve oppressive agendas. Therefore, we must claim the right to exercise our will to power and defend SDG 8, but not as dictated by capitalism. We must not act in a way that pleases a system that, as you rightly point out, exudes an odor of oppression. The guarantee of human rights and the realization of the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) should not generate passive compliance with the status quo, but rather a form of social disobedience that drives rebellion and, consequently, the destruction or transformation of the current system. For probably 1% of the world's population, the current system is already wonderful, because two-thirds of global resources are already in their hands, in a geopolitics that stinks, can you smell the stench? Of a sick imperialism headed by the USA, and its pathetic "patriotic" culture, to create slave zombies, not that other countries don't do the same, mostly the elites do, but the ones with the biggest GDPs do it with more virulence, and effectiveness towards their goals.
(Article by Glycon Luiz, given to Ana Busch to publish for free access, any form of commercialization is forbidden without prior authorization from the author).
Video where I talk about the subject if you want to publish it together:
Sincerely, Glycon Luiz
Philosopher, Sociologist, Professor, Lecturer, Writer.
SDG 8
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