Neuroscience proves what we’ve suspected all along: The reason we hate our jobs is… capitalism.

Work, Alienation & Fulfillment, Thread 1/23

Despite all the reasons we to love to work: the feeling of pride from a job well done, mastery of art or craft, our need for social esteem, or fulfillment that comes from creating something of social value, for all that gives us meaning in our work, we sure do hate our jobs! 2/23

One of the most comprehensive studies on workplace fulfillment, State of the Global Workplace by Gallop Press, found that approximately 85% of workers are “not engaged” at work: cognitively disconnected, emotionally uninvested & unfulfilled at their jobs. 85%!!! 3/23

Robert Levering, director of @GPTW_US, has observed that most workplaces are “mildly alienating *at best*."

Other polls & economic studies are nearly unanimous in their findings: alienation is pervasive in capitalist workplaces. 4/23

What is it about human nature & particularly the human brain that causes feelings of alienation? And what is it about contemporary workplaces that make alienation so pervasive? 5/23

Humans have incredible cognitive abilities, including consciousness, which allows us to abstract thoughts about our actions apart from the actions themselves. Before taking any action (or not) we can weigh options, recall relevant memories & experiences and forecast outcomes 6/23

In other words, consciousness allows us to use our ‘mind’s eye’ to situate ourselves in relation to environmental variables, assess options, foresee different outcomes, and plan ahead. We can do all that before we actually partake (or do not partake) in any action. 7/23

Neuroscientists have identified our brain’s biological need to use our consciousness to engage in the decisions that affect our lives as the ‘perception/action cycle’: our cognitive desire for ‘continuous functional engagement’ with whatever impacts us. 8/23

We have long understood that humans have an innate need for freedom, but recent discoveries in neuroscience take this understanding even further: we also have an innate need to have a fair say in the decisions that affect our lives. 9/23

Neuroscientist Dr Joaquin M. Fuster, whose research has brought a much greater understanding of our biological needs for freedom & self-determination: “Our freedom and ability to shape our future are the ultimate offspring of the extraordinary evolution of the human brain.” 10/23

Applying our consciousness to our actions & engaging our cognitive capacities of the ‘perception/action cycle’ brings us feelings of fulfillment & well-being.

When taken away, we feel suffocated, we feel like we have no voice, like we don’t matter, we feel alienation. 11/23

Capitalism is an economic system that inherently requires that approximately 80 to 85% of workers have little to no say in any decisions. But the human brain is not made to just follow orders all day long, completely disconnected from the decisions that affect us. 12/23

Our brains want to engage & grapple with the decisions that affect us. We innately want to participate & have a fair say in the decisions that affect our lives. 13/23

To maximize freedom, democracy & participation for everyone, leftists advocate societal institutions that give each person a say in decisions proportionate to the degree that the decision affects them. 14/23 https://twitter.com/ArashKolahi/status/1125471207086649346?s=20

Given this understanding, it follows that simply replacing capitalist bosses with state bosses will do nothing to end alienation for the 85% of workers with no say at work.

Instead, every worker must have a real participatory say in the decisions that affect them. 15/23

In other words, the only real way to end workplace alienation and make workplaces fulfilling is
to restructure workplaces based on participatory democracy: giving workers a participatory & fair say in decisions. 16/23

Enduring undemocratic capitalist enterprises is no trivial matter.

First, we spend a large part of our lives working. Work, creativity & innovation are core parts of the human experience. Why have these aspects of our lives defined by undemocratic & alienating enterprises? 17/23

Second, economic enterprises affect every aspect of our lives. They affect workers, they affect consumers, they affect neighborhoods, they affect communities, they affect countries & they affect the entire planet. 18/23

Undemocratic enterprises are making decisions that literally affect & impact every aspect of our lives, and yet those of us affected by those decisions have no say in them!

Why should we be okay with that? 19/23

Real democracy means those affected by decisions have a fair say in those decisions. Capitalism is inherently & by-definition undemocratic, alienating & unfulfilling for the vast majority. 20/23

Third, workplace alienation doesn’t end when we leave work to go home. Alienation deeply affects our psyche beyond just economic institutions. Renowned psychologist Dr. Bruce E. Levine has written extensively on how alienation can lead to various mental health issues: 21/23

Dr. Levine: “loss of autonomy to a distant, centralized, and coercive institution is harmful to health, producing helplessness, passivity, boredom, and fear – the building blocks for all the so-called mental illnesses, diseases, and disorders.” 22/23

Capitalism is inherently alienating & undemocratic. As we've seen in other threads, it’s also inherently unfair, inequitable & grossly inefficient. Capitalism limits our potentials and hinders our fulfillment.

We can do better. 23/23

Add on...

A few people have asked me how we can move our economy, & society in general, in more humane & fulfilling directions. If interested, look at my pinned thread. It’s long. Very long. Over 100 tweets long. But outlines 7 core leftist societal values...