The workingman's advocate. [volume] (Chicago [Ill.]) 1864-1877, 1868-08-29
Consequences of the Division of Labor
as Affecting social Life.

A LECTURE DELIVERED CT scHURLEK DELIIz scH
IN THE HALL OF THE GREAT woRKMEs's AS
ISOLATION AT BERLIN.
Among the natural agents that govern the
great fabric of social relations, the 'sdivision
Of labor" occupies one of our most Important
positions IL is 10 the manner in which this
division is effected and to the consequences
by which it 10 attended for individual welfare
well as for the social position of individ-
uals that we look for the mt vital part OF
social questions.
|. THE EFFECTS OF THE DIVISION OF LABoR
ON THE PROVINCE OF ECONOMY.
Permit me TO drop but few cursory re-
marks on the economical side Of the ques-
ton for the sake Of establishing connection
between the " rences TO be drawn in the
course Of my CURE.
The division Of labor, the distribuE.an of
the manifold agencies, that are requisitefo for
the grati6c alton of the wants Of men, among
the different grades of society as more or
less permanent branches of employment has
its origin. directly in the nature Of man.
As matter Of fact we must take into con-
sIderation as of prime importance the de-
gree and to a great extent the uneven distri-
button Of the powers, natural abilities and
dispositions Of men. By virtue Of these
qualities each single person is fitted for this
or that pursuit, but none for all the various
occupations that are actually demanded TO
supply us with all the necessaries of life.
Instead, therefore, Of investing exclusively
every single one with all these energies,
which would be an utter Impossibility for
one individual alone to possess, we find these
scatter ed among the different classes OF la
borers and thus finally through the mutual
exchange of products the possibility Of at
tanning TO the qualification Of each and every
want is extended to all. But matters do
not rest with this separation into different
branches Of labor, each Of which branches
furnishing a certain kind Of articles. In
proportion, rather, as industry advances, the
division Of labor penetrstes farther into each
Of these branches in particular, to the end
that, the operations required for the prepa-
ration Of certain articles Of consumption out
Of raw material, which tedious operations
had to be performed formerly by one and
the same la5orer, may now be distributed
among many, mutually assisting each other.
The effects Of this division in regard to the
ALIENATION, perfection and productiveness of
labor are lnconcelveably vast and shall con-
tent myself with briefly adverting to the
most important ones of them.
In the fret place, it enhances in manner
quite astonishing the capabilities of the la
borer for the performance Of has task. Each
one, in consequence, ia OF liberty to devote
himself to special line Of business, for
which nature has best qualified him. We
cannot, indeed, value loo highly that con-
centration of energies, which is so essential
a. faar a.
ticular branch of labor, moreover, the ex-
perience and dexterity resulting therefrom
are Of no small account, while on the con-
trary, were We compelled to learn oil trades
and pursue all courses of occupation Of 80
heterogeneous . nature, the greatest age
man could ever possibly react, would not
even suffice for the apprenticeship.
In the next place the division Of labor
serves as n shield against the useless squan-
dering Of capital We know il 10 be fact
that, 70 every kind cf employ ment belong as
indispensable prelimiDsries certain raw ma
terials, tools and more Or less expensive
stock In what . strait wvnld q person be,
who had to meet all his wants entirely alone
He would be in need Of all possible work
shops for sustenance, he would have TO pur-
chase properly, cattle, and agriculsaral i'm
elements, he would have 10 erect mills and
tanneries, IN sh0rt, be was 70 hare thousands
Of articles before be could In the least think
Of setting about his task and 10 10 more
than evident thai this would exhaust al his
powers for life. Lastly, the divisi on Of la
Dor, a. far as productIvcness IL concerned.
exercises q most beneficial influence on the
cooperation Of the natural agencies and the
treasures that are, ~ 10 well known, distribu-
ted so unevenly over the earth. Thus We
are peculiarly enabled 10 apply ourselves In
every direction to the manufacturing and
raising Of such articles and products, a.
permit, thanks 70 the kind provisions Of ma.
ture, to be most easily and readily attained, |
which is Of immense advantage to all man
kind throueh~he mutual exchange. In the |
same degree, therefore, a the division Of |
labor proves to be m indispensable requisite |
for our material wants, in an equal gay |
still greater degree Il proves 70 be lar our |
intellectual Developments, fer the progress in |
culture and refinement Of the whole human |
race. Before thinking Of paying any re- |
gard to the cultivation Of our spiritual na- |
ture aud to the exercise Of our nohler facul. |
ties, We are TO look irst 20 our phys,cai
well-beiDg. We must 6rst pacify the i'm /
perious demands Of our physical nature and /
do the most necessary sla useful, befors ~ /
can turn our mind TO the agreeable and the |
beautiful. Hence ne are led 70 the conclu- |
sion, that an long as people has lot step.
ped beyond the limits Just specified. % long |
as labor doesnot yield . reasonable surplns /
over daily consnmption, just % long il will
De yam to speak Of . general culture or cav
ilixaiion. Only snch surplus - win liber-
ate 4 portion OF human beings from the
aIdaous task Of supplying M With Tho me- /
cessaries OF life, can render II possible for /
them 70 engage In pursalis q q nehler iaa-