The spirit of capitalism and the teaching in distance education

Abstract

Teaching in distance education is characterized, among other things, by the rationalization of work. In this sense, research that seeks to analyze it from a materialistic perspective of history is common. In addition to the specificities of the capitalist mode of production and its influence on superstructures, it is believed that it is necessary to consider the relationships between the configuration of teaching work in this modality and the subjective meaning attributed to social action. Thus, the aim of this investigation is to analyze teaching in distance education in the light of comprehensive sociological theory. It is a theoretical essay that addresses, precisely, the Weberian theory. As a methodological instrument, we have the ideal type that makes it possible to build abstractions of social reality. More precisely, in this study, typologies referring to contemporary capitalist work - and their own ethics - and teaching in distance education in courses that adopt a systemic approach are constituted. Through the discussions presented, it is suggested that the activities of teaching professionals in the modality are guided by an ideal linked to the capitalist production mode. To guarantee success at work, the teaching work is based on a legitimate order that has a decisive influence on the subjective sense attributed to the action. In other words, it is assumed that professionals introject aspects pertaining to the capitalist ethics that permeates contemporary work. Therefore, the traditionalist character of teaching in face-to-face education is overcome, making distance education teachers subject to the conditions of the modality, namely: bureaucratization and consequent rationalization of functions in order to achieve ideals of productivity.