Why do young people feel involved
Recently, perhaps no academic term has been more out-of-the-box than "introduction".
The phenomenon of "involution" (involution) was first proposed by American anthropologist Giltz in his book "Involution of Agriculture: The Process of Ecological Change in Indonesia".
Geertz found that under population pressure, farmers will continue to increase their labor input in rice planting, and they will produce irrespective of efficiency at the cost of diminishing marginal returns. Labor tends to be involved, resulting in "undeveloped growth."
However, involution from an economic perspective fails to explain the cultural driving force behind involution.
In fact, in the current context, involution points to a more profound dimension of ethical significance.
Sociologist Max Weber observed that the modern economy cannot hire undisciplined, "whatever you want" workers.
Once they leave the supervision, they will try to be lazy, hoping to earn the same salary in the most leisurely and effortless way.
In other words, what modern society needs "labor" is not simple labor. It also requires keen focus, a professional spirit of "obligation to work", and a calm, self-denying work ethic.
Only this kind of rational and persevering character can bear the urgent and intensive work intensity.
In fact, China's development since the reform and opening up is largely based on the Chinese people's special family ethics and labor ethics.
Generations of people "for the sake of the next generation", "live a good life" and "get ahead", frugal, work diligently, save hard, work hard, all hard work can change the destiny, so there is a "rush".
This sense of fulfillment is enough to overcome the "unintentional pleasure man" image described by Weber.
The labor ethics in the reform era is not just a simple extension of the Confucian tradition, but also comes from the rising opportunities released by the market society.
In this sense, the sudden popularity of the introverted mentality is not an escalation of the “mortal version of the arms race”, nor is it “continuously beating one’s own spinning top-like endless loop”, because these precisely constitute the mystery of wealth growth during the reform period.
Part of the growth of young people's introverted emotions stems from their confusion about the direction of struggle and their own future.
As the barriers to competition increase, people are paying more and more, but they may not be able to get corresponding returns.
When work is difficult to associate with higher values of life, labor will fall into a state of idling.
This sense of confusion can be expressed as complaints and complaints, as well as depression and dissatisfaction; it can be self-deprecating as "code farmers", "community animals" and "beating workers", or it can be manifested as "doing one day and playing three days" The Sanhe Great God.
As the feeling of scrolling becomes stronger and stronger, the phenomenon of "chicken baby" (that is, parents who hope that the child will become a dragon will give their children blood and keep their children fighting), job requirements are increasing, and the young people's views on consumption, marriage and employment and employment have become more and more intense. It will also be affected.
When college students compete fiercely for test scores, professionals are constrained by statistical data such as clocking in, 996 work system, KPI assessment, etc. Although more social interaction, consumption and entertainment can continue to fill time, people are less aware of the meaning of life and future direction. It seems more and more uncertain.
It manifests itself as being dissatisfied with one's own status quo, but at the same time lacking the motivation to pursue ideals; although people are working at full capacity, it does not affect the fact that they are lazy, fooled, and deserted.
The healthy development of modern society depends on the forging of healthy and progressive work ethics, and individual labor and struggle also require the settlement of the spiritual world.
The ever-increasing pace of work and life may make people feel pressured, but people's mentality should not be overwhelming.
Only by creating more development opportunities for young people, doing a better job in social security, and paying more attention to people's pursuit of meaning and justice, can they avoid the confusion of involution and face the future with more enthusiasm and fullness. .
(The author is an associate professor at Beihang University)
Yu Shengfeng Source: China Youth Daily