Intellectual worker
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
An "Intellectual worker" (brain worker or knowledge worker) is anyone employed due to their knowledge in a subject matter, rather than their ability to, for example, perform manual labor. It includes those in the information technology fields, such as computer programmers, systems analysts, technical writers and so forth. The term can also refer to people outside of information technology but who nevertheless are hired for their knowledge of some subject, such as lawyers, teachers, and scientists.
The term "knowledge worker" was first used by Peter Drucker in his 1959 book, Landmarks of Tomorrow.
It has also been the focus of various anarchist, communist, and socialist writings. Chomsky describes such an individual as, "[One] whose work happens to be more with the mind than with the hands." He then notes, "[Those] whose major professional concern is knowledge...[should] have no special opportunit[ies]...to gain any...power [or] prestige..." (Chomsky and Peck, 1987)
See also:
- engineering of consent
- intellectualism
- intellectual property
[edit] References
- Chomsky, M., & Peck, J. (1987). The Chomsky Reader.
