In Praise of Idleness (3/3)

by Bertrand Russell
Part 1: • In Praise of Idleness ...
Part 2: • In Praise of Idleness ...
Part 3: • In Praise of Idleness ...
Playlist: www.youtube.com...
Transcript: www.whywork.org...
Attribution: norelpref.com/cc/
License: creativecommons...

[@DandelionLakewood]

Truly a genius

[@alovelytime]

great post ! we need more time.

[@muf]

thanks.

[@jonnykhatru]

INCREDIBLE, damn humanity is seriously lagging right now

[@alovelytime]

though after about 3 months with no work i could use some employment. bank robbery is fun but lookin over my shoulder all the time sucks.

[@Mayer200]

Work is a means of livelihood is a capitalist concept. Only in capitalist society and the first phase of communism known as socialism is work considered to be a means of livelihood. But Karl Marx explained that in a superior communist society were People run things as opposed to the State, Labour which probably becomes limited to 4 hours a day becomes life's prime want.

[@tombeast17]

@tuntitommosille - I guess it all boils down to how we define a 'good life'. For me a good life isn't working 9/10 hours a day, 6 days a week, for decades on end just to eat and sleep in a warm house, that they will be paying for for the rest of their lives. Especially when doing physically demanding jobs that mean they are too tired to do much in their time away from work. This is sadly the life many live in the west. Just because it is better than feudalism that doesnt make it good.

[@bergweg]

looks like the only thing done for its own sake nowadays is economic/capital growth.

[@tombeast17]

@tuntitommosille - and i also agree that these ideas are far fetched and detatched from 'current' reality. But just because we have used this system for so long that does not mean that it is the only system possible. Think how many more great works of art and literature there would be if this imagined reality were true. We may even have concrete cures for things like cancer if more people had time to learn and think and research, instead of carrying out labour tasks just to afford to exist.

[@bergweg]

I bet with technology and education (that includes philosophy) the 4 hours could be reduced further.

[@erinbarr6369]

Hay why don’t we just accept individuals live for no more than big number 90 years life is meaningless

[@tombeast17]

@tuntitommosille - I imagine he would argue that there would be no need for a monetary system. That it wouldn't be a case of many being rich but the majority being poor. People work 6 day weeks now and still can't afford 'the good life'. If machines did the majority of our work for us why would we need money? So some people can have more than others and use it to hold them back? That is all it is used for these days. I do agree that people need to stop reproducing so recklessly though.

[@muf]

where is that excerpt from?

[@cirosuperiore]

russell was a meathead