The Theory of the Leisure Class (Annotated) Paperback -

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This is an annotated version of the book1.contains an updated biography of the author at the end of the book for a better understanding of the text.2.This book has been checked and corrected for spelling errorsThe institution of a leisure class is found in its best development atthe higher stages of the barbarian culture; as, for instance, in feudalEurope or feudal Japan. In such communities the distinction betweenclasses is very rigorously observed; and the feature of most strikingeconomic significance in these class differences is the distinctionmaintained between the employments proper to the several classes.The upper classes are by custom exempt or excluded from industrialoccupations, and are reserved for certain employments to which a degreeof honour attaches. Chief among the honourable employments in anyfeudal community is warfare; and priestly service is commonly second towarfare. If the barbarian community is not notably warlike, the priestlyoffice may take the precedence, with that of the warrior second. But therule holds with but slight exceptions that, whether warriors or priests, the upper classes are exempt from industrial employments, and thisexemption is the economic expression of their superior rank. BrahminIndia affords a fair illustration of the industrial exemption of boththese classes. In the communities belonging to the higher barbarianculture there is a considerable differentiation of sub-classes withinwhat may be comprehensively called the leisure class; and there is acorresponding differentiation of employments between these sub-classes.The leisure class as a whole comprises the noble and the priestlyclasses, together with much of their retinue. The occupations of theclass are correspondingly diversified; but they have the common economiccharacteristic of being non-industrial. These non-industrial upper-classoccupations may be roughly comprised under government, warfare, religious observances, and sports.At an earlier, but not the earliest, stage of barbarism, the leisureclass is found in a less differentiated form. Neither the classdistinctions nor the distinctions between leisure-class occupations areso minute and intricate. The Polynesian islanders generally show thisstage of the development in good form, with the exception that, owingto the absence of large game, hunting does not hold the usual place ofhonour in their scheme of life. The Icelandic community in the time ofthe Sagas also affords a fair instance. In such a community there isa rigorous distinction between classes and between the occupationspeculiar to each class. Manual labour, industry, whatever has todo directly with the everyday work of getting a livelihood, is theexclusive occupation of the inferior class. This inferior class includesslaves and other dependents, and ordinarily also all the women. If thereare several grades of aristocracy, the women of high rank are commonlyexempt from industrial employment, or at least from the more vulgarkinds of manual labour. The men of the upper classes are not onlyexempt, but by prescriptive custom they are debarred, from allindustrial occupations. The range of employments open to them is rigidlydefined. As on the higher plane already spoken of, these employments aregovernment, warfare, religious observances, and sports. These four linesof activity govern the scheme of life of the upper classes, and forthe highest rank--the kings or chieftains--these are the only kinds ofactivity that custom or the common sense of the community will allow.Indeed, where the scheme is well developed even sports are accounteddoubtfully legitimate for the members of the highest rank. To the lowergrades of the leisure class certain other employments are open, but theyare employments that are subsidiary to one or another of these typicalleisure-class occupations. Such are, for instan