UNCP4309 · Business Law

Everybody's Working for the Weekend: Ambition and Alienation

Carroll School of Management

This course will propose an answer to the following question: Why does it seem like some people are more ambitious than others? On the surface, those with what appears to be a natural drive to succeed seem to become more affluent. That is to say, some people appear to embrace hustle culture, or the idea that any time spent not making money is wasted time, while others are drawn toward a trend identified around 2021 as quiet quitting, that is to say, they refuse to devote more time and energy to their work than is absolutely necessary to avoid losing their jobs. Why is this apparent lack of ambition and motivation so prevalent? Can we blame mere laziness? This question will be answered with a resounding no. Rather, this class will show that there are indeed systematic measures in place that cause some to not appear as motivated as others. In order to work through this answer, this class will look at alienation and capitalism. This course will address the effects of systemic racism, automation and AI, environmental concerns, generational trends, and the COVID-19 pandemic on ones ambition to succeed in the workforce. This course will combine philosophical readings from Marx, Weber, Arendt, and others with contemporary business case studies.