Sample of Veblen's Theory of the Leisure Class
Description
Vocal Characteristics
Language
EnglishVoice Age
Young Adult (18-35)Accents
British (General) British (Received Pronunciation - RP, BBC)Transcript
Note: Transcripts are generated using speech recognition software and may contain errors.
the institution of a letter classes found in its best development at the highest stages of the barbarian culture as, for instance, in feudal Europe or futile trip on in such communities. The distinction between classes is very rigorously observed, and the future of most striking economic significance in these class differences is the distinction maintained between the employments proper to several classes. The upper classes are by custom exempt or excluded from industrial occupations and are reserved for certain employment, to which a degree of honour attach is chief among the honourable employments in any future communities, warfare and priestly services commonly second to warfare. If the barbarian community is not notably warlike, the priestly office may take the president's without of the warrior second. But the rule holds with but slight exceptions that where the warriors or priests, the upper classes are exempt from industrial employment, and this exemption is in the economic expression of their superior rank. Brahman India affords a fair illustration of the industrial exemption of both these classes In the communities belonging to the higher barbarian culture. There is a considerable differentiation of sub classes within what may be comprehensively called the leisure class and there is corresponding differentiation of employments between these sub classes. The leisure class as a whole comprises the noble and the priestly classes. Together with much of their revenue. The occupations of the class are correspondingly diversified, but they have the common economic characteristic of being non industrial. These non industrial upper class occupations, maybe roughly comprised under government warfare, religious observances and sports at an earlier but not the only ist stage of barbarian, is, um the leisure class is found in a less differentiated form. Neither the class distinctions nor the distinctions between leisure class occupations are so minute and intricate. The Polynesian Islanders generally show this stage of development in good form, with the exception that, owing to the absence of large game hunting, does not hold the usual place of honour in the scheme of life. The Icelandic community in the time of the saga also affords in that instance, in such a community, there is rigorous distinction between classes and between the occupations, particular to each class manual labour industry, whatever has to do directly with the everyday work of getting a livelihood is the exclusive occupation of the inferior class. They're severe class includes slaves and other dependence, and ordinarily, also the women. If there are several grades of aristocracy, the women of high rank are commonly exempt from industrial employment, or at least the more vulgar types of manual labour. The men of upper classes are not only exempt but by prescriptive custom there to barred from all the industrial occupations. The range of employment open to them is rigidly defined as on the higher plain. Already spoken of these employments, our government warfare, religious observances and sports. These four types of activity governed the scheme of life, of the up classes and for the highest rank, the chiefs or chieftains that are the only kinds of activities that custom or the common sense of the community will allow. Indeed, when the scheme is well developed, even sports are accounted. Doubted Li legitimate for the members of the highest round to the lower to the lower grades of the leisure class. Certain other employments are open, but they are employments that our subsidiary to one another of these typical leisure class occupations