Adam Smith, Max Weber, Webb: Key Thinkers on Labor & Society

Adam Smith: Wealth of Nations and Division of Labor

Adam Smith's work surged in the 18th and 19th centuries. His seminal work, *The Wealth of Nations* (1776), explored the division of labor and its impact on society. Karl Marx drew from Smith, recognizing that specialization increases productivity but also simplifies the complexity of work, potentially leading to worker alienation. Smith was concerned about the inequality of work and argued that the state must intervene to prevent workers from reaching exclusion or self-marginalization.

Max Weber: Alienation, Legitimacy, and Ideal Types

Max Weber was aware of Marx and Smith but held different ideological views. He believed that alienation is a characteristic symptom of progress in modern societies. Weber distinguished three types of legitimacy:

• Charismatic: Based on the appeal of a charismatic leader.
• Traditional: Rooted in established beliefs and customs.
• Rational: Based on criteria of cost-benefit analysis.

Weber argued that modern industrial societies experience a loss of charismatic and traditional legitimacy, with a predominance of rational legitimacy. He proposed constructing "ideal types," abstract representations to understand society.

The Webbs and Industrial Democracy

Sidney and Beatrice Webb, prominent figures in the late 19th and early 20th centuries, were members of the Fabian Society, a group of reformers. They believed that a socialist world would emerge not through revolution but through social inertia, thanks to the influence of unions. The Webbs identified three key union actions:

• Unilateral Regulation: Unions unilaterally set the terms of work.
• Collective Bargaining: Negotiation between company representatives and workers to establish legal working conditions.
• Legal Regulation: Unions influence parliament to enact favorable labor laws.

Main Forms of Work Organization in Society

Artisanal Production

Characterized by development in workshops where workers control the entire production process. Products are made specifically for individual customers, requiring skilled labor and often featuring paternalistic relationships.

Mass Production: Taylorism, Fordism, and Sloanism

Taylorism

According to Frederick Taylor, there are two types of people: those who manage and those who perform manual labor. He believed their psychological profiles and interests differ. Workers are motivated by financial rewards. Taylor advocated for increasing productivity by eliminating actions deemed dispensable for the production process and assigning the right person for each task.

Fordism

Henry Ford's innovation was to introduce technological advancements, resulting in the assembly line. This led to the production of the Model T, characterized by identical cars. However, the work became increasingly monotonous, requiring higher wages to compensate for the low production.

Sloanism

Faced with a different reality where not all products were sold, resulting in excess stock, Alfred Sloan developed basic marketing principles and flexible assembly chains to suit different markets.