It is understood that most functions in today's society are specialized. From academia to the workplace, individuals acquire a specialization in which they become proficient. In his writings, Karl Marx “prophesizes” the disappearance of this division of labor (Sayers, 35). His thesis is that the division of labor forces people to devote themselves to a single activity and therefore hinders creativity and prevents people from realizing their full potential (Veugelers, 24 September 2012). However, the division of labor can be practical and even necessary for society. People can choose their specialization based on their interests and skills, which in turn can produce skilled and competent workers that society can benefit from. Work can also be combined with personal interests, making work fulfilling and even desirable. In The German Ideology, Marx praises communist societies, arguing that in such societies people can become experts at various tasks without dedicating themselves to a single activity (Marx and Engels, 159). For example, one can “hunt fish in the morning in the afternoon, herd cattle in the evening, criticize after dinner, without ever becoming a hunter, fisherman, shepherd or critic” (Marx and Engels, 160). In contrast, according to Marx, capitalism creates a division of labor, which forces people to undertake and specialize in only one skill (Marx and Engels, 160). He claims that this division of labor “is external to the worker” and the worker “does not confirm himself in his work, denies himself, feels unhappy instead of happy” and cannot escape (Marx, 79). However, the division of labor can be practical and engaging in your work can be satisfying. Many societies have achieved enormous levels of progress that Ma...... middle of paper ......ying. However, people's work can also be closely linked to their personal interests and be fun, challenging and fulfilling. Indeed, many people are eager to work in order to afford and enjoy certain luxuries. This can turn terrible and often stressful work into a desirable activity. Therefore, the division of labor can be fulfilling and desirable and related to the individual's personal interests. Marx argues that the division of labor forces people to perform specialized tasks, which hinders their potential. However, specialization can produce skilled, competent individuals who love their jobs. Such individuals are definitely an asset to society. There is no doubt that inequality persists, but abolishing the division of labor may not be the solution, especially in complex societies. Instead, the focus should perhaps be on tackling inequality within occupations.