The second industrial revolution, also commonly referred to as the technological revolution, denotes a period of enhanced industrialization, mass production, standardization, and scientific discovery. The first industrial revolutions end resulted in a slowdown in essential inventions. However, the advent of the second revolution sparked numerous manufacturing innovations, like steel production, the manufacture of interchangeable parts, and innovations in the machine tool industry. Many historians dated the second industrial revolution from 1870 to the First World War in 1914.
The second industrial revolution played a critical role in urbanization. Initially, up to 80% of humankind resided in rural areas and depended on animal husbandry and farming (Huberman et al., 2017). The staggering expansion of telegraph and rail lines, gas, sewage systems, and water supply led to a population boom in concentrated regions, resulting in urbanization. The simultaneous introduction of novel technological systems like electrification led to massive migrations to industrialized areas/ towns. For instance, about 10% of Britons resided in London at the end of the 19th Century, while regions like Manchester also experienced vast population influxes.
The surge in urbanization resulted in the exploitation of the working class. As industrialization picked pace, there were no laws regulating worker conditions, and power belonged to a few wealthy individuals as the factory working class suffered. Many slums emerged in the urban areas, and child labor became commonplace. During the population boom in urban regions, contagious diseases became more prevalent. Thousands of people died of ailments like cholera and tuberculosis in centers like London (Kennedy, 2020). At the same time, the industrial revolution led to an unprecedented increase in consumerism and materialism, especially with the technological advancements that produced new goods and services for the masses.
The most pronounced impacts of the industrial revolution and urbanization were pollution and environmental destruction. New machines needed large amounts of energy to operate them, resulting in the massive burning of fossil fuels which caused air pollution and smog (Eisen, 2018). The release of industrial effluent and untreated human waste into rivers and the clearing of forests to create space for settlers led to unbridled environmental damage. The period also marked the production of chemicals like plastics, dyes, and pharmaceuticals, which impacted human and ecological health.
Industrial revolution had several impacts on the western civilizations. First written in German, the book Condition of the Working Class in England by Friedrich Engels discusses social, education, economic, political, and religious effects as some of these impacts. Essentially, the book was meant to address the German audience. Indeed, Engel was the son of a very prosperous German industrialist who specialized in textiles. At his early twenties, Engel was engaged in radical journalism.
When he was sent to England, the effects of industrialization that he saw at Manchester prompted him to write about the Condition of the Working Class in England, a book that was published first in 1884. This paper discusses religion, social, and economic impacts of industrialization as argued by Friedrich Engels.
Social Impacts
Firstly, Engel documents unimpressive social impacts of industrial revolution among various cities in England. This documentation is based on his direct observations while living with the poor people who worked at the factories. It is also based on contemporary reports about the issue.
In the book, he paints pictures of overcrowded housing, child labor, drunkenness, abject poverty, sexual exploitation, and cities with immense dirt. These social impacts had the overall effect of hiking mortality rates within the industrializing cities of England. For instances, he exemplifies the fact that, in large industrializing cities, deaths due to diseases were higher in comparison to similar causes of deaths in the countryside.
In Liverpool and Manchester, the death toll due to whooping cough, measles, small pox, and scarlet fever was four times the death tolls due to similar diseases in the countryside (Engels 57). Interestingly, in Carlisle, 4,408 children out of 10, 000 died before attaining the age of five years when mills were not introduced (Engels 58).
Upon the introduction of mills, the number hiked to 4,738. In the case of adults, 1,006 persons in every 10,000 persons died before mills were introduced while 1,261 persons out of 10,000 persons died upon the introduction of mills (Engels 58). Consequently, industrial revolution made workers socially worse.
Economic Impacts
Economically, industrial revolution had far-reaching impacts on people. According to Engel, industrial revolution had the effects of making the textile industry have substantial improvements technically. Individually, small amounts of improvements were experienced. However, in collective terms, there was a profound economic impact on financial conditions of people. For example, Engel explains that inventions of the industrial revolution resulted to increased number of yarns that were delivered.
He continues to argue that, even though prior to industrial revolution weavers had employed many spinners, yarns were never adequate. Hence, weavers had minimal choices other than waiting. This situation changed upon the onset of industrial revolution. Yarns for weaving were made more abundant than they could be woven by the number of workers who were available.
Therefore, industrial revolution enhanced the productivity of workers thus resulting to increased earnings in the textile industries. However, Engel notes one problem with these impacts. He says, now that the weaver could earn more at his loom, he gradually abandoned his farming, and gave his whole time to weaving (Engels 18).
Arguably, industrial revolution resulted to the disappearance of a class of weavers who were small-scale-based. He amplifies this economic impact by asserting that the classes of weavers were replaced by a newly arising class of weavers who lived wholly upon wages, had no property whatever&and so became working men, proletarians (Engels 18). Therefore, industrial revolution made many people dependent on employments at the industries rather than being self-employed in their farms. Thus, a shift of occupation took place.
Religious Impacts
Lastly, from the contexts of religion, industrial revolution fractured the morals of people, which were based on religious teachings. The working person in the industry was essentially guided by commands and instructions from the employer.
Engel argues that erosion of morals guided by religious beliefs among people working in the industries was a negative impact associated with industrial revolution since it is sufficiently clear that the instruction in morals can have no better effect than the religious teaching, with which, in all English schools, it is mixed up (Engels 144).
Furthermore, he argues that, upon the negation of religious beliefs to guide the morals of the workers, the English bourgeoisie took over through its egotism. However, English bourgeoisie does not even take the trouble to impress upon the workers the morality of the day&it has patched together in its own interest for its own protection! (Engels 144).
The consequence of negative impairment of religion arising from industrial revolution in Engels view was the creation of a workforce that was stupid, short sighted, and short minded. This workforce often engaged in vices such as drunkenness and sexual immorality within the highly populated poor dwellings.
Conclusion
In conclusion, the paper has deployed Engels arguments, as brought out in his book Condition of the Working Class in England, to discuss the impacts of industrial revolution. The impacts considered are social, economic, and religious impacts. In this extent, the paper has held that, according to Engels, industrial revolution had undesirable social and religious impacts. On the other hand, it resulted to the creation of a society that was economically unequal. It also changed peoples occupations.
Works Cited
Engels, Friedrich. The Condition of the Working Class in England. Oxford: Oxford University Press, 1993. Print.
The industrial revolution was a period during which innovations occurred resulting in numerous changes in the world. The lives of both the rich and the poor were impacted in different ways. The French revolution on the other hand was a significant historical event because of its radical nature.
Both the industrial and French revolutions are related that they were agitations against certain things that people did not want. In both revolutions, some groups of people benefited while other groups lost. In addition, people from the middle classes were the greatest beneficiaries while peasants and the poor were the losers in the revolutions. This paper will focus on the losers and beneficiaries of the two revolutions.
The bourgeoisie were the people who benefited most from the French Revolution. They were the only educated group of people who were responsible for most of the actions during the revolution. The kings were only interested in preserving the old traditions without considering the capabilities of the peasants.
People from the third estate had information about the suffering of the serfs due to the heavy taxes that they were forced to pay. In addition, they knew they had the ability of seizing the power held by the serfs because of their large numbers.
Being in possession of more powers than any other group of people during the revolution, the bourgeoisie took control of France. They promised to end the plight of the suffering poor people by enabling them achieve high status. The other groups of people could not raise their voices against them since they were the majority.
The elimination of taxes seemed a reprieve to the peasants but the bourgeoisie still remained powerful. They were able to form the National Assembly, new constitution and took general control over all the other groups. As a result, they gained a lot of power and eliminated the taxes they were supposed to pay making them the greatest beneficiaries during the French revolution (Sherman and Salisbury 548).
This first group of losers during the French Revolution was individuals who worked in the agriculture sector and other informal sectors. They were paid poor salaries forcing them to move into big cities in search of better lives. Women and children particularly suffered a lot due to changes occasioned by the revolution.
Women were also losers in the sense that they were expected to exhibit subservience to their husbands in all areas including inheritance and marriage contracts. Noble women were denied the chance to make decisions on disputes surrounding their property. They also did not have economic rights since they were seen as unproductive people. Apart from women and children, peasants were also losers during the revolution.
Despite the fact that the economy was improving through industries, they remained neglected. The peasants worked hard but they could not afford their own land since they were under the control of seigneurs. In addition, they were expected to pay heavy taxes to the government. This made peasants losers during the French revolution (Sherman and Salisbury 554).
The middle class which consisted of few members benefited the most during the industrial revolution. Some of the groups that emerged from the middle class included the industrial entrepreneurs and other groups of people who owned factories. These people earned huge profits during the revolution and became very rich.
For example, bankers, shopkeepers and other professionals were able to make huge profits like the ones made by investors in commercial and industrial ventures. However, not all investments resulted in the anticipated profits since some of the loans were not repaid. Despite the few cases of loss that were recorded, the middle class generally benefited a lot from the revolution.
Their increased wealth improved their political influence, prestige and also cultural power. A Scottish philosopher known as James Mill concurred that the most influential people during the French revolution came from the middle class. The middle class was characterized by modesty and decent clothing and with time, they displaced the system of aristocracy which adhered to strict traditions.
The living conditions of the middle class people were also desirable since they lived in lower-floor apartments located in the most prestigious places in the town towns. Moreover, they had the ability to employ servants and had access to electricity (Sherman and Salisbury 560).
Women were considered the greatest losers during the industrial revolution. There were strict marriage rules that constantly reminded women that they were supposed to take part in domestic affairs only. They were meant to understand that their main role was to take care of their husbands and their homes in general.
Women were also losers in the sense that during the industrial revolution, they were denied a chance to take part in politics. They were completely barred from participating in politics since their participation in politics would make them agitators of women rights. In addition, they were not given a chance to do any payable work outside their homes because this was considered inappropriate.
Married women were only given a chance to participate in activities that were domestic oriented. This made women great losers during the industrial revolution (Sherman and Salisbury 571).
Works Cited
Sherman, Dennis and Joyce Salisbury. The West in the World: From 1600. New York: McGraw-Hill, 2001.Print
Technological change has been an important element of the global economy and much of it has been characterized by the development of microprocessors, microcomputers, and automated production processes.
Technological revolution specifically started during the industrial revolution, through the transformation of the traditional workplaces, leading to the creation of new types of work environments. The industrial revolution can be best analyzed through dramatic changes that happened in nearly all aspects of the British society (Cipolla 1994, p. 2).
A significant portion of these changes was however felt in aspects such as social structures/institutions, demographics and politics but the growth of factories was the primary manifestation of the technological revolution (Cipolla 1994, p. 2). As a result, population was skewed on development grounds, with major British cities experiencing population growths of nearly 100% while the number of towns grew even more (Cipolla 1994, p. 2).
For example, the cities of England and Wales only had about 20 cities in the 1800s, but by the close of the century, there were about 200 cities registered in the countries (Cipolla 1994, p. 4). Just to sample the impact technological changes had on the general demographical patterns of England and Wales, a technological invention to improve the smelting of Coke saw the shift in population growth from the South and East to the West and the North (Cipolla 1994, p. 7).
Technological change can also be termed as the root of the capitalistic system of operation we witness today because the people who were in a position to control the means of production, back in the day, got very wealthy while those who did not; became subjects of the rich.
Also, from the improvement of the technological landscape, the total income per household more than doubled and consequently, the national Gross domestic product (GDP)increased by a significant margin, within a ten decade period (Cipolla 1994, p. 3). This shift in wealth also brought a change on the worlds political landscape because industrial capitalists took over positions previously held by agrarian capitalists (Cipolla 1994, p. 2).
However, even amid the wealth creation (brought about by the technological change), there were numerous concerns of workers safety in the factories because, often, there was congestion in the factories and all manner of people including children and women were allowed to work with minimal or no safety measures taken to guarantee their safety in the workplaces.
At the same time, the workers were usually paid minimal wages which also brought about devastation to the people because most workers could only afford basic needs, thereby leading to the emergence of slums. This kind of crazy factory life became the topic of most literature writers then, because textile factories, mines and factories were marred with the worst industrial human working conditions probably seen in the history of mankind (Cipolla 1994, p. 12).
However, later on, conditions improved with the passing of laws to protect workers and more especially, the women and children from adverse working conditions. This progression also saw the development of the first trade unions to advocate for the rights of workers. Comprehensively, the technological change in the world led to the development of more global industries and the establishment of Britain as the worlds superpower, for more than a century.
This study seeks to establish how technological change affected the production function in the industrial revolution; with a special emphasis on aspects such as the overall production output, and the resultant influence on capital and labor employed. In addition, this study will categorize the impact of technological development both at the firm level and the macroeconomic level. Lastly, this analysis will be done through Solow analysis alongside the comprehension of firms economic behavior.
Production
Technological revolution greatly changed the way production was normally undertaken in the industrial period. Specifically, technology increased the efficiency of production, made the final goods cheaper, and reduced the time taken to make goods.
In this regard, technological developments had an impact on the short-run curves of production, thereby increasing the units which could have otherwise been produced solely from human labor. With the increase in production units, variable costs (costs which vary with the level of production) are likely to reduce whereas fixed costs are bound to have better utility in the production process because they will be spread over the increased production units. Consequently, average fixed costs are also likely to reduce.
The decreased average costs of production are often characterized by the displacement of human labor for machinery, but modern-day representation of the phenomenon is best illustrated through the displacement of human labor in the assembly of motor units by robots.
Labor
With regards to human labor input, the introduction of new technology in production processes segmented the otherwise uniform labor force into skilled and unskilled labor whereas the old economy relied on both unskilled and skilled labor; however, the introduction of new technology and innovative initiatives in production processes only required skilled labor; rendering unskilled laborers jobless.
Also, the technological development brought forth an argument against unskilled labor on the basis that skilled laborers could easily furnish both skilled and unskilled labor, thereby rendering unskilled laborers redundant (Musson 1969, p. 27). This, therefore, meant that skilled laborers could move between two types of employment while unskilled laborers were stagnant in their economic sectors.
This model of analysis also exposes the income disparities brought about by the introduction of new technology because skilled laborers were paid highly while unskilled laborers got minimal pay. This also set forth the capitalistic movement in the society. The same industrial revolution example can also be compared to the mechanization of agricultural activities in the US during the 1920s period.
Initially, unskilled workers were directly employed by the agricultural economy, but since the advent of mechanized farming, most unskilled workers were eliminated from farming and the resultant situation saw only a dismal 2% of the initial workers employed in the industry (Cipolla 1994, p. 278). Conventionally, during the industrial revolution, the shift of the economy into technological advancement saw the destabilization of families due to a loss of livelihoods.
Comprehensively, it can be said that there was a sense of asymmetry in the substitution of both skilled and unskilled labor, brought about by technological change.
However, the advent of new technology was highly favorable to skilled labor, and the market equilibrium shifted at the expense of unskilled laborers because unskilled laborers experienced a lower marginal product of labor when compared to their skilled counterparts. This development brought about the decline in social welfare even though production levels improved. However, Musson (1969) notes that
the Utility of both groups is equal; however, there is a critical threshold level productivity of the skilled workers in the new technology beyond which unskilled workers became redundant as the sector that was in favor of them was eliminated in favor of the sector using skilled workers, and it is socially optimal to eliminate the industry employing the unskilled laborers who will not be employed (27).
Capital
With regards to the capital input needed to acquire new technology in the factories, it was quite cheap to run machineries than human labor.
The financial costs were therefore relatively affordable and most industries preferred to engage in more technological explorations to improve efficiency in the industries. Initially, most of the industrial processes were done by hand and many people had to be employed before any meaningful industrial process commenced (Cipolla 1994, p. 278). However, with the advent of technological development, machinery became valuable capital assets for industrial process.
Many industries were therefore economically socialized to set up new plants to do most of the industrial processes and consequently, this led to the increase in demand for energy to power these machines. This was the sole reason why the use of coal, firewood and water increased during the industrial revolution period and all of them became a significant part of the capital input in the industry.
However, this development should not be confused to mean that the cost of doing business increased with the advent of technology because the use of technology only signified a change in the production process; meaning there was little reliance on human labor and more reliance on machinery. When compared to the overall productivity of the industries, a relatively low cost of capital was needed to produce the same output of products when compared to situations where technology was not incorporated.
This, therefore, means that instead of using human energy to produce goods, alternative energy sources like coal were used to power machines, to do the same type of work that humans did. This marked the significant shift in capital from human capital to asset (machinery) capital accumulation. Moreover, the operational costs associated with human labor and machinery was incomparable because the price of operating machinery was much lower than maintaining human labor.
Technology, therefore, made human capital less economically viable as compared to machinery because human capital involved a lot of business risks like death in the workplace, injury, burnouts and costs such like wages and salaries. At the same time, machinery or plant assets only required maintenance or replacements, which meant lower prices of operation, increased efficiency and more output.
The revolution into technology and industrialization at one time became very widespread that a revolt started among workers to protest against the general replacement of human capital for machines. This period saw the destruction of machines and several plants in industries as workers tried to phase out the new technological changes and restore back the traditional human capital reliance.
However, this failed to work out and many industries were forced to seek the services of the police in keeping away angry workers. Many protestors were arrested, tried and hanged upon declaration of guilt. Such was the level of human capital displacement evident in the industrial revolution period.
One of the most significant technological innovations of the industrial revolution happened in the cotton industry where the cotton gin was invented to speed up the process of cotton weaving (Hooker 1996, p. 5). This invention saw an otherwise small industry bust into a robust industry throughout much of the 18th century. Cotton was majorly produced in America and India, but a large chunk of the production process happened in Britain, and this saw the massive traffic of African salves to work in cotton factories (Hooker 1996, p. 5).
The process of shredding out the cotton to make pieces of threads for clothing was also improved by technological innovation because the spinning jenny machine was used to hasten the process; from making one thread at a time to making multiple threads at the same time. This progression also reduced the number of laborers working in the cotton industry and quite frankly, subsequent employees in other industries suffered the same fate from the progress of technological innovation (Hooker 1996, p. 6).
These technological innovations significantly reduced the prices of cotton and made their use very expansive. In the same regard, the quality of production improved because cotton was stronger than wool, thereby making the production of cotton shoot through the roofs.
In fact, by the close of the 18th century a majority of the cotton production process was no longer being done in small scale industries because it moved to large factories, thereby changing the nature of the domestic economy; however, more significant effects of this transition were realized in the middle of the 19th century (Hooker 1996, p. 7).
Even though the spinning engine made a lot of developments in the cotton industry, a significant portion of technological change in the industrial revolution happened with the development of the steam engine. From this technological development, essential sectors of the economy improved.
The most notable development which happened alongside the cotton industry was in the steel industry. A quirk in English geography especially made the industry develop in leaps and bounds because England was endowed with vast deposits of coal and carbon-based minerals.
The development of steam engine was facilitated by the fact that coal burned much better and longer than wood and since England had huge deposits of it, it becomes infinitely cheaper to run steam engines from it (Hooker 1996, p. 5). In the same regard, the English used this discovery to substitute the use of coal for iron smelting while other manufacturers were quickly warming up to the idea as well.
However, extracting the coal from the ground was not such an easy task because miners had to dig deep into the ground and the more they dug, the more the mines filled up with water.
At this point, the steam engine came in handy because it was used to pump water from the mines, but since it used only one piston, it was highly inefficient and used vast amounts of energy and so, no other use was appropriate except for the extraction of water (Hooker 1996, p. 5). However, with a few modifications to the structure of the steam engine, the machine could now be applied to many other industries of the time.
In reality, the invention of the steam engine changed the entire landscape of the English manufacturing industry after its adoption replaced the use of water as the major source of power in the industry. This development saw the explosion of factory-based technology-driven manufacture and the inception of the age of absolutism in the English manufacturing industry (Hooker 1996, 19).
Solow Analysis
Since much of the increase in labor productivity during the industrial revolution was attributed to technological change and innovation, an alternative form of growth accounting was needed to measure economic growth.
This entailed calculating the effective stock of capital, based on the assumption that technological development was to be sourced from new vintages associated with capital injection; for example, if technological change was 5% per annum and the elasticity of output-based in the capital injection would be 0.36; it meant that technological growth would be contributing approximately 1.8% per year (CGU 2010, p. 5).
When analyzing the capital input in economic growth during the industrial revolution, Solow notes that the capital share in the production process is constant over the period of technological development (CGU 2010, p. 1). The increase in capital per person-hour is not directly proportional to labor productivity because capital productivity only accounts for about an eighth of the total productive labor (CGU 2010, p. 2).
Solow observes that the difference is brought about by technological change. In this regard, Solow notes that the productivity of labor doubled over the industrial revolution period, but it did not only come about from a change in capital but also a change in technology. This development was specifically derived from Solows initiative to dissect the total Gross Domestic Product (GDP) growth in terms of the elements, which led to its increase during the industrial revolution.
This, therefore, means that analysis into the production function encompassing all the major production elements has to be done. This is in contrast to the widely held belief by many economists across the globe that social development during the industrial period was preceded by economic growth (CGU 2010, p. 8).
In close relation, the same economists also believe that labor productivity also led to the same observations; in oblivion of other macroeconomic factors which may have led to the same observation. According to Solow, these neglected economic factors included technological development, innovative initiatives and a change in the managerial system (CGU 2010, p. 1).
From an empirical point of view, assuming the aggregate production function is Q = A (t) f (K, L); where Q is the aggregate output, A (t) is a function of the time taken for technological changes to take effect and f (K, L) is a function of capital and labor, the aggregate production function should be treated as its separate entity while the other constituents of the equation should also be treated differently but with regards to time (CGU 2010, p. 2).
This development has made many economists differ on Solows approach; in an attempt to decompose growth with the use of more complex formulations like human capital, technological development and innovative practices; however, many other economists disagree about the fraction of economic growth which can be explained by the effect of change in technology overproduction (all parties, however, agree that this element is essential).
Solows analysis, therefore, provides a simple concept in which output can be analyzed through the consideration of technological and innovative inputs (CGU, 2010, p. 7)
Denison 1962 (cited in CGU 2010, p. 8) however brought another perspective to analyzing the impact of technological development on industrial revolution by identifying the fact that economies of scale were responsible for about half of the residual created by economic developments.
The sources for the residual in his point of view came from either the economies of scale or the improvement in resource allocation; meaning that the trajectory of his work was more inclined towards downsizing the contribution of technological change in the industrial revolution.
Impact of Technology and Innovation on Lifestyle
Technological changes greatly improved the type of human lifestyle characteristic of the industrial revolution and indeed even today. In the first place, technological changes brought with it the triumph of industrial economists who greatly improved the prospects of employment for the general population through the development of new mills and factories.
The living conditions also changed in the same respect because industrialists lived in splendor while lower-level citizens lived in small houses, in cramped up streets or in the emerging slums, created by the population explosion in the cities.
This development led to increased awareness of the importance of safety regulations especially in highly dense areas because, before laws to improve human living conditions were implemented, the slums used to be characterized by open sewers, poor drainage and poor sewage facilities, among other deplorable social conditions.
Chronic diseases especially affected those living in cramped up places while hunger and malnutrition greatly hit those who were not in a position to afford basic needs. This situation came to a point where diseases such as cholera, smallpox typhoid and the likes were common because water sources were contaminated and there were not enough sanitation services to curb the pandemics.
This situation became quite unfortunate especially for women and children because most of them died even before they reached the age of 25; from chest diseases and other diseases brought about by the poor working conditions in the factories they worked in.
When the industrial revolution spread from Britain and England into other countries, the life expectancy of the general population was very low; with countries such as France recording a life expectancy of 35 years; slightly above Englands but America had a life expectancy age of between 45 -50 (Musson 1969, p. 78).
However, the population was not only characterized by two extremes because, there was an existent emerging middle-class society which was largely dominated by lawyers, doctors and such like professionals. This middle-income population was majorly created by the emergence of the working class population who had a relatively good relationship with the factors of production as compared to low-income workers.
The increase in technology and innovation also rendered many people unemployed; especially those who did not have the skills to compete with skilled workers, because employment was more confined to people who could operate machines, as opposed to people who could do the work machines did. In fact, the machines could do the same amount of work hundreds of workers combined together would.
Even amid all the negative effects of technological development and industrial revolution on human lifestyle, there was an improved sense of literacy among the population, especially with the development of paper mills, which also led to the production of more resource materials like books, newspapers and the likes.
Political participation of the general population also consequently increased. The deplorable living conditions exhibited at the start of the industrial revolution were also improved and the life expectancy of children below the age of five, dramatically increased.
For instance, London reduced child mortality rates by more than half (Musson 1969, p. 78). The standards of living also greatly improved with the advent of technological development; in that, laws were passed to check humanitarian hazards in the sprawling slums and so diseases were checked and treated; sewage systems were improved and sanitation services availed. Also, as mentioned earlier, the factory working conditions were improved to match the new order.
The growth of modern cities was also facilitated by the technological growth, evident in the industrial revolution because many people migrated from rural areas to live in cities while searching for employment openings.
This led to massive urbanization which created a huge shift in the number of people living in cities and rural areas since it was estimated that only about 3% of people lived in rural areas in 1800 but by the start of the 21st century, more than 50% of the population lived in urban centers (Musson 1969, p. 78). Comparatively, Manchester, which only had a small population of close to ten thousand people by the year 1717 dramatically saw an increase in population to record 2.3 million people by the year 1911.
Conclusion
During the industrial revolution, technology and innovative practices had a profound impact on the economic landscape of the United Kingdom and subsequently other countries across the globe. This period still stands as a major hallmark in human history and it was characterized by a technological touch in almost every basic level of human life.
Some of the significant socioeconomic developments could be evidenced through the tremendous increase in income and population; specifically major industrial cities experienced population explosions, but the overall household incomes of those engaged in industrial sectors increased ten-fold.
Technological development also saw the immense shift in economic makeup from an agrarian-based economy to an industrial-based economy characterized by machine-based manufacturing industries. Initially, the textile industry was the first to experience such changes, then the iron smelting industries followed, and later huge deposits of coal started to be extracted to power the machines.
The level of output production in most industrial processes was also incomparable to any other period in human history because as Solow notes, labor production increased two-fold, with a significant percentage of the production attributed to technological development and capital investments.
These developments had a significant impact on the society because not only did the population increase as well as the level of income, technological developments segregated the once heterogeneous human labor into skilled and unskilled; leading to the phenomenal migration of people from rural to urban settlements and the emergence of landmark cities with a significant sprawl of urban slums and widespread joblessness (because of the displacement of human labor for machines).
Nonetheless, technology brought about efficiency in production because human labor which was prone to human errors was avoided and the speed of operation improved, the start of the capitalistic system in the society also took root. Collectively, the technological change marked the change in production function.
References
CGU. (2010) Technological Change and the Aggregate Production Function. Web.
Cipolla, C. (1994) Before the Industrial Revolution: European Society and Economy, 1000-1700. New York: Norton. Hooker, R. (1996) The European Enlightment. Web.
Musson, A. (1969) Science and Technology in the Industrial Revolution. Manchester: Manchester University Press ND.
The Industrial Revolution in Britain was a multifaceted process that involved a variety of aspects and driving factors. The causes of the industrial revolution in Great Britain, as well as its effects on the society and economy, are debated by the contemporary historians and analysts. In this paper, a variety of aspects and contributing factors of the evolution will be discussed including putting-out system, the three unique sets of Britains advantages that stimulated the process of industrialization, the support of the factory system by the industrialists, and the impacts the revolution produced on the society (middle class and working class, and the children of the latter in particular).
Putting-out system
Putting-out system (also known as the cottage system) is a form of small-scale manufacturing industry where the production is majorly decentralized and divided between multiple producers who act as subcontractors. This system of manufacturing usually was in place in the fields of production of goods that were based on unqualified manual labor. The system was convenient during the times when the vast majority of households and population were located in rural areas rather than big cities.
In that way, a large portion of the population was scattered throughout the rural regions and had no opportunities for mobility in terms of accessing workplaces in the city. Therefore, the putting-out system was organized in a manner where raw materials for the manufacturing were bought from the suppliers and then delivered to the home-based manufacturers. Primarily, the population involved in this form of production was comprised of the farmers and their families because they appreciated the opportunities to gain additional income and also had a lot of time free from work, especially during the winter season when farming was unavailable and the income was scarce. Prior to the onset of industrialization, the cottage system had been in place for a long time (612-616).
Three unique sets of Britains advantages that stimulated industrialization
The first one of the three major drivers of industrialization in Great Britain was the readiness of the labor force to relocate to the urban areas in order to begin working at the factories. The population was willing to obtain income in a new way that was different from the habitual cottage system. In addition, the recent influence of the period of Enlightenment had created a new attitude towards and a new vision of work.
In particular, the putting-out system that had been popular prior to the beginning of industrialization served as its initial form, preparing the laborers, as well as the employers, to develop a stronger and more regulated and well-organized manufacturing industry with a greater rate of involvement and more stable workloads. The second set of advantages and served as a stimulus for the development of industrialization came from the British government of the time.
In particular, the ruling political regime in the country was the constitutional monarchy, a competitive and flexible type of the ruling power that was appreciative of the new ideas and establishments and enforced the generation of the new sources of income and methods of its acquisition. Finally, the third major set of factors that contributed to industrialization was the development of education. In particular, an improved level of education resulted in the occurrence of a larger community of educated and knowledgeable individuals prepared to take over the leadership positions at the factories, operate complex machines, be in charge of departments, manage branches, and regulate the work of large groups of people (624-626).
The support of the factory system by the industrialists
The phase of transition from the habitual cottage system (or putting-out system) to the factory system the establishment of mechanized production supported by the machines was quite complex and complicated by the clashing opinions in the British society of the time. To be more precise the transition to the factory system had its opponents as well as its proponents. In particular, the popularization of the factory system was actively opposed by the groups of activists known as Luddites comprised of the craftsmen who represented the home-based small manufactures.
For the old-fashioned production systems, it became increasingly difficult to compete with the large and organized factories powered by multiple laborers. As a result, Luddites initiated a series of attacks on the factories that led to the destruction of the factory properties and the sabotage of equipment. In addition, one more criticism of the industrialization and the factory owners was based on the fact that the factory laborers were put in the extreme working conditions.
At the same time, the supporters of the process of industrialization (also known as the industrialists) attempted to promote the factory system; and the most progressive factory owners (such as Robert Owen) worked on the improvement of the working conditions for the laborers (634-635)
Changes in society (middle class and working class)
When it comes to the transformations the British industrialization brought to the middle class of its society, it is important to notice that an entirely new group of the population emerged due to the development of the factory system. Factory owners became a separate class operating within a rapidly developing and extremely competitive manufacturing industry and comprised of the former merchants. At the same time, the social division became more distinct in terms of belonging to various classes.
The social groups began to develop a very strong sense of class-consciousness and the differences between different groups of the population started to become more visible. In addition, the belongingness of the individuals to a particular class became fixed; in other words, for the members of the working class, it was impossible to move upwards and enter the middle class. The consciousness of the working class has transformed into a specific culture with its own mentality, peculiarities, and habits.
Moreover, it is critical to mention that since the laborers often sought employment as family units where all the members were given certain jobs (including young children), the togetherness of the working class, as well as its mentality, was shaped since the early childhood of its representatives. Working-class families presented wholesome working groups where the parents acted as the managers of the child-laborers. In turn, children started to be viewed as employees from a very young age (younger than 10), their working hours were unlimited, and they had to be present at the workplace alongside their parents at all times (628-633).
Conclusion
The impacts produced by the process of industrialization on British society were of a positive and negative nature. The positive outcome of the Industrial Revolution was the rapid economic development powered by the quickly evolving factory system. At the same time, the heavy exploitation of the working class population as physical laborers led to the deterioration of public health, an increased number of injuries and disabilities, and social dissatisfaction due to the growing gap between the rich and the poor.
The most significant social consequences of the First Industrial Revolution
It is possible to identify two important effects of the Industrial Revolution. One of them is the changes in the standards of living. On the one hand, the technological progress deprived many low-skilled laborers as well as artisans of their employment because their work could be done by new machines.
For instance, one can speak about Luddites who destroyed cotton mills (Sievers, 2009, p. 28). As a result, their purchasing power decreased dramatically. However, the increase in productivity enabled people to purchase goods that were not accessible to them. For instance, one can speak about agricultural products (OBrien, 1993, p. 73). This consequence is important because it is closely connected to the social disparities emerging in the nineteenth century. This is why this effect should not be overlooked.
Moreover, one should speak about the development of trade unions. These organizations were formed because workers were concentrated in factories, mills, or other manufacturing facilities.
As a result, they had more opportunities to organize their efforts and advocate improvements in their living conditions (OBrien, 1993, p. 247). This effect of the Industrial Revolution is vital for explaining many tensions between workers and employees, especially at the end of the nineteenth century. So, this issue is also of great importance to historians.
The Industrial Revolution and the rise of capitalism
The First Industrial Revolution contributed to the intensification of commerce and this trend enabled many small businesses to increase their turnover and profitability. In this case, much attention should be paid to such inventions as steam engine which helped companies reduce their transportation costs (OBrien, 1993, p. 60).
Furthermore, advancements in science and technology helped owners to increase the volume of production and extend their enterprises. Moreover, the increased availability of many goods enables some families to save more money. Some people chose to invest this capital in stocks of private companies. This is how the Industrial Revolution contributed to the rise of capitalism.
The rise of capitalism and the development of the communist theory
The growth of capitalism led to the development of communist theory. First, it should be noted that the competitive nature of capitalism resulted to the disparities in the standards of living. In turn, many philosophers began to think about the factors that could have contributed to this inequality.
One of the causes that they identified was the exploitation of workers and their political underrepresentation (Cypher, 2004, p. 95). Moreover, many of them attempted to predict the social and economic development of European countries. In this case, one should speak about the works of Karl Marx and Friedrich Engels. Their works contributed to the development of the ideology which relied on the notion of class struggle. Therefore, one can say that communism immerged directly out of capitalism.
The differences between capitalism and communism
The differences between communism and capitalism are related to such aspects as property ownership and management of resources. While capitalism supports private ownership of property, communism ideology is based on the rejection of private property.
Similarly, capitalism supports management of resources by private owners while communism implies that the resources should be managed by the state (Cypher, 2004, p. 212). This institution is also responsible for the distribution of wealth in the country. These differences are important because they can explain the hostilities existing between capitalist and communist regimes.
Reference List
Cypher, J. (2004). The Process of Economic Development. London: Routledge.
OBrien, P. (1993). The Industrial Revolution and British Society. Cambridge: Cambridge University Press.
Sievers, M. (2009). Social Change in the 19th Century Novel. New York: GRIN Verlag.
The Industrial revolution marked a great transition in most industrial sectors such as transportation, communication and even agriculture. The revolution began in the 18th century in England and subsequently spread to other parts of the world. It introduced modern use of technological machinery such as steam engines and further developments in the communication and transportation world. This period marked a significant change in human life with the most notable change being growth in daily income and population increase. These changes enabled trade expansion by countries as a result of improved transportation networks such as roads and railways and enabled communication across the globe (Wallerstein 1989).
Global Economic Development
The period of industrial revolution saw a massive growth in the economy and particularly among countries who took the opportunity to trade beyond their nations. The revolution has played a major role in the expansion of the global economy in the sense that most countries have recorded incredible growth in their average per capita income. However, some critics seem to disagree with this notion with most of them arguing that the economic process grew slowly to what it has become today thereby disregarding the term revolution as a mere misnomer. Other critics also claim that the increase of GDP per capita had been experienced even before the revolution. This debate is still rife and hence the importance of discussing the contribution of industrial revolution in the contemporary global economy (Moseley 2007).
Before the industrial revolution began, people engaged in manual labor and use of animals to make ends meet. The use of manual labor was slow and time consuming not mentioning the toll it took on the people. They further faced difficulties in transporting their products to the market due to lack of effective transportation channels and had to walk a long way. It was after the period of industrialization that trade took a different turn. Several innovations such as textile cotton spinning machines, steam power and knowledge transfer was adopted by the countries replacing manual labor (Jones 2010).
Industrialization helped to bring the contemporary global economy into focus. Technological innovations have enabled global industries to effectively conduct business with each other. The innovations include jet engines and introduction of emails and fax that aid in effective communication transfer globally. This has seen an increase in production in major multinational companies more than most countries. A good example is a company like General Motors which recently made more than $100 billion in sales, doubling the Pakistans GNP.
It can therefore be argued that though the critics are justified in their arguments, they fail to base their claims on the actual figures before the period of industrialization.
The Period Of Imperialism And Colonial Conquest
Industrial revolution spread to most parts of the world hence increasing the economic growth globally. It was not until the 1870s that countries began colonizing and being colonized (Zahedieh 2010). Spanish for example lost their grip in their colonies in both Central and South America while Russia continued massive domination in her colonies. The period of imperialism and quest of colonial conquest was fueled by the rise of industrial revolution. The powerful colonizers sought more countries to colonize due to the increasing necessity for raw materials for the industries and markets. The colonies provided a good base for cheap or free labor and raw materials as well as markets for their excess goods.
Conclusion
The effect of industrialization was greatly felt in most countries due to its great impact on the global economy. It has led to the development of time-space compression which enables the traders to trade globally within a short period of time. It has further led to social stratification as a result of global employment opportunities. This has increased the level of human interaction hence affecting the quality of life positively.
Reference List
Jones, E 2010, Locating the industrial revolution: inducement and response, London, World Scientific.
Moseley, W 2007, The introductory reader in human geography: contemporary debates and classics, London, Saunders.
Wallerstein, M 1989, The second era of great expansion of the capitalist world Economy 1730-1840s, Edinburgh, Campion.
Zahedieh, N 2010, The capital and the colonies: London and the Atlantic economy, 1660-1700, Cambridge, Cambridge University Press.
In the past centuries, most of the labor was provided manually by human beings in all types of industries, such as textile and transportation. The activities were slow and required a high number of workers to contribute towards a significant output. The need to meet peoples demand for the products and movement prompted the search to find a solution. This resulted in the industrial revolution, where the production process changed from traditional to manufacturing. A subtle development significantly aided the process and changes in the level of technology. The invention and application of different techs in the manufacturing industry led to a massive increase in the rate of production and improvement in distribution. It also fostered the development of farming, communication, and peoples safety. The research will focus on how technological changes increased production by facilitating movement and communication, which influenced the industrial revolution.
Newcomens Steam Engine
The flooding impacted the mining industry, which made the extraction of minerals challenging. As the mines continued to get deeper, it became a challenge for miners to access the materials following the presence of water that threatened their lives. The manual techniques used by workers to pump water out were slow, tiresome, and expensive. This prompted the search into the possibility of finding a convenient way of removing the liquid from the sites.
A scientist called Newcomen invented a steam engine in 1712. The system used a vacuum developed by condensed steam to pump water from the deep mines. The engine became successful and significant in helping to drain water from greater depths (Xu et al. 2950). Therefore, it was easier to access most of the valuable minerals located underground. The invention proved to be cheaper for miners than the use of horses to remove water, and thus it led to the expansion of the mining industry.
Spinning Mule
A spinning mule is a machine that was used to spin a large number of spools of thread at the same time. Samuel Crompton developed the technology in 1779 in England. It was applied by the textile industry to revolutionize the production process by raising the amount of cotton spun at a given time. Before the invention of the machine, yarns and threads were made by a human, which resulted in a reduced work rate as they could make one every time. After the development of spinning mules, cotton manufacturers were relieved from relying on individual efforts that were expensive. Furthermore, they did not need more people to create spindles coiled with threads because only one person was enough to use the machine to make several bars at once. The technology further incorporated the techs of spinning jenny and spinning frame to enhance its productivity through producing different quality products.
The technology advanced the manufacturing process by increasing the rate of producing yarns and threads ready for knitting. It also lowered the cost of producing the materials due to the reduced number of labor requirements (Stearns 159). It became essential to the industry as similar versions were created to increase the process making it be mechanized and improved. The development changed the spinning industry from a cottage to a more developed manufacturing system.
Flying Shuttle
The growth in the textile industry called for various methods that could improve efficiency and productivity in the sector. John Kay, an English inventor, developed the weaving machine that helped in the manufacturing of clothes. The flying shuttle was significant as it lowered the labor requirement, making the process cost-effective (Gold 31). Before the invention, the industry required at least two weavers to perform the woven activity. The individuals were responsible for passing the shuttle repeatedly back and forth between them to facilitate the process.
After the invention, the flying shuttle used wheels on a track and paddles to push it from one side to the other. The advancement reduced the number of needed workers to one and increased the speed of production. John Kay then agreed to sell his patent right to France, which also used the technology to mechanize its manufacturing process. The development made the textile industry grow significantly across Europe and other parts of the world.
Cotton Gin
Cotton gin technology was invented in 1793 by Eli Whitney, an American inventor. The machine was used to remove and separate cotton fibers from the seeds. During the manufacturing process before the invention of the cotton gin, the seeds were cleaned from the raw threads manually, which made the whole process slow (Gold 31). The device helped to remove the seeds by passing the raw fibers through wire teeth placed on a cylinder that revolves. It was made up of narrow slots made of iron that could not allow the seeds to pass through with the yarn. The machine was simple and could be powered by humans, animals or water. It was quick and efficient compared to the manual removal of the seeds.
The device improved the production of cotton in the USA and other parts of the world. The demand for cotton gin also increased in the south, expanding the textile industrys manufacturing process (Gold 31). The advancement led to booming market demand for labor that would help pick cotton from the firms for processing. The invention made cotton a profitable product which attracted many people to grow it.
Steam Engine Locomotive
The invention of the steam engine locomotive was vital in advancing the industrial revolution. The increase in demand for raw materials and finished products required faster transportation to bridge the gap. It facilitated easy travel of people and goods from one point to another. Most farmers relied on the railroads for transporting their commodities to the market. The quick shipment made it possible for the goods to reach consumers before spoilage.
The machines were essential for transporting coal from the mines. They used wood as a source of fuel which was later replaced by coal fire the steam engines. This led to the growth of coal mines, and many individuals secured job opportunities leading to the massive advancement of the industry. The transport development also influenced the steel industrys rapid growth since most of the products were used to establish the railroads (Gifford 122). The sector also realized a progressive advancement in employment and overall expansion following the increased demand for the materials. The invention became significant in creating room for other improvements that facilitated the industrial revolution.
Telephone
In 1876, a significant technological invention was made, when Alexander Graham Bell developed the telephone. With the increasing need to pass a message from one location to another, technology served an essential role in facilitating the process. Before the inception, people had to travel a long distance back and forth to communicate, which was expensive and tiresome (Pozdnyakova et al. 2019). The invention of the telephone made communication very simple since individuals could easily talk to each other irrespective of geographical distance. The technology promoted business as business people could transact and order products without traveling to the place of trade. Telephone enhanced communication channels which increased trade activities.
Ice Box
Perishable goods were a problem for most farmers, who frequently incurred losses. Some of the products could not stay long before reaching the market; thus, their production was limited due to fear of decay. A scientist, Thomas Moore, invented a wooden icebox lined with materials that acted as insulators, such as zinc. A huge block of ice was then placed on top of the object to provide a favorable condition to keep the food products for a longer duration. The technology made it possible for most farmers to produce and sell products when they are still fresh without fearing spoilage. The invention increased the production process of such commodities and enhanced trade among people.
Electricity
The invention of electricity became groundbreaking in the industrial revolution. Prior to the discovery and creation of the technology, the chief sources of power for industries were water and wind. The energy provided was not significant, and they could not manage to operate large and complex machines efficiently. The invention made it possible to produce a large amount of power that can be used for different purposes within the industries (Popkova et al. 25). First, the development of electric bulbs facilitated the process of production by allowing workers to work even at night which increased the overall output of the firms. Second, it promoted the decentralization of companies to different places because industries no longer depended on water to provide power. This made it possible to establish many entities across the country, enhancing factories growth.
Telegraph
The invention of the telegraph significantly impacted the industrial revolution. Technology revolutionized communication and made the passage of messages over distant locations simple and affordable. The machine was used to transmit coded electric information through a wire connected to two points. The development facilitated the growth in financial markets railroads and a significant reduction in the cost of communication between organizations (Pozdnyakova et al. 15). It made the channel of passing information reliable and safe for business purposes. Through technology, people minimized constant travel to acquire details from different locations because they could send electric signals and wait for feedback from the recipient. Telegraph accelerated the roles of various professionals in the economy, such as brokers and bankers.
Power Loom
Edmund Cartwright invented the power loom machine in 1785 to replace the flying shuttle technology that was being used in the cotton industry. The device was mechanized to use water power to accelerate the speed of weaving (Gold 31). The technology increased the production pace, which made the sector more productive. It made the process efficient by lowering the effort required to make clothing.
Incandescent Light Bulb
Incandescent light bulb technology played an essential part in the industrial revolution. As the demand for products increased in the markets, factories were required to improve the working hours, which extended to late nights. With the invention in place, people could easily continue their duties because they had enough brightness to see what they were doing. The technology was consuming less energy which made it efficient for use. An increased production process led to more advancement in the manufacturing sector.
Model T
Automobile technology was invented by Henry Ford around 1908. The invention facilitated the possibility of using a motor as a means of transport from one place to another because of its affordability. Model T enhanced mobility by bringing into the market machines that people could afford to purchase (Skilton and Hovsepian 25). The creation of moving assembly influenced the massive production of modernized cars. Through this breakthrough, the machine age emerged, which made Ford further lower the market price of the vehicles. The movement of people has become easier and safer across countries.
In summary, various technological changes in the past centuries increased the industrial revolution process. The invention of Newcomens Steam Engine facilitated mining activities by enabling miners to efficiently pump water out of the mines. Cotton gin improved the textile industry by lowering the labor required to remove seeds from the raw fibers. It, therefore, improved the production of clothing in the industry. Similarly, the creation of steam engine locomotives played a vital role in promoting the movement of people and goods from one place to another. The tech made it easier for producers to access markets and factories to transport inputs to the production sites. The discovery of the telephone and telegraph significantly facilitated the industrial revolution. The technologies made communication more accessible, thus reducing the cost of passing information over long distances simple. Business operations were easily conducted because individuals could enquire about details by sending electric signals. Lastly, the Model T automobiles development enhanced humans mobility, which encouraged trading activities. The increased manufacturing of motors prompted modernization and entry into the machine age.
Works Cited
Gifford, Donald G. Technological Triggers to Tort Revolutions: Steam Locomotives, Autonomous Vehicles, and Accident Compensation. Journal of Tort Law, vol. 11, no. 1, 2018, pp. 71-143. Web.
Popkova, Elena G., Yulia V. Ragulina, and Aleksei V. Bogoviz. Fundamental Differences of Transition to Industry 4.0 from Previous Industrial Revolutions. Industry 4.0: Industrial Revolution of the 21st Century. Springer, Cham, 2019, pp. 21-29. Web.
The Industrial Revolution refers to the transformation of manufacturing processes in the United States and Europe from 1760 to around 1840. It involved the development of mechanized factory systems, moving from hand production methods. Sociological changes were observed by altering societys social order, including changes in social institutions, behaviors, and relations (Schneider, 2006). This paper aims at discussing the social changes occured at that time such as moving to towns, the nature of urban society, and rapid population growth.
The migration of individuals to towns and cities from the rural areas has always led to increased population in the urban centers. People from the countryside relocate to towns either because the lands are taken for for intensive farming or they look for jobs. The drift of operating in factories came with unsafe and harsh working conditions that posed a significant threat to the workers who worked long hours. As a result, there was the common laborers live-in poverty, whereas the rich continued being wealthy. Therefore, the industrial revolution has increased the rift between the rich and the poor.
In addition, the industrial revolution has led to the development of bad manners in urban society and rapid population growth. It led to habits that contradict socials norms, such as competition for jobs and positions between women and men (Segre, 2014). The formation of labor unions increased during the period, and employees started to ask for reforms and hence joined together in voluntary labor relations. The developed associations have helped improve laborers lives by upgrading their working conditions and wage (Schneider, 2006). Hence, the formation of alliances has helped in the refinement of the working conditions and the social relations between employees.
In conclusion, sociological theorys evolution is generally dependent on many aspects of the outcome of a revolution. For instance, the way people relate with each other as well as their relation to the environment. The industrial revolution led to changes such as the growth of towns, factories, better production of commodities, and increased population growth in the urban areas. Therefore, the industrial revolution is an excellent reference for the success of sociological theories.
References
Schneider, M. (2006). Chapter 7 Emile Durkheim and Functionalism. In M. Schneider, The Theory Primer: A Sociological Guide (pp. 195-229). Rowman & Littlefield Publishers.
Segre, S. (2014). Chapter 10 Robert K. Merton (19102003). In S. Segre, Contemporary Sociological Thinkers and Theories (pp. 211-230). Taylor and Francis.
The First and Second Industrial Revolutions were not about sustainability. Significant changes to the way people approach production were made and an extensive infrastructure for fossil fuel energy use was built and exploited. However, this era is about to end, and the global community, including businesses, does not have a plan for addressing the upcoming crisis. The failure to recognize the need to revert to sustainable practices both in business and everyday life may cause significant harm shortly.
Sustainability
After reading the works of Rifkin, Chouinard, and Moyer, and Stores, my view of sustainability has changed. Prior to reading Rifkins work, I was unaware of the pressing issues that still exist in our society. The author notes that almost one-seventh of the global population is facing hunger (294). Moreover, I did not recognize the main issues of the industrial economy, for instance, its impact on the environment and lack of accountability. My perspective on sustainability changed because I knew the problems that cannot be resolved with the current approach to the economy and business. Moreover, I improved my understanding of the energy resource supply and understood that the flow of energy we used to take for granted may be in tight supply (Moyer and Storrs, 302). This information made me rethink my views on sustainable practices and recognize the issues that are currently overlooked.
Renewable energy is a response to these ethical challenges because it allows addressing the disposition of energy and allows people to generate their energy supply in their homes. The way the European Union addresses the issue is by encouraging and investing in the construction of mini-plans capable of harnessing and distributing green energy. At the same time, no similar practice exists in this state. Rifkin describes this as a system whose properties and functions are qualitatively different from the sum of its parts (300). Rethinking the way humanity produces, uses, and shares energy mainly by generating energy in small quantities, from each building, and creating a grid where the surplus can be shared can help address the discussed sustainability issues. Rifkin predicts a so-called democratization of energy when referring to green energy as the primary source for powering peoples homes and other facilities (295). Distributed energy is a term that describes the way people have been collaborating through the Internet to create new things Wikipedia, blogs, and many others. Similar collaborations can change the way people get and use energy, which will inevitably transform that current industrial economy for the better.
Ethical Dimensions of Sustainability
The First and Second Industrial Revolutions were a breakthrough in the way manufacturing and production are viewed, but now the global community has to adopt a different way of thinking. Instead of overreliance on fossil fuels and production methods that require these resources, it is necessary to find sustainable alternatives. Rifkin refers to this challenge as a new economic narrative because of the broad scope of implications that the transition from fossil fuel use has ( 296). Mainly, the current economic practices create several ethical issues, including having starvation, job losses, and adverse environmental impact that cannot be resolved with the current system.
The first dimension of sustainability is the coexistence of humans and nature. Rifkin mentioned climate change as one example of the adverse effects humans have on nature (294). The use of fossil fuels contributes to pollution and environmental changes significantly. Moyer and Stores provide examples of the various resources, such as coal, which is thought to be inexhaustible, and the dates when humanity will no longer have these resources (300). However, many businesses require these fuels to operate and continue to generate profits, for example, oil and petroleum producers. The issue will persist until business managers do not begin to approach their work in a way described by Chouinard emphasizing quality over the profits and teaching employees business and environmental ethics (346). Hence, sustainability can be achieved only if business owners recognize the need to focus on sustainable practices to save the environment. Otherwise, humanity will experience climate change and depletion of natural resources.
Another dimension is the industrial environment created by the over-reliance on fossil fuels. Mainly, Rifkin notes that unemployment is on the rise, and more people will lose their jobs soon (294). This is a byproduct of the current industrial economy, which fails to account for these people. The existing industrial environment and the systems and infrastructure developed around them do not resolve the problems of starvation and poverty, especially in developing countries. As with the previous issue, the resolution relies on the businesses ability to change their approaches to work.
Conclusion
Overall, this paper examined sustainability in the modern world and the prospects of the Third Industrial Revolution. My views on sustainability changed after reading the texts because I recognized that the current system creates various problems. The environmental and societal issues can only be addressed by focusing on sustainability, for example, by encouraging the use of green energy, the democratization of energy, and the reduction of environmental harm.
Works Cited
Chouinard, Yvon. Let My People Go Surfing. edited by Christian Weisser, McMillian, 2019, pp. 343-346.
Michael Moyer and Carina Storrs. How Much Is Left? The Limits of Earths Resources. Sustainability, edited by Christian Weisser, McMillian, 2019, pp. 303-307.
Rifkin, Jeremy. The Third Industrial Revolution: Toward a New Economic Paradigm. Sustainability, edited by Christian Weisser, McMillian, 2019, pp. 294-301.