Publisher's Synopsis
The Instinct of Workmanship and the State of the Industrial Arts is a book written by the American economist and sociologist Thorstein Veblen. It was first published in 1914 and explores the relationship between human instinct and the development of industrial arts. Veblen argues that the instinct of workmanship, which he defines as the desire to do a job well for its own sake, is the driving force behind technological advancement and the development of the industrial arts. He also critiques the modern industrial system, arguing that it has become too focused on profit and efficiency at the expense of craftsmanship and quality. The book is considered a classic in the field of sociology and economics, and its ideas continue to influence discussions about the role of technology and craftsmanship in modern society.In the ordinary course, it should seem, such an advance in the industrial arts as will result in an accumulation of wealth, a considerable and efficient industrial equipment, or in a systematic and permanent cultivation of the soil or an extensive breeding of herds or flocks, will also bring on ownership and property rights bearing on these valuable goods, or on the workmen, or on the land employed in their production. What has seemed the most natural and obvious beginnings of property rights, in the view of those economists who have taken an interest in the matter, is the storing up of valuables by such of the ancient workmen as were enabled, by efficiency, diligence or fortuitous gains, to produce somewhat more than their current consumption.This scarce antiquarian book is a facsimile reprint of the old original and may contain some imperfections such as library marks and notations. Because we believe this work is culturally important, we have made it available as part of our commitment for protecting, preserving, and promoting the world's literature in affordable, high quality, modern editions, that are true to their original work.
