Does work dignify? The divide in entrepreneurship

Does it torment or dignify? The big question of entrepreneurship

Work does not dignify. So says a current of thought that sees the work routine as a sentence, a biblical punishment. But in the entrepreneurial ecosystem, where self-exploitation is often the norm, the answer becomes nuanced.

Some argue that wage work is a form of modern slavery, where the worker sells their time for a salary that barely makes it to the end of the month. The figures illustrate the gap: €1,300 a month perched on a scaffold does not dignify; €50 every fifteen minutes in a white coat does, at least according to the market price. But then, can dignity be bought? Others argue that dignity is inherent, not earned through work. One perspective holds that dignity is intrinsic, connecting with Marx's philosophy: work alienates. Artificial intelligence is presented as a possible liberation: "Long live AI," as a promise of a future free from labor servitude. However, the common perception that we all trade time for money unifies the debate: the system turns any activity into a transaction.

The question of whether work dignifies admits no single answer. Perhaps the key lies not in the activity itself, but in control over it. If automation advances, society will have to redefine the link between income and effort. Until then, the divide between those who see work as a sentence and those who see it as an opportunity will remain open.