Work by Lars Svendsen

In career consultant training courses, students study both career theories that emerged in the early 20th century and psychology, which originated in the 19th century and gave rise to various theories in the 20th century. These two fields have merged to form the academic foundation for providing theoretical support for each worker’s self-actualization and for finding meaning in their work.

Usually, the role of a career consultant is understood based on these modern academic theories. However, Work by Lars Svendsen offers a fascinating perspective by tracing the concept of work all the way back to ancient Greece, showing how our ideas about work have evolved over time.

Rather than going into too much detail here, I’ll summarize Chapter One of the book, which outlines the major transitions in the concept of labor. This chapter alone is already quite thought-provoking.

* * *

In ancient times, Greek philosophers regarded labor as something base or lowly.
They believed that the goal of life was to cultivate virtue, and labor was merely a means to that end.

In the 14th century, during the Renaissance, a slightly different understanding emerged.
With the rise of Christianity came the notion of labor as a duty.
Work was seen as a way to atone for human sins—especially sins of the flesh.
Although rooted in penance, this gave labor a somewhat more positive meaning.
Still, prayer was considered superior to labor.

In the 16th century, during the Reformation, the meaning of labor took on even more positive connotations.
Martin Luther introduced the concept of "vocation" or "calling," viewing labor as something irreplaceable, given by God.
Since work was divinely ordained, Luther believed one should not change jobs.
However, John Calvin advanced the idea further, suggesting that it was acceptable to switch jobs if it meant greater financial gain.

Sociologist Max Weber identified this shift during the Reformation as the birth of a new Protestant ethic.
The idea that diligence at work aligned with God’s plan became widespread.
Working hard and accumulating wealth came to be seen as fulfilling divine will—an attitude Weber believed eventually gave rise to capitalism.

Benjamin Franklin, an early capitalist entrepreneur and politician, saw the accumulation of wealth as a virtuous act.
Though similar to Protestant thinking, Franklin’s view placed less emphasis on the presence of God.

In the 19th century, historian Thomas Carlyle recognized the value of labor and declared it noble.
In contrast, philosopher John Stuart Mill disagreed, arguing that what is noble is not labor itself but anything done for a worthy purpose.
Regardless of who was right, this debate marked a shift: God was now absent from the discussion, and religion no longer played a role.
The focus had turned entirely to the individual.
Concepts central to modern career consulting—personal fulfillment, authenticity, finding meaning in work, and labor as a process of personal development—had already emerged during this period.

Thus, over time, labor evolved from being seen as something degrading, to something meaningful within a divine framework, and eventually to something meaningful on a personal level in modern times.

On the other hand, Karl Marx pointed out how this understanding was distorted by the rise of capitalism.
His writings are complex, but he argued that through labor, people externalize themselves in the form of material goods. (i.e., objectification of human subjectivity)
Whether creating products or providing services, people express their emotions and intentions through the things they make.
But with the development of capitalism, this became impossible.
The things workers produce came to feel unrelated to themselves.
Marx described this phenomenon with the term “alienation.”

This concludes Chapter One of Work.
The following chapters introduce modern thinkers’ views on labor, including Adam Smith, Bertrand Russell, and Hannah Arendt.
Chapter Three returns to antiquity with Plato and Aristotle.
Chapter Four shifts focus to the Universal Declaration of Human Rights, and Chapter Five discusses the concept of “management,” as developed in Taylor’s Scientific Management.
You can check the table of contents at the link below:

Work | Lars Svendsen | Taylor & Francis eBooks, Reference Works and Co

Although the book was published in 2015, it remains highly relevant and engaging even today.