Date: Wed, 18 Aug 1999 10:32:01 -0300 (ADT)
Subject: Re: a query


Andrew,

Although it is a bit witty, I don't find this term offensive.  If the term
proletariat is narrowed to mean physical workers, then cognitariat can be
be a term to mean someone that creates capital out of mental labour.  I
agree that "the thinking proletariat" is a dodgy phrasing, but I think it
was meant to harmonise two kinds of exploited peoples within a larger
class framework.  Additionally, the terms as they are used here invoke
distinctions of professional labour more than over-arching distinctions of
the people that perform these types of labour. It may not be their
profession, but the proletariat are able to think, and the cognitariat to
perform physical labour -- it is usually only the pig-headed that assume
they cannot.  I do, however see your cause for concern, as it has been my
experience that members of the "cognitariat" (not to mention the middle-
and upper classes) are often guilty of assuming that "the proles don't
think" which, naturally, is offensive.

Cheers,

Brook


On Tue, 17 Aug 1999 Ashemak-AT-aol.com wrote:

> In a message dated 8/17/99 12:23:11 PM Pacific Daylight Time, 
> Andrew_Spencer-AT-baylor.edu writes:
> 
> << could anyone please inform me about the origins of the word "cognitariat"
>  for meaning "the thinking proletariat" or something like the person who
>  sells his mental labour instead of physical labour?
>  
>  saeed urrehman
>  australian national university >>
> 
> I don't know about the word origin, but I find the implication offensive.  
> Doesn't the "proletariat" think?  
> 
> 
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