Return to Theory X: Artificial Slavery

Philosophics — Philosophical and Political Ramblings · Nov 6, 2025 · 10m

The source, an essay titled "Return to Theory X: Artificial Slavery," critically analyses the modern workplace, arguing that progressive managerial theories such as Theory Y and Z were largely insincere attempts to move beyond the fundamentally distrustful Theory X framework. The author asserts that contemporary corporate culture has merely repackaged Theory X's belief in the inherent laziness of workers, replacing human surveillance with algorithmic control and AI monitoring. This regression is exemplified by the Return-to-Office crusade, which is presented as moral theatre designed to…