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The Theory of the Leisure Class

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Chapter One

Introductory

The institution of a leisure class is found in its best development at thehigher stages of the barbarian culture; as, for instance, in feudal Europe orfeudal Japan. In such communities the distinction between classes is veryrigorously observed; and the feature of most striking economic significance inthese class differences is the distinction maintained between the employmentsproper to the several classes. The upper classes are by custom exempt orexcluded from industrial occupations, and are reserved for certain employmentsto which a degree of honour attaches. Chief among the honourable employments inany feudal community is warfare; and priestly service is commonly second towarfare. If the barbarian community is not notably warlike, the priestly officemay take the precedence, with that of the warrior second. But the rule holdswith but slight exceptions that, whether warriors or priests, the upper classesare exempt from industrial employments, and this exemption is the economicexpression of their superior rank. Brahmin India affords a fair illustration ofthe industrial exemption of both these classes. In the communities belonging tothe higher barbarian culture there is a considerable differentiation ofsub-classes within what may be comprehensively called the leisure class; andthere is a corresponding differentiation of employments between thesesub-classes. The leisure class as a whole comprises the noble and the priestlyclasses, together with much of their retinue. The occupations of the class arecorrespondingly diversified; but they have the common economic characteristic ofbeing non-industrial. These non-industrial upper-class occupations may beroughly comprised under government, warfare, religious observances, and sports.

At an earlier, but not the earliest, stage of barbarism, the leisure class isfound in a less differentiated form. Neither the class distinctions nor thedistinctions between leisure-class occupations are so minute and intricate. ThePolynesian islanders generally show this stage of the development in good form,with the exception that, owing to the absence of large game, hunting does nothold the usual place of honour in their scheme of life. The Icelandic communityin the time of the Sagas also affords a fair instance. In such a community thereis a rigorous distinction between classes and between the occupations peculiarto each class. Manual labour, industry, whatever has to do directly with theeveryday work of getting a livelihood, is the exclusive occupation of theinferior class. This inferior class includes slaves and other dependents, andordinarily also all the women. If there are several grades of aristocracy, thewomen of high rank are commonly exempt from industrial employment, or at leastfrom the more vulgar kinds of manual labour. The men of the upper classes arenot only exempt, but by prescriptive custom they are debarred, from allindustrial occupations. The range of employments open to them is rigidlydefined.

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Excerpted from The Theory of the Leisure Classby Thorstein Veblen Copyright © 2005 by Thorstein Veblen. Excerpted by permission.
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