Furendal, Markus , Brouwer, Huub & Willem van der Deijl | 2024
Journal of Applied Philosophy
Work has always been a significant source of ethical questions, philosophical reflec-tion, and political struggle. Although thefutureof work in a sense is always at stake, the issueis particularly relevant right now, in light of the advent of advanced AI systems and the collectiveexperience of the COVID-19 pandemic. This has reinvigorated philosophical discussion andinterest in the study of the future of work. The purpose of this survey article is to provide an over-view of the emerging philosophicalfield that engages with the future of work, with a special focuson equality and justice, and to outline a research agenda that can help thefield to develop further.Section 2 provides some historical context for the current surge in interest in the topic. Then, wediscuss what work is and whether there is a philosophy of work (Section 3). The four main sub-debates we then turn to concern the value of work (Section 4), distributive justice and work(Section 5), productive justice (Section 6), and institutional reforms prompted by changes inhow work is organized (Section 7). Thefinal section discusses the importance of the distinctionbetween ideal and non-ideal theory in philosophical investigations into the future of work.
