How Long to Read The Condition of Labor

How Long Does it Take to Read The Condition of Labor?

It takes the average reader 2 hours and 34 minutes to read The Condition of Labor by Henry George

Assuming a reading speed of 250 words per minute. Learn more

Description

This earnest and eloquent Letter to the Pope is by far the most remarkable utterance which the Encyclical of 1890 has evoked. The Pope could not have found a fitter controversialist to oppose him, for Mr. George meets him on the same basis of metaphysical theology, and appeals to the same authority of Scripture and St. Thomas of Aquino. And the whole letter seems, in its manner, curiously to echo the Pope ' s own dignified ecclesiastical - Latin style. Mr. George feels that the Encyclical is directed more strongly against his own “single tax" panacea than against what is vaguely called Socialism, which in a moderate form it favors. The Pope expressly puts property in land on the same level with property of any other kind, and expressly maintains that private property in this wide sense is a “natural right” of man, prior to the formation of any State. Mr. George, like the Pope, believes in “ natural rights; "but he works out this vague and treacherous conception in his own way. “The right of property," he says, “attaches to things produced by labor, but cannot attach to things created by God. Thus, if a man take a fish from the ocean he acquires a right of property in that fish, which exclusive right he may transfer by sale or gift. But he cannot obtain a similar right of property in the ocean, so that he may sell it, or give it, or forbid others to use it." Does Mr. George mean that the fish was not created by God ? He can hardly expect his Holiness to believe that; nor are any of us likely to believe that it was “ produced ” by the fisherman in any sense in which a great deal of land has not been produced ” by human labor. The antithesis of God or “ Nature " to everything that is done by human effort runs through all Mr. George ' s arguments. “ Socialism in all its phases, " he says, “ looks on the evils of our civilization as springing from the inadequacy or inharmony of natural relations, which must be artificially organized or improved. In its idea there devolves on the State the necessity of intelligently organizing the industrial relations of men, the construction, as it were, of a great machine, whose complicated parts shall properly work together under the direction of human intelligence. This is the reason why socialism tends towards atheism. Failing to see the order and symmetry of natural law, it fails to recognize God.” Mr. George seems to think that the work of human intelligence goes on in spite of God, and is somehow outside “Nature.” This, though a very common way of thinking, is very questionable philosophy, and the Pope would hardly approve of it as theology. Mr. George undertakes a hard task when he tries to persuade the head of the Catholic Church that “ interest is natural and just, ” while land - owning is wrong. But he makes a very strong point when he shows that the Pope ' s argument, “ that what is bought with rightful property is rightful property, ” could be used to justify slave - owning as easily as to justify property in land.

How long is The Condition of Labor?

The Condition of Labor by Henry George is 153 pages long, and a total of 38,709 words.

This makes it 52% the length of the average book. It also has 47% more words than the average book.

How Long Does it Take to Read The Condition of Labor Aloud?

The average oral reading speed is 183 words per minute. This means it takes 3 hours and 31 minutes to read The Condition of Labor aloud.

What Reading Level is The Condition of Labor?

The Condition of Labor is suitable for students ages 10 and up.

Note that there may be other factors that effect this rating besides length that are not factored in on this page. This may include things like complex language or sensitive topics not suitable for students of certain ages.

When deciding what to show young students always use your best judgement and consult a professional.

Where Can I Buy The Condition of Labor?

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