Why Does Wage Slavery Exist?

this article is based on a script for youtube video I did. You can watch it here.

Have you ever wondered why we’re stuck in a system where we have to work for a living just to survive? 

It’s not just something that I have asked myself many times, but It often comes up in the comment section. 

I, like you, can’t help but wonder, is it really necessary?

So today I wanted to dive into the existential question of wage slavery. I believe that there are 3 fundamental reasons why wage slavery exists. 

Part 1: Historical Perspective

Let’s start with history. Think about the assembly line. Back in the day, it revolutionized manufacturing. Suddenly, products could be made faster and cheaper than ever before. But this efficiency came at a cost – the dehumanization of workers. They became mere cogs in the machine, working tirelessly for the profit of others.

Now, I will still argue that technology is important for society as a whole, because before the Industrial Revolution, life was really tough. Most people lived below the poverty line. But the bright minds of our society invented efficient ways to leverage our output. And we have done great so far. And we are almost at the point of inventing real AI that will fix all our problems in the future. But the question is still: Does the technological advancement of the world make us happier as people?

If the answer is yes, then by all means, let’s just continue. But my thesis for the content that I produce is that we have reached a point where we only work to drive profit and lifestyle obsession to newer heights.

Let’s take the company Apple for example. The drive for increased profit is for the shareholders. But if we forget about the stock price. What if the board decided that ”hey, we are doing all right, we don’t have to grow anymore. We have more than we could ever spend. Let’s not expand. Let’s just focus on making iPhones and MacBooks better and cheaper, without really thinking about increasing market shares. Let’s think of the greater good instead of profit.”

Now, this fantasy will never happen. Human greed will drive all societies into the ground. We have seen it happen to so many great civilizations. The Portuguese fleet, the Roman Empire, Napoleon and France. To paraphrase the movie Limitless, ”this winter, let’s not invade Russia, let’s pop a beer and live off the interest”. Man’s destiny seems to be reaching beyond its needs and risking losing everything. Everything in history tells us this. Every giant empire failed because of this. Maybe it’s time to consider that and finding a better way. I don’t have the recipe for how to achieve that. But I do know that what we do now will not work in the long run.

Part 2: Biological Perspective

Now, let’s consider biology. We’re all just animals at the end of the day, right? From a biological standpoint, our main goal is to survive and reproduce. But why? Is there some grand design behind it all, or are we just products of evolution? It’s a question worth pondering. Some would argue that humans are nothing more than DNA carriers. Our biological purpose is to carry our DNA to the next generation.

And it’s actually something that I often think about when people discuss the urgency of improving the climate. Saving the planet, saving future generations of humans, animals, and plants. While all that sounds obviously important. I still ponder if we really owe it to future generations 10,000 years from now. Do we owe our lives to humans who lived 10,000 years ago?

Did they really care or think about us? Probably not. They were probably just concerned with their own well-being.

And so what if it all goes extinct? The dinosaurs got extinct. It didn’t end life on earth. There have been plagues, ice ages, asteroids, and volcanoes that have destroyed the majority of life on earth. Yet life always seems to find a way.

I know I have criticized society, or at least its wage slavery. And I stand by it. But you also see that I try to provide value. Because on some instinctive level, I think we all truly want to improve society and help our fellow humans. I suppose it’s in our DNA to safeguard the future of our species. The biological aspect is important. It’s why we have hierarchies in society, something that Dr. Jordan Peterson made me aware of. It’s not just a social construct; our drive for building hierarchies has been in our DNA for millions of years. Thats a fact that we can’t really ignore.

But what does all of this have to do with wage slavery? Well, I’m just considering the philosophical aspect of prioritizing a global civilization that statistically speaking has very little chance of surviving. And so when society pushes humans to live for the greater good of mankind, I feel like it’s false propaganda. Much like being a patriot to your country. So many people have given their lives for their countries. Mostly forced, under the propaganda umbrella of love of country. And I think political figures and companies rely on these instinctive forces to secure their own agendas. And so I’m just saying, don’t fall for it. 

The truth is that I really believe in a more hedonistic life philosophy. We only have one life. Why should we waste that opportunity for anything in the future that will not care or be grateful for our sacrifice? Think I’m wrong? When was the last time you sat in a car and were grateful for the guy who invented the wheel 5,000 years ago?

My point is, that guy didn’t do it for you, and you have no obligation to people 5,000 years in the future. He prioritized his happiness and wellbeing on earth. And that is what I think we should also do. 

Now, maybe  you think that I am wrong about this, and you want be a part of a society that improves life for future generations. 

Thats great, I’m sure they will sit comfortably in their space ships, thinking about the people who sacrificed their lives to make them more comfortable. 

Part 3: The Headless Paradox

And now, let’s talk about the headless paradox. Ever seen the movie ”The Cube”? You probably haven’t. It’s one of my favorite movies of all time, but it’s a bit of a B-film, yet I regard it as a cult classic. Because I think it really shows how people are genetically designed to do things without a purpose. Let me explain. 

The story is about 5 people who wake up in a cubical room, with 6 doors, all sides, up and down. Regardless of which door they pick, they end up in another similar room. But some rooms have traps. And so the movie is about this maze of cubes.

It’s a mind-bending thriller that explores the absurdity of existence. In a way, our lives can feel a bit like that – trapped in a system we didn’t create, with no clear way out. Throughout the movie, the characters discuss what built it and what put them there. And all sorts of theories pop up. Whether it’s some sadistic Dr. Evil, or a government-funded social experiment, or aliens. And the best theory works as a metaphor for life and society itself. That it was built just to have something to build.

That there is no agenda or plan. Whoever built it, built it so it could be used, and put them there because if no one is using it, it would be pointless.

I feel that society at large is also a headless paradox. Some people believe in conspiracy theories that the world is run by some ancient secret society. While I do love conspiracy theories a lot, I don’t believe there is a grand plan behind it all. We often love the idea that everything is part of a well-thought-out plan. You might want to believe that TV was invented to control society. However, it was simply created by an inventor who enjoyed inventing things and wanted to make a profit. You might also want to believe that society has the purpose to safeguard the future of the human race. Well, the truth is, society is just people trying to survive and be happy. And whenever people try to sell you the idea that society is something bigger or more important than that, expect them to ask you for money or your vote.

And finally, why does wage slavery exist? Some argue it’s necessary for society to thrive. But I ask, what’s the point of society thriving if it means sacrificing our freedom and dignity? It’s a question we should all consider.

Do we live so we can work? Or do we work so we can live? 

It’s the most important question.

Yet so many never ask themselves that.

As always, thank you for listening. Do me a favor and tap that like button to show your support. Subscribe if you are interested in more content like