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RIR-2084 · Logged 13 July 2026
Arendtian Perspectives on Immaterial Labor and the Meaning of Work in Automated Societies
This research applies Hannah Arendt’s phenomenology to contemporary debates regarding automation and the future of work. It seeks to distinguish between labor, work, and action to address concerns about job meaningfulness.
In plain words
As machines take over more jobs, what makes work meaningful? This study uses the philosopher Hannah Arendt's ideas, which separate labour, work and action, to think about how organisations and labour policy could keep work meaningful.
Primary research question
How can Arendt’s conceptual distinction between labor, work, and action inform the design of meaningful work in an automated economy?
Knowledge gap
What remains worth asking
It remains useful to test whether Arendt’s critique of consumption can provide a practical framework for evaluating the societal impact of immaterial labor.
Potential contribution
Why it may matter
This study offers a philosophical foundation for rethinking organizational structures and labor policies in the age of automation.
Academic placement
Academic fields and topic tags
Study frame: Organizational management and labor policy in highly automated sectors. · Method signals: Philosophical analysis, Conceptual modeling, Literature review
Possible study pathways
One question, different levels
Professional master’s / MBA
Strategic management of human capital in automated environments.
Doctoral
Philosophical inquiry into the future of work and organizational ethics.
- originality
- Moderate
- methodology
- Accessible
- Data access
- Accessible
- ethics
- Moderate
Quality and audit
76/100 quality
Safeguard-based audit was not recorded under the prior standard.
- Focuses on theoretical application to management.
- Requires strong grounding in political philosophy.
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APA 7 source
Waelen, R. A. (2025). Rethinking Automation and the Future of Work with Hannah Arendt. Journal of Business Ethics, 201(1), 3-14. https://doi.org/10.1007/s10551-025-05991-1
Paper abstract and discussion context; AI-inferred direction
This is an AI-inferred direction. The source authors did not state it as a recommendation.
Open source ↗