第40章

类别:其他 作者:Thorstein Veblen字数:6214更新时间:18/12/26 16:50:16
Inallthislatter-dayrangeofleisure-classactivitiesthatproceedonthebasisofanon-invidiousandnon-religiousinterest,itistobenotedthatthewomenparticipatemoreactivelyandmorepersistentlythanthemen——except,ofcourse,inthecaseofsuchworksasrequirealargeexpenditureofmeans。Thedependentpecuniarypositionofthewomendisablesthemforworkrequiringlargeexpenditure。Asregardsthegeneralrangeofameliorativework,themembersofthepriesthoodorclergyofthelessnaivelydevoutsects,orthesecularizeddenominations,areassociatedwiththeclassofwomen。Thisisasthetheorywouldhaveit。Inothereconomicrelations,also,thisclergystandsinasomewhatequivocalpositionbetweentheclassofwomenandthatofthemenengagedineconomicpursuits。Bytraditionandbytheprevalentsenseoftheproprieties,boththeclergyandthewomenofthewell-to-doclassesareplacedinthepositionofavicariousleisureclass;withbothclassesthecharacteristicrelationwhichgoestoformthehabitsofthoughtoftheclassisarelationofsubservience——thatistosay,aneconomicrelationconceivedinpersonalterms;inbothclassesthereisconsequentlyperceptibleaspecialpronenesstoconstruephenomenaintermsofpersonalrelationratherthanofcausalsequence;bothclassesaresoinhibitedbythecanonsofdecencyfromtheceremoniallyuncleanprocessesofthelucrativeorproductiveoccupationsastomakeparticipationintheindustriallifeprocessoftodayamoralimpossibilityforthem。Theresultofthisceremonialexclusionfromproductiveeffortofthevulgarsortistodraftarelativelylargeshareoftheenergiesofthemodernfeminineandpriestlyclassesintotheserviceofotherintereststhantheself-regardingone。Thecodeleavesnoalternativedirectioninwhichtheimpulsetopurposefulactionmayfindexpression。Theeffectofaconsistentinhibitiononindustriallyusefulactivityinthecaseoftheleisure-classwomenshowsitselfinarestlessassertionoftheimpulsetoworkmanshipinotherdirectionsthanthatofbusinessactivity。 Ashasbeennoticedalready,theeverydaylifeofthewell-to-dowomenandtheclergycontainsalargerelementofstatusthanthatoftheaverageofthemen,especiallythanthatofthemenengagedinthemodernindustrialoccupationsproper。 Hencethedevoutattitudesurvivesinabetterstateofpreservationamongtheseclassesthanamongthecommonrunofmeninthemoderncommunities。Henceanappreciableshareoftheenergywhichseeksexpressioninanon-lucrativeemploymentamongthesemembersofthevicariousleisureclassesmaybeexpectedtoeventuateindevoutobservancesandworksofpiety。Hence,inpart,theexcessofthedevoutproclivityinwomen,spokenofinthelastchapter。Butitismoretothepresentpointtonotetheeffectofthisproclivityinshapingtheactionandcoloringthepurposesofthenon-lucrativemovementsandorganizationshereunderdiscussion。Wherethisdevoutcoloringispresentitlowerstheimmediateefficiencyoftheorganizationsforanyeconomicendtowhichtheireffortsmaybedirected。Manyorganizations,charitableandameliorative,dividetheirattentionbetweenthedevotionalandthesecularwell-beingofthepeoplewhoseintereststheyaimtofurther。Itcanscarcelyhedoubtedthatiftheyweretogiveanequallyseriousattentionandeffortundividedlytothesecularinterestsofthesepeople,theimmediateeconomicvalueoftheirworkshouldbeappreciablyhigherthanitis。Itmightofcoursesimilarlybesaid,ifthisweretheplacetosayit,thattheimmediateefficiencyoftheseworksofameliorationforthedevoutmightbegreaterifitwerenothamperedwiththesecularmotivesandaimswhichareusuallypresent。 Somedeductionistobemadefromtheeconomicvalueofthisclassofnon-invidiousenterprise,onaccountoftheintrusionofthedevotionalinterest。Buttherearealsodeductionstobemadeonaccountofthepresenceofotheralienmotiveswhichmoreorlessbroadlytraversetheeconomictrendofthisnon-emulativeexpressionoftheinstinctofworkmanship。Tosuchanextentisthisseentobetrueonacloserscrutiny,that,whenallistold,itmayevenappearthatthisgeneralclassofenterprisesisofanaltogetherdubiouseconomicvalue——asmeasuredintermsofthefullnessorfacilityoflifeoftheindividualsorclassestowhoseameliorationtheenterpriseisdirected。Forinstance,manyoftheeffortsnowinreputablevoguefortheameliorationoftheindigentpopulationoflargecitiesareofthenature,ingreatpart,ofamissionofculture。Itisbythismeanssoughttoacceleratetherateofspeedatwhichgivenelementsoftheupper-classculturefindacceptanceintheeverydayschemeoflifeofthelowerclasses。Thesolicitudeof“settlements,“forexample,isinpartdirectedtoenhancetheindustrialefficiencyofthepoorandtoteachthemthemoreadequateutilizationofthemeansathand;butitisalsonolessconsistentlydirectedtotheinculcation,bypreceptandexample,ofcertainpunctiliosofupper-classproprietyinmannersandcustoms。Theeconomicsubstanceoftheseproprietieswillcommonlybefoundonscrutinytobeaconspicuouswasteoftimeandgoods。Thosegoodpeoplewhogoouttohumanizethepoorarecommonly,andadvisedly,extremelyscrupulousandsilentlyinsistentinmattersofdecorumandthedecenciesoflife。Theyarecommonlypersonsofanexemplarylifeandgiftedwithatenaciousinsistenceonceremonialcleannessinthevariousitemsoftheirdailyconsumption。Theculturalorcivilizingefficacyofthisinculcationofcorrecthabitsofthoughtwithrespecttotheconsumptionoftimeandcommoditiesisscarcelytobeoverrated;norisitseconomicvaluetotheindividualwhoacquiresthesehigherandmorereputableidealsinconsiderable。 Underthecircumstancesoftheexistingpecuniaryculture,thereputability,andconsequentlythesuccess,oftheindividualisingreatmeasuredependentonhisproficiencyindemeanorandmethodsofconsumptionthatarguehabitualwasteoftimeandgoods。Butasregardstheulterioreconomicbearingofthistraininginworthiermethodsoflife,itistobesaidthattheeffectwroughtisinlargepartasubstitutionofcostlierorlessefficientmethodsofaccomplishingthesamematerialresults,inrelationswherethematerialresultisthefactofsubstantialeconomicvalue。Thepropagandaofcultureisingreatpartaninculcationofnewtastes,orratherofanewscheduleofproprieties,whichhavebeenadaptedtotheupper-classschemeoflifeundertheguidanceoftheleisure-classformulationoftheprinciplesofstatusandpecuniarydecency。Thisnewscheduleofproprietiesisintrudedintothelower-classschemeoflifefromthecodeelaboratedbyanelementofthepopulationwhoselifeliesoutsidetheindustrialprocess;andthisintrusiveschedulecanscarcelybeexpectedtofittheexigenciesoflifefortheselowerclassesmoreadequatelythantheschedulealreadyinvogueamongthem,andespeciallynotmoreadequatelythantheschedulewhichtheyarethemselvesworkingoutunderthestressofmodernindustriallife。 AllthisofcoursedoesnotquestionthefactthattheprOprietiesofthesubstitutedschedulearemoredecorousthanthosewhichtheydisplace。Thedoubtwhichpresentsitselfissimplyadoubtastotheeconomicexpediencyofthisworkofregeneration——thatistosay,theeconomicexpediencyinthatimmediateandmaterialbearinginwhichtheeffectsofthechangecanbeascertainedwithsomedegreeofconfidence,andasviewedfromthestandpointnotoftheindividualbutofthefacilityoflifeofthecollectivity。Foranappreciationoftheeconomicexpediencyoftheseenterprisesofamelioration,therefore,theireffectiveworkisscarcelytobetakenatitsfacevalue,evenwheretheaimoftheenterpriseisprimarilyaneconomiconeandwheretheinterestonwhichitproceedsisinnosenseself-regardingorinvidious。Theeconomicreformwroughtislargelyofthenatureofapermutationinthemethodsofconspicuouswaste。 Butsomethingfurtheristobesaidwithrespecttothecharacterofthedisinterestedmotivesandcanonsofprocedureinallworkofthisclassthatisaffectedbythehabitsofthoughtcharacteristicofthepecuniaryculture;andthisfurtherconsiderationmayleadtoafurtherqualificationoftheconclusionsalreadyreached。Ashasbeenseeninanearlierchapter,thecanonsofreputabilityordecencyunderthepecuniarycultureinsistonhabitualfutilityofeffortasthemarkofapecuniarilyblamelesslife。Thereresultsnotonlyahabitofdisesteemofusefuloccupations,butthereresultsalsowhatisofmoredecisiveconsequenceinguidingtheactionofanyorganizedbodyofpeoplethatlaysclaimtosocialgoodrepute。 Thereisatraditionwhichrequiresthatoneshouldnotbevulgarlyfamiliarwithanyoftheprocessesordetailsthathavetodowiththematerialnecessitiesoflife。Onemaymeritoriouslyshowaquantitativeinterestinthewell-beingofthevulgar,throughsubscriptionsorthroughworkonmanagingcommitteesandthelike。Onemay,perhapsevenmoremeritoriously,showsolicitudeingeneralandindetailfortheculturalwelfareofthevulgar,inthewayofcontrivancesforelevatingtheirtastesandaffordingthemopportunitiesforspiritualamelioration。Butoneshouldnotbetrayanintimateknowledgeofthematerialcircumstancesofvulgarlife,orofthehabitsofthoughtofthevulgarclasses,suchaswouldeffectuallydirecttheeffortsoftheseorganizationstoamateriallyusefulend。Thisreluctancetoavowanundulyintimateknowledgeofthelower-classconditionsoflifeindetailofcourseprevailsinverydifferentdegreesindifferentindividuals;butthereiscommonlyenoughofitpresentcollectivelyinanyorganizationofthekindinquestionprofoundlytoinfluenceitscourseofaction。Byitscumulativeactioninshapingtheusageandprecedentsofanysuchbody,thisshrinkingfromanimputationofunseemlyfamiliaritywithvulgarlifetendsgraduallytosetasidetheinitialmotivesoftheenterprise,infavorofcertainguidingprinciplesofgoodrepute,ultimatelyreducibletotermsofpecuniarymerit。Sothatinanorganizationoflongstandingtheinitialmotiveoffurtheringthefacilityoflifeintheseclassescomesgraduallytobeanostensiblemotiveonly,andthevulgarlyeffectiveworkoftheorganizationtendstoobsolescence。 Whatistrueoftheefficiencyoforganizationsfornon-invidiousworkinthisrespectistruealsoasregardstheworkofindividualsproceedingonthesamemotives;thoughitperhapsholdstruewithmorequalificationforindividualsthanfororganizedenterprises。Thehabitofgaugingmeritbytheleisure-classcanonsofwastefulexpenditureandunfamiliaritywithvulgarlife,whetheronthesideofproductionorofconsumption,isnecessarilystrongintheindividualswhoaspiretodosomeworkofpublicutility。Andiftheindividualshouldforgethisstationandturnhiseffortstovulgareffectiveness,thecommonsenseofthecommunity-thesenseofpecuniarydecency——wouldpresentlyrejecthisworkandsethimright。Anexampleofthisisseenintheadministrationofbequestsmadebypublic-spiritedmenforthesinglepurpose(atleastostensibly) offurtheringthefacilityofhumanlifeinsomeparticularrespect。Theobjectsforwhichbequestsofthisclassaremostfrequentlymadeatpresentaremostfrequentlymadeatpresentareschools,libraries,hospitals,andasylumsfortheinfirmorunfortunate。Theavowedpurposeofthedonorinthesecasesistheameliorationofhumanlifeintheparticularrespectwhichisnamedinthebequest;butitwillbefoundaninvariablerulethatintheexecutionoftheworknotalittleofothermotives,frequenCyincompatiblewiththeinitialmotive,ispresentanddeterminestheparticulardispositioneventuallymadeofagoodshareofthemeanswhichhavebeensetapartbythebequest。 Certainfunds,forinstance,mayhavebeensetapartasafoundationforafoundlingasylumoraretreatforinvalids。Thediversionofexpendituretohonorificwasteinsuchcasesisnotuncommonenoughtocausesurpriseoreventoraiseasmile。Anappreciableshareofthefundsisspentintheconstructionofanedificefacedwithsomeaestheticallyobjectionablebutexpensivestone,coveredwithgrotesqueandincongruousdetails,anddesigned,initsbattlementedwallsandturretsanditsmassiveportalsandstrategicapproaches,tosuggestcertainbarbaricmethodsofwarfare。Theinteriorofthestructureshowsthesamepervasiveguidanceofthecanonsofconspicuouswasteandpredatoryexploit。Thewindows,forinstance,togonofartherintodetail,areplacedwithaviewtoimpresstheirpecuniaryexcellenceuponthechancebeholderfromtheoutside,ratherthanwithaviewtoeffectivenessfortheirostensibleendintheconvenienceorcomfortofthebeneficiarieswithin;andthedetailofinteriorarrangementisrequiredtoconformitselfasbestitmaytothisalienbutimperiousrequirementofpecuniarybeauty。 Inallthis,ofcourse,itisnottohepresumedthatthedonorwouldhavefoundfault,orthathewouldhavedoneotherwiseifhehadtakencontrolinperson;itappearsthatinthosecaseswheresuchapersonaldirectionisexercised——wheretheenterpriseisconductedbydirectexpenditureandsuperintendenceinsteadofbybequest——theaimsandmethodsofmanagementarenotdifferentinthisrespect。Norwouldthebeneficiaries,ortheoutsideobserverswhoseeaseorvanityarenotimmediatelytouched,bepleasedwithadifferentdispositionofthefunds。Itwouldsuitnoonetohavetheenterpriseconductedwithaviewdirectlytothemosteconomicalandeffectiveuseofthemeansathandfortheinitial,materialendofthefoundation。Allconcerned,whethertheirinterestisimmediateandself-regarding,orcontemplativeonly,agreethatsomeconsiderableshareoftheexpenditureshouldgotothehigherorspiritualneedsderivedfromthehabitofaninvidiouscomparisoninpredatoryexploitandpecuniarywaste。Butthisonlygoestosaythatthecanonsofemulativeandpecuniaryreputabilitysofarpervadethecommonsenseofthecommunityastopermitnoescapeorevasion,eveninthecaseofanenterprisewhichostensiblyproceedsentirelyonthebasisofanon-invidiousinterest。