John Hughes 
The End of Work 
Theological Critiques of Capitalism

Surveys twentieth century theologies of work, contrasting differing
approaches to consider the ‚problem of labor‘ from a
theological perspective.

* * Aimed at theologians concerned with how Christianity might
engage in social criticism, as well those who are interested in the
connection between Marxist and Christian traditions

* Explores debates about labor under capitalism and considers the
relationship between divine and human work

* Through a thorough reading of Weber’s Protestant Work
Ethic, argues that the triumph of the ’spirit of utility‘ is
crucial to understanding modern notions of work

* Draws on the work of various twentieth century Catholic
thinkers, including Josef Pieper, Jacques Maritain, Eric Gill, and
David Jones

* Published in the new and prestigious Illuminations
series.

Inhaltsverzeichnis

Foreword.

Preface.

Introduction: Work in the Christian Tradition.

1. Twentieth-century Theologies of Work: Karl Barth,
Marie-Dominique Chenu, John Paul II and Miroslav Volf.

2. Utility as the Spirit of Capitalism: Max Weber’s
Diagnosis of Modern Work.

3. Labour, Excess and Utility in Karl Marx: The Problem of
Materialism and the Aesthetic.

4. John Ruskin and William Morris: An Alternative Tradition:
Labor and the Theo-aesthetic in English Romantic Critiques of
Capitalism.

5. The Frankfurt School: The Critique of Instrumental Reason and
Hints of Return to the Theo-aesthetic within Marxism.

6. The end of Work: Rest, Beauty and Liturgy: The Catholic
Metaphysical Critique of the Culture of Work and its Incorporation
into the English Romantic Tradition: Josef Pieper, Jacques
Maritain, Eric Gill and David Jones.

7. Concluding Remarks: Labor, Utility and Theology.

Bibliography.

Index

Über den Autor

John Hughes is Curate of St David’s with St Michael’s Exeter and holds a Cambridge Ph D. He has published a number of articles in top journals such as Telos and Modern Theology.