Tilburgs Hogeschoolblad laargang 3
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maandblad
Redactie: P. J. G. Aarts P. H. A. de Bekker B.J. M. Giesen Redactie-adres: Hogeschoollaan 225, Tilburg
mei 1966 W. A. F. M, van der Kruys L. P. H. Hensgem H. G. M, Dijstelbloem J. J. M. de Bont (Hoofd Bureau
Senaat)
Industrial Sociology By Eugene V. Schneider Bryn Mawr College, U.S.A. Each historical period is marked by certain basic features of social organization, systems of ideas, and psychological characteristics which, when seen in historical perspective, prove to have been the substratum on which the more visible and showier events of the time have rested. Thus all t h e innumerable wars of the medieval period, its endless dynastic quarrels, its literature, its art, its fashions, its theological quarrels, sprang from a subsoil of feudal social organization, certain ideas of God and Man, and the psychological make-up of serf, lord, priest, bourgeois, etc. Undoubtedly our own period will eventually be shown to have rested also on a certain substratum, but we are, perhaps, too much in media res, and perhaps too much distracted by immediate events, to determine the components of this substratum. Nevertheless, it seems safe to say that one of the major underlying strata on which our civilization has been built is the industrial system of production. By an industrial system of production let us understand a system in which the work of people is divided and integrated according to some rational and orderly plan, where much of the work is performed by machines of varying degrees of complexity (rather than by tools wielded by m e n ) , where those who work at the machines and to an increasing extent those who manage a r e scpared from ownership of the machines and instruments of production. I n addition to these basic characteristics of industrialism, we may note certain features which often are associated with i t ; the appearance of very large and complex organizations, the centralization of production within buildings, the use of pure and applied science in the productive process, long-term planning for procurement, sales and research. Beginning in the eighteenth century or even earlier, industrialism has spread from one field of production another, and from one coiiatrf~ «M^uuii to IU anuuici, aim irom one counin to another, until today the power of nations is iciQijpj^
largely by its degree of industrialization, an d there are few lands which do not at least dream of establishing their own industrial base. T h e reason for this inexorable, and seemingly irreversible tendency (barring a nuclear catastrophe) is plain; industrialism is by far the most efficient and productive of all systems of production. Paraphrasing Max Weber, we may say that the industrial system is to the nonindustrial system, as the machine is to the tool. Now, one may like or dislike industrialism, and all it has given rise to. Some people see in it the destruction of human values, impersonality and coldness, the reduction of the importance of the individual, unbearable standardization of products, exorbitant power concentrated in the hands of those who control the industries, and much more besides. I know that in America there are many, especially among the intellectuals, who think precisely in this way. But I can not agree that this point of view is adequate; nothing, except universal destruction, is likely t o stop the march of industrialism. T h e question that we should be facing, as I see it, rather is how to control industrialism in the interests of the largest number of people. And by „controlling industrialism", I mean making it a fit environment in which human being can work, making it responsible to the will and needs of the people, making sure that the products of industry are compatible with human needs; in short, making industrialism the servant of the human race, and not its master. But, if we are ever to establish control over industrialism (and the same may be said for many other aspects of man's society and culture) we must first understand the thing we wish to control. One may well ask; „well doesn't such knowledge already exist. After all, industrialism is the creation of human beings, millions of people have direct experience with it, many people have studied it".The inswer must be. it seems to me. t h a t b ^ ^ n v s t a n irv little about |inQt ,kno.\ raröT cifSlPf, or histt< ry,
KATHOLIEKE HOGESCHOOL TILBURG
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