Unit

Working, Playing

(chapters 8-11)

 

The touring group acquires labor credits.  The purpose of this unit is to consider the nature and role of work in modern life.  There should be dignity in all work; it should be distributed among all citizens; a leisure class, if permitted, will make increasing demands on others; with proper effi­ciency, planning, and control, no one need work more than half the typical working day in mod­ern society.

 

25

 

Study Questions

 

1.     Describe the Walden Two system of labor credits.  Does it seem desirable?  Does it seem possible? (45)

 

 

2.     Compare the Board of Planners and the Board of Managers.  What are their special func­tions? (48)

 

 

3.    "But four hours a day! "Castle exclaims. "I can't take that seriously. "Then Frazier describes a half-dozen methods for decreasing the workday from eight hours to four.  What are they.?  Do they seem feasible? (52-56)

 

 

4.     Describe the place where farmers prepare for work. Why has it decreased labor credits for farming.  Is it an example of social engineering? Why or why not? (71)

 

 

5.     Is Walden Two completely self-sufficient? What problems does this situation pose for estab­lishing a larger Walden Two or many such societies? (72)

 

 

6.     Inspecting the work areas, the touring group goes from cloth-making, woodworking, metal­working, and a machine shop to some experimental laboratories.  What might be going on in the laboratories?  Cite some specific examples.  Indicate their relevance for Walden Two. (73-

74)

 

 

7.     How long are the programs of entertainment in Walden Two?  In modern urban society, they are two or three hours.  What is Frazier's explanation of the difference?  Do you agree or dis­agree?  Why? (78)

 

 

8.     What is the Walden Two view on cultivation of the arts?  Does it seem feasible?  Are there comparable opportunities in modern society?.  If so, what are they? (80)

 

 

9.     Frazier says our civilization is running away with itself.  "Problems are born faster than they can be solved." What does he mean?  Give an example. (81)

 

 

10.     Walden Two purportedly will achieve "a Golden Age" in the arts.  Why?  Explain Frazier's position with reference to the heredity-environment issue in musical families. (83)