“Post-work?” and Corporealities: Expanding our vision of work

Our perception of work is constantly being redefined by the changes happening in our societies, such as pandemics, wars, or shifts in market structures. Recently, there has been an upsurge of scholarship on “post-work”, or the idea of a society where work has been radically changed and decentralized in relation to how human beings attribute value and meaning to their life activities. This shift prompts us to explore a vision of work which challenges the centrality of work that has been deeply ingrained in our social structures. Hence, we ask “What resources from thinking about “post-work” are valuable for expanding our vision of work? And How do we broaden conceptions of work from a “post-work” perspective?

The term "post-work" itself can be interpreted in various ways. For example, it can signify an interest in the role of the body after work, the question of the disposability of bodies in relation to work, or the movement of bodies that work. It is not only machines threatening the displacement of workers but also other workers, as well as new forms of work that continue to redefine what can be counted as work. In line with this, how will corporeality matter in the future of work? What is the potential role of bodies in a radical decentering of work in “post-work”? Concretely, for example, we may ask, How do we think about the movement of bodies in relation to work (e.g. migration)?

Migrant workers continue to be an interesting group in relation to this question. With the fluid movement of people due to different circumstances in societies, how will labor migration shape a post-work future? In the first place, can labor migration be a part of a post-work future society where the focus is a decentralization of work?

Additionally, there are the affective dimensions of work, such as care, love, exhaustion, grief, and resilience. These aspects of work are tied to the body, and may not always be visible but are also directly linked to the experience of work. How will we continue to conceptualize these affective dimensions in a post-work future?

The term "post" in "post-work" also suggests interest in the conceptual framework of time in relation to work. This idea of time and work have predominantly been explored within modern Western societies, which generally perceive time as linear, chronological, and teleological. However, how do we think about the relationship between time and work in the context of diverse temporal frames? For example, non-Western societies where employment structures may be less formalized and the qualifications of workers may restrict participation in the global job market. What about contexts where temporalities are aligned with bodily functions (eg. time is understood as a time to eat, work and rest). How do we understand “post-work”in these conditions?

Given the diverse ways in which 'post-work' can be conceptualized, it offers a promising framework for generating new insights about the nature of work. We therefore invite contributions that suggest a rethinking of “work”, roughly along the following questions:

1. How to understand and rethink the bodily dimensions of work?

2. What can we learn from the experiences of migrant workers about rethinking work?

3. How should we (re)think the affective dimensions of work, especially in the face of

   current technological developments?

4. How to (re)conceptualize the relationship between time and work?

5. What can we learn from traditions of work that do not have a linear conception of time?

Confirmed speakers:

• Darlene Demandante, University of Groningen

• Faisal Garba Muhammed, University of Cape Town

• Jean-Philippe Deranty, Macquarie University

• Denise Celentano, Université de Montréal

  Abstract submission:

  We welcome abstract submissions of up to 400 words (max), to be sent by January 15, 2025, to the submission form (https://forms.gle/zjAfzqvj9ZXGM2cW6). Contributions can come from different philosophical traditions and neighboring disciplines (such as but not limited to Law, Sociology, Economics, Environmental Humanities etc.).

  We will inform speakers about the outcome by February 15, 2025. We expect drafts of papers to be pre-circulated; they should be ready by May 31, 2025.

  We might be able to offer a travel subsidy to scholars who do not receive sufficient funding from their institution. If this applies to you, please let us know (with a rough estimate of costs) and we will see what we can do.

  Organizers:

  Darlene Demandante ([email protected]) and Lisa Herzog ([email protected]), University of Groningen. Do not hesitate to get in touch if you have any questions.