Comments on: Springsteen–the man likes his work https://habitablezone.com/2017/02/07/springsteen-the-man-likes-his-work/ Tue, 07 Apr 2026 19:18:10 -0700 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.3.1 By: hank https://habitablezone.com/2017/02/07/springsteen-the-man-likes-his-work/#comment-38261 hank Wed, 08 Feb 2017 17:23:32 +0000 https://www.habitablezone.com/?p=61878#comment-38261 Human labor is the source of all human virtue and nobility. Everything else is just being a middleman. A man at work represents the human mind interacting directly with the universe. The worker collects data through his senses, and manipulates matter and energy with his mind and body to create structures of great beauty and complexity; structures which have a reality in that universe, and can be understood by other minds. And I'm not just talking about manual labor. The same can be said for the artist, the scientist and even the businessman. We are not just being affected by the universe, we are affecting it back. This is very profound. Watching a good band playing, not only their own skill with their instruments, but their collaboration with the others in the band and their interpretation of the composer, and how this communicates a shared mental state to the audience, which in turn feeds it back to them, is one of the most subtle and sophisticated of human activities. I'd give up a great deal if I could do that. Human labor is the source of all human virtue and nobility. Everything else is just being a middleman.

A man at work represents the human mind interacting directly with the universe. The worker collects data through his senses, and manipulates matter and energy with his mind and body to create structures of great beauty and complexity; structures which have a reality in that universe, and can be understood by other minds.

And I’m not just talking about manual labor. The same can be said for the artist, the scientist and even the businessman. We are not just being affected by the universe, we are affecting it back. This is very profound.

Watching a good band playing, not only their own skill with their instruments, but their collaboration with the others in the band and their interpretation of the composer, and how this communicates a shared mental state to the audience, which in turn feeds it back to them, is one of the most subtle and sophisticated of human activities.

I’d give up a great deal if I could do that.

]]> By: mcfly https://habitablezone.com/2017/02/07/springsteen-the-man-likes-his-work/#comment-38260 mcfly Wed, 08 Feb 2017 15:34:54 +0000 https://www.habitablezone.com/?p=61878#comment-38260 But the fellow who sent me that link said "just put this on and crank the volume," which I did. And there's something really enjoyable about watching experienced musicians ply their trade. The joy is infectious. But the fellow who sent me that link said “just put this on and crank the volume,” which I did. And there’s something really enjoyable about watching experienced musicians ply their trade. The joy is infectious.

]]> By: hank https://habitablezone.com/2017/02/07/springsteen-the-man-likes-his-work/#comment-38259 hank Wed, 08 Feb 2017 14:10:45 +0000 https://www.habitablezone.com/?p=61878#comment-38259 But I've always been partial to that tune. But I’ve always been partial to that tune.

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