Thorstein Veblen argues that the "instinct of workmanship" is a fundamental human propensity to accomplish tasks effectively, but its development and expression are heavily shaped by other instinctive dispositions and the prevailing social and industrial conditions. This instinct is not inherently a simple, irreducible psychological element but a concurrence of aptitudes that directs itself towards the "ways and means" of achieving given purposes. The habitual bias developed through cumulative experience can significantly impact the scope of technological knowledge and the state of industrial arts, influencing the rate and direction of progress in workmanlike ideals.
The book posits that technological progress is not solely a product of the instinct of workmanship. Knowledge acquired under the guidance of various instincts, including pseudo-information derived from convention or opinion rather than direct experience, is assimilated into the technological equipment used for work. Consequently, the habits formed across different experiences, influenced by varied instinctive biases, affect a workman’s conduct. Extreme urgency from other instincts or insufficient provocation can lead to a decline in technique and proficiency, while moderate exigence fosters technological efficiency and growth.
Key concepts
- Instinct of Workmanship — A human propensity focused on accomplishing tasks effectively and finding the "ways and means" to achieve given purposes.
- Technological Mastery — The state of proficiency and skill within a specific industrial or craft domain.
- Cumulative Habituation — The process by which repeated experiences, guided by instinctive biases, shape habitual trends and biases that influence future conduct and aims.
- Moderate Exigence — Conditions of moderate necessity or demand that foster optimal technological efficiency and community-wide proficiency growth.
- Instinctive Bias — The shaping influence of predominant instinctive dispositions on the direction and color of acquired knowledge and habits.
Popular questions readers ask
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