26 Sept, 2019
Richard Sennett's "The Craftsman" discusses the role of the craftsman and its evolution throughout history, particularly with the introduction of machines. He cites several historical figures, trends, and evolutions to show how it has evolved throughout history and become threatened.
The first section defines the craftsmen: a creator who takes upmost pride in their work and strives for perfection. They are experts in their field and care more about the finished product than the rewards from their work. One can be a craftsman in nearly any profession. He states, “The carpenter, lab technician, and conductor are all craftsmen because they are dedicated to good work for its own sake.” (page 20) A true craftsman notices the imperfections and flaws of their work, not the practice itself; it comes so naturally they do not need to think about it. The rewards of craftsmanship are that people can be secured in a predictable life, and they can take pride in their work.
Sennett goes on to describe how the role of the craftsman has changed throughout history. He sites historians like Hephaestus, who argues that craftsmanship was vital to evolving humans as hunters and gatherers. Hephaestus uses the base word deioergoes, meaning public and productive. To become a craftsman, one must commit to the rules set by ancestors, so the skill can get passed down through generations.
Other historians, like Aristophanes, argued that people who do this are “buffoons due to the work they do.” (page 23) Metaphysics sees nearly any other profession as wiser because artisans and craftsmen are living in a secluded bubble of their work; they do not know how things work or how to get things done.
Another shift in thinking changed the outlook on craftsmen. Weaving was a popular profession for women, and it was respected because it helped humanity transition from hunters and gatherers. However, other roles for women—like homemakers, chefs, mothers—were not as well respected. Craftsmen were separated from homelife. It also suggested that men are more capable and intelligent than women. Historians like Hephaestus and Plato were worried about this trend, that people take for granted the skill that went into making modern society. This is especially highlighted in the second part of the reading, which pertained to the creation of machines.
Sennett starts by asking whether the work of machines is comparable to the work of human hands. He argues that many craftsmen have used machines, only to find them as an enemy. He states, “Weavers, bakers, and steelworkers have all embraced tools that eventually turned against them. Today the advent of microelectronics means that intelligent machines can invade realms of white-collar labor like medical diagnosis or financial services once reserved for human judgment.” (page 81) Sennett uses computer-aided design (CAD) as an example. He states that while CAD can create perfect drawings that are nearly impossible with the human hand. He poses the question of whether we can appreciate the imperfections of human work.
He describes what historian Simon Schama called the “Embarrassment of the Riches,” a period in Europe during the 15th century where there was a boom of material goods due to the increased number of artisans and trading with non-European countries. Things that we now take for granted like “desks, tables, sideboards, sets of hanging shelves and cupboards, all suited to the housing and display of new possessions,” (page 82) were seen as luxury. As machines emerged and these goods became readily available, people were anxious about what an abundance of material goods would mean, and if they could be used for good.
Leaders in the Enlightenment like Isaac Newton, Julien Offray de la Mettrie, and James Watt were excited about the emergence of machines; particularly, Watt’s invention of the steam engine. In the 19th century, is was fabricated and deployed. The craftsman’s workshop was seen simply as part of the factory and craftsmanship was considered individuality, embracing flaws and irregularities.
Throughout his work, Sennett took us through the history of the craftsman, citing historians both for and against the preservation of traditional craftsmanship. In doing so, he demonstrates the importance of the role and its contribution to society, which is something he argues has been taken for granted. He clearly demonstrates his point that not only does craftsmanship apply to nearly any profession, but it is something that society shows a lack of appreciation for.
Sennett has taught me specifically what is means to be a craftsman, which was something I was not completely aware of. I understand that this can apply to anyone who has a passion for their work and strives for perfection rather than the rewards associated with it; they have devoted their life to the work. If this definition holds true, then the work of machines should—by extension—be the work of human hands. James Watt is a tried and true craftsman; if his human hands, full of flaws and inconsistencies, created the steam engine, then should he not take pride in the goods it produced? As an architect, if I pour my passion into a detailed CAD drawing of an original design, should I not take pride in that? The definition of a craftsman as one who has upmost passion for their work, so should this be applied to professions pertaining to technology.
In conclusion, Sennett defined craftsmanship as someone who has passion for their work and cares more about perfection than the rewards that come with it. He describes the decline in the appreciation of craftsmanship as goods became more readily available with the help of machines. I believe that craftsmanship is still alive in today’s society, even though the typical definition (like a woodworker) has changed.