The first teach-in in the United States, held at the University of Michigan in March 1965, was co-created by Frithjof Bergmann. A philosopher whose career focused on existentialism and the nature of liberty, he spent decades questioning the modern reliance on traditional wage labor, ultimately proposing a radical reorganization of human productivity and self-determination.
Academic Foundation
Born in 1930 within the Weimar Republic, Bergmann later moved to the United States for his studies. He enrolled in the doctoral program at Princeton University, where he studied under Walter Kaufmann. In 1959, he completed his Ph.D. with a dissertation titled Harmony and Reason: An Introduction to the Philosophy of Hegel. His early intellectual work centered on Western philosophy, with deep specializations in the thoughts of Hegel, Nietzsche, and Sartre.
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In his 1977 book, On Being Free, Bergmann challenged the contemporary understanding of freedom. He argued that the standard definition—freedom as merely the lack of external obstacles—offered an empty sense of selfhood. Instead, he proposed that genuine freedom requires an agent to identify with the underlying elements of their actions. He maintained that personal growth depends on coming to an authentic understanding of one's own desires and values.
The New Work Concept
Following travels through the Eastern Bloc between 1976 and 1979, Bergmann began to critique both capitalist and communist systems. He developed the concept of New Work, which advocates for replacing the traditional wage labor system. In 1984, he established the Center for New Work in Flint, Michigan. His model proposed that society move toward a three-part structure: one-third traditional gainful employment, one-third high-tech self-provisioning, and one-third dedicated to work an individual truly desires.
Career and Legacy
Bergmann served as a professor of philosophy for the majority of his career at the University of Michigan. His teaching repertoire included courses on Marx, existentialism, and continental philosophy. Throughout his life, he also taught at Stanford University, the University of California, Berkeley, the University of California, Santa Cruz, and the University of Kassel. He died in Ann Arbor on 23 May 2021 at the age of 90.
Fast facts
- Born: 1930, Weimar Republic
- Died: 23 May 2021, Ann Arbor
- Education: Princeton University
- Key Publication: On Being Free (1977)
- Notable Organization: Center for New Work
- Primary Occupation: University teacher and philosopher
Questions readers ask
What was the core goal of the New Work movement?
It aimed to replace the obsolete wage labor system with a structure prioritizing autonomy, community participation, and the pursuit of work that aligns with individual desires.
What is meant by High-Tech-Self-Providing?
It refers to the use of advanced technology, such as autonomous production devices, to satisfy personal needs and reduce reliance on external goods.
Achievements
- Held posts at University of Kassel and University of Michigan
- Fields: Western philosophy
