Hannah Arendt's three classifications of human social action
Genron 0: Philosophy of Tourists
In her work, Hannah Arendt classifies human social actions into three categories: action, work, and labor. She argues that "action" and "work" give meaning to human life, while "labor" does not. However, in modern society, labor has become dominant, which she sees as a problem.
Arendt considers the ancient Greek polis as one ideal of publicness. "Action" is a conceptual model based on the political (Police-like) actions of Greek citizens. Specifically, it refers to linguistic and physical acts such as appearing in the public space (agora), giving speeches, and engaging in discussions. In the 21st century, this can be understood as a broad term that includes running for office, giving speeches at political gatherings, participating in citizen movements, and engaging in social service at Multiple NPOs provide various social services, and citizens belong to multidimensional communities.
On the other hand, "labor" refers to actions that correspond to the biological processes of the human body. This means that only physical strength is required in labor. In modern times, this can be seen in jobs like working at convenience stores or fast food restaurants, where anyone can do the job and it is measured solely based on the number of people and hours worked. It is important to note that Arendt contrasts these two concepts by emphasizing the uniqueness of the actor. The uniqueness refers to the issue of "face" and "name." Arendt believes that the uniqueness of the actor is crucial in action. In fact, in political speeches, the face of the speaker is more important than the content of the speech. On the other hand, in labor, the face and name are not important at all. Factory workers and part-time employees are just anonymous numbers. In fact, when going to a convenience store to buy something, consumers rarely care about who is at the cash register. They may not even care which store it is. In labor, to borrow Arendt's words, it is only the faceless "vitality" that is being bought and sold.
Therefore, it is important for individuals to demonstrate who they are and actively reveal their unique personal identity, thus manifesting themselves in the human world. This suggests that even in anonymity, it is possible to express one's identity. tkgshn.icon