1st In-class Meeting for Group Presentation: "Is paid work voluntary servitude?"

Upon forming our group: Alexi Budaj, David Kynaston and Nick Danvers" it was decided that tackling the issue of "paid work as voluntary servitude" would serve us well regarding the module on Deviant Behaviour.

After deciding the the presentation topic it was noted that issue of servitude covers a large number of factors such as morality, liberty, freedom and divinity and involves philosophy from the works of Nietzsche, Mills, Rousseau, and Locke to answer this complex debate. Tasks were allocated to the team members to research a particular author and the relevant texts need to answer the question.

Alexi chose to look into Carol Pateman's text, The Sexual Contract, to understand the ideas of women in servitude to men in such professions as prostitution. David chose to research Rousseau into his views of servitude; that no sane man would be bound to servitude should he choose so. Nick chose to analyse the works of Mills; his view being that man is not bound to servitude and makes his choices on the basis of free thought: work is acceptable for society; jobs are chosen and not allocated and, therefore, not servitude as such.

I was allocated the task of investigating Locke and his views on divine servitude: that man is free to express himself and not be bound to servitude. God had created man to have intelligence, rational thought and expression and of course freedom to do as he should choose; not to be bound by servitude to the Creator. These different aspects , we hope, should provide a balanced and in-depth insight to servitude and whether it is or is not applicable to paid work in the modern day.

Other ideas covered in the initial discussion on servitude were to use books from well known authors and music lyrics. Examples of these were Generation X by D.Coupland, Bob Dylan's lyrics to You Gotta serve Someone and Fight Club by Chuck Palahnuik.

With these aspects covered by the group: the appropriate texts have been found and thorough and authoritative research and notes taken by each member. We hope to analyse, interpret and piece together a suitable answer to our presentation to the best of our abilities.

Further meetings have been planned on the follow-up to the deadline.