THE RED TERROR AND THE VESTED INTERESTS
BOLSHEVISM AND THE VESTED INTERESTS IN AMERICA
THE TWILIGHT PEACE OF THE ARMISTICE
REVIEW OF J. M. KEYNES’S ECONOMIC CONSEQUENCES OF THE PEACE
THE EVOLUTION OF THE SCIENTIFIC POINT OF VIEW
CHRISTIAN MORALS AND THE COMPETITIVE SYSTEM
THE MUTATION THEORY AND THE BLOND RACE
THE BLOND RACE AND THE ARYAN CULTURE
THE INTELLECTUAL PRE-EMINENCE OF JEWS IN MODERN EUROPE
Books:
THE THEORY OF THE LEISURE CLASS
Chapter 2. Pecuniary Emulation
Chapter 3. Conspicuous Leisure
Chapter 4. Conspicuous Consumption
Chapter 5. The Pecuniary Standard of Living
Chapter 6. Pecuniary Canons of Taste
Chapter 7. Dress as an Expression of the Pecuniary Culture
Chapter 8. Industrial Exemption and Conservatism
Chapter 9. The Conservation of Archaic Traits
Chapter 10. Modern Survivals of Prowess
Chapter 11. The Belief in Luck
Chapter 12. Devout Observances
Chapter 13. Survivals of the Non-Invidious Interests
Chapter 13. The Higher Learning as an Expression of the Pecuniary Culture
Chapter 1.
Introductory
The institution of a leisure class is found in its best development at the higher stages of the barbarian culture; as, for instance, in feudal Europe or feudal Japan. In such communities the distinction between classes is very rigorously observed; and the feature of most striking economic significance in these class differences is the distinction maintained between the employments proper to the several classes. The upper classes are by custom exempt or excluded from industrial occupations, and are reserved for certain employments to which a degree of honour attaches. Chief among the honourable employments in any feudal community is warfare; and priestly service is commonly second to warfare. If the barbarian community is not notably warlike, the priestly office may take the precedence, with that of the warrior second. But the rule holds with but slight exceptions that, whether warriors or priests, the upper classes are exempt from industrial employments, and this exemption is the economic expression of their superior rank. Brahmin India affords a fair illustration of the industrial exemption of both these classes. In the communities belonging to the higher barbarian culture there is a considerable differentiation of sub-classes within what may be comprehensively called the leisure class; and there is a corresponding differentiation of employments between these sub-classes. The leisure class as a whole comprises the noble and the priestly classes, together with much of their retinue. The occupations of the class are correspondingly diversified; but they have the common economic characteristic of being non-industrial. These non-industrial upper-class occupations may be roughly comprised under government, warfare, religious observances, and sports.
At an earlier, but not the earliest, stage of barbarism, the leisure class is found in a less differentiated form. Neither the class distinctions nor the distinctions between leisure-class occupations are so minute and intricate. The Polynesian islanders generally show this stage of the development in good form, with the exception that, owing to the absence of large game, hunting does not hold the usual place of honour in their scheme of life. The Icelandic community in the time of the Sagas also affords a fair instance. In such a community there is a rigorous distinction between classes and between the occupations peculiar to each class. Manual labour, industry, whatever has to do directly with the everyday work of getting a livelihood, is the exclusive occupation of the inferior class. This inferior class includes slaves and other dependents, and ordinarily also all the women. If there are several grades of aristocracy, the women of high rank are commonly exempt from industrial employment, or at least from the more vulgar kinds of manual labour. The men of the upper classes are not only exempt, but by prescriptive custom they are debarred, from all industrial occupations. The range of employments open to them is rigidly defined. As on the higher plane already spoken of, these employments are government, warfare, religious observances, and sports. These four lines of activity govern the scheme of life of the upper classes, and for the highest rank—the kings or chieftains—these are the only kinds of activity that custom or the common sense of the community will allow. Indeed, where the scheme is well developed even sports are accounted doubtfully legitimate for the members of the highest rank. To the lower grades of the leisure class certain other employments are open, but they are employments that are subsidiary to one or another of these typical leisure-class occupations. Such are, for instance, the manufacture and care of arms and accoutrements and of war canoes, the dressing