投资 · 西方古典
托斯丹·凡勃伦：有闲阶级论·摘录 140
托斯丹·凡勃伦《有闲阶级论》· The Theory of the Leisure Class · 投资
The pecuniary or the leisure-class culture, which set out as an emulative variant of the impulse of workmanship, is in its latest development beginning to neutralize its own ground, by eliminating the habit of invidious comparison in respect of efficiency, or even of pecuniary standing. On the other hand, the fact that members of the leisure class, both men and women, are to some extent exempt from the necessity of finding a livelihood in a competitive struggle with their fellows, makes it possible for members of this class not only to survive, but even, within bounds, to follow their bent in case they are not gifted with the aptitudes which make for success in the competitive struggle. That is to say, in the latest and fullest development of the institution, the livelihood of members of this class does not depend on the possession and the unremitting exercise of those aptitudes are therefore greater in the higher grades of the leisure class than in the general average of a population living under the competitive system.
出处：
https://www.gutenberg.org/ebooks/833
定位：Excerpt 140 · 核对日期：2026-10-19 · 核验：短摘录
白话
有闲阶级的文化最初是从“工艺本能”变来的攀比版本，但发展到后来，它开始拆自己的台：不再那么看重在效率上、甚至在金钱地位上与人争高下。另一方面，有闲阶级的男女多少不必跟别人竞争谋生，所以即使没有那种能在竞争中取胜的才能，他们也能活下来，甚至还能在一定范围内按自己的性子来。也就是说，这个制度发展到最成熟时，成员的生计不取决于是否拥有并不断使用那些竞争性才能。结果，有闲阶级上层里这类非竞争性倾向反而比一般竞争社会中的人更明显。
上下文
凡勃伦《有闲阶级论》末章讨论有闲阶级文化如何自我消解，以及免于谋生压力带来的后果。
今日一问
如果不必为生计竞争，你会把省下的精力投向哪里？
公版作品；原文逐字取自 Project Gutenberg，仅摘录段落并附全书链接。
你的邮箱
只用于发送原典。不发广告，不卖名单。
本文本为公版；底本与原文链接见上。 版权