In contrast to disciplinary-society.
Achievement society is a term mentioned by Byung-Chul Hal in The Burnout Society to describe the new “vibe shift” in how we asses one’s possibilities and freedom in this neoliberal society.
In general terms, instead of setting limits, prohibitions and punishments for unwanted behaviour, individuals are being told that you can achieve anything as long as you put your mind to it and work hard enough. Your achievements are the metrics you use to measure your self-worth.
One way I saw this reflected in is how people complain about the newer generations and how they do not have fear of authority and are being spoiled. They do what they want and are being supported into achieving what they desire.
How this concerns freedom
This freedom is a form of control too, and a much more effective measure to do so. By internalizing all you can achieve and what you have not, individuals judge themselves by these standards. Nothing is repressing you or holding you down, it is up to you to exercise the power you have within to be something. You either do not do so and feel horrible, or find a way to accomplish these goals, create others, but, even if you achieve them, you remain perpetually dissatisfied, exhausted and anxious. The achievement society subject.
Allo-exploitation vs. auto-exploitation
In allo-exploitation, an external force (your boss, system etc.) dominates you. A direct form of coercion, pressure and exploitation takes place. In contrast, in auto-exploitation, you are the master and the slave, the exploiter and the exploited. In this drive to self-optimize, to increase your productivity and market value, you willingly push yourself. Freedom masks this coercion.
Here is why we have depression and not repression. Depression is a state of positivity, of self-reference; no Other is at its core.
(Everything above is still a generalization, but the symptoms of depression and anxiety are common lanes people find themselves into.)
Sources
- Burnout Society
- https://www.philosophizethis.org/transcript/episode-188-transcript (The podcast episodes on Han got me into reading the book in the first place)