Society of Labor Vs Post-Work Society

The global landscape is characterized by profound contrasts. On one hand, the "society of labor" persists, where paid employment is the key source of livelihood. On the other, concepts like universal basic income and a reduced working week (Finland, Germany) are forging a path toward a post-work society. This contrast is evident globally and within nations: some countries maintain 40+ hour workweeks, while others trend downward; some transition to a knowledge economy, while others specialize in routine, manual, or automated work, creating internal "parallel worlds."

This panel invites a discussion on the fundamental question of labor's role in human life:

• What are the determinants of these social phenomena, and What are the roles of technologies, policies and culture (work ethic) in this shift?
• Are we witnessing a civilizational shift towards liberation from work routine?
• Will the gap between the struggling precariat and the class free from work grow, is this tension critical?
• Is work merely an economic instrument, or key structuring institution that ensures socialization, a status system, and social cohesion?
• Is freedom from work a boon leading to societal flourishing, or does it risk a loss of meaning and social anomie? How viable are leisure-centric concepts?