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Abstract: The work ethic was invented by Puritan theologians nearly 400 years ago.  From the start, it contained contradictory ideas:  one rationalizing the subjection of workers to drudgery for maximum profit; the other honoring workers for advancing human welfare and calling for their dignified and equitable treatment.  Both ideas were developed and institutionalized over time in the U.S. and Europe, leaving a contradictory legacy for us today.  I consider how the neglected second work ethic tradition can be revived and updated for 21st-century American workers.