Whither work? The politics and ethics of contemporary work

This introductory chapter explores the question ‘Whither Work?’ in our present times. It addresses the key political and ethical challenges underpinning that question, in particular what work might look like in a post-growth world; the implications of financialized capitalism, the platform economy, and automation for the future of work; the effects of precarization on workers and how these effects might be countered; and the possibilities for freedom in our working lives. Its main argument is that work remains vitally important, but also that we need a new work ethic, one which better fits human needs. The chapter ends with a review of each contribution to the book.