How Do Samuel Smiles Justify The Working And Living Conditions Of The Industrial Revolution?

The philosophy in Samuel Smiles’ excerpt is not practical, given the working and living

conditions of the Industrial Revolution. Smiles’ philosophy is that the poor people themselves,

with the help of industry, is in charge of elevating the poor of society to a higher status. The

conditions of life in industrial Europe were filthy and confined, which limited people, especially

the poor. Also there were plenty of ways that one should go about elevating their social status.

Smiles believed that the poor themselves and industry are in charge of raising the poor

of society to a higher status for several reasons. First, one can only work and attempt to advance

in their line of work and in their life, for themselves. In doing that,

one will assure their freedom.

Smiles articulates this in his book, Thrift, “Every man is bound to do what he can to elevate his

social state, and to secure his independence.”. That clearly proves that Smiles believes that if a

poor man works hard enough, he could elevate his social state.

Secondly, Smiles thinks that

industry is what allows a person to be successful. He states, “ Industry enables men to earn their

living; it should also enable them to learn to live.”. This shows that Smiles’ opinion is that

industry plays a small part in elevating one’s status.

There are numerous reasons why Smiles’ philosophy is not practical. Living was

cramped, unhygienic, and full of disease for the poor. Working conditions were terrible as well.

They had low wages, long hours (12-16 hours a day, six days a week), and the work was

dangerous and dirty. Many of the poor were born into their ranking and it was likely that it

would not change. For nearly all of the poor of society it would be impossible for them to

heighten their status because of the conditions they live and work in.

There were plenty of ways that one should go about elevating their social status. First,

one could strive to do better and work harder in hope of advancing, despite the unlikelihood of it

and the horrendous conditions of the industrial revolution. One could have gone on strike for better conditions, higher wages, or less hours, also unions fought for reforms, so one could join

a

union. Industry can help one elevate their social state. It could adopt a looser set of rules or be

fair in the way that the people that work the hardest get the most income. That is how one could

go about elevating their status.

The philosophy in Samuel Smiles’ excerpt, that the poor people themselves, with the help

of industry, is in charge of elevating the poor of society to a higher status, is not practical, given

the filthy, horrible working and living conditions of the Industrial Revolution. That is why

Smiles believes in that philosophy, why that philosophy is not practical and how one should go

about elevating their social status. In the Industrial Revolution, to the poor, advancing in social

status was an important ideal.