Industrial Revolution

            The chapter starts off with a question from Gandhi that reads, “Is industrialization a “curse” for mankind?”  This is an interesting concept to think about because the industrialization improved technology.  Some will argue that it is a great thing because there was an increase of profits since the speed and volume of production grew at a substantial pace.  With improved technology the way people worked has changed.  This caused many to mainly focus on their jobs versus the outside world.  Soon there was great concern that the people were “alienating” themselves to their job.

Now, imagine an individual with a specific job to do at a factory.  This person does an amazing job working buy creating wonderful products.  Then one day they fall ill and have to take time off of work.  Once they stopped working, the factory would immediately hire a new staff member to take the place of the individual who has fallen ill.  So now, the sick person is jobless, has no further income, and still sick.  The factor owners expressed no mercy for their customers because to them everyone is disposable because all the owner cares about is the profit.  This is an example of why many started alienating themselves to their jobs because the working force was incredibly competitive and cut throat.

Not too long after the rise of capitalism began.  The companies would continue to exploit all of their resources to gain even greater profit than the company has been making in the past.  This is what Gandhi meant that the industrialization is a curse for mankind because they lost themselves in materialistic objects versus their family or the earth.  The industrial revolution improved technology and work rate but it also damaged each individuals soul.