In Praise of Leisure

[ysabetwordsmith]

Here's a whole set of quotes. This one is my idea of a good world.

"In a world where no one is compelled to work more than four hours a day, every person possessed of scientific curiosity will be able to indulge it, and every painter will be able to paint without starving, however excellent his pictures may be. Young writers will not be obliged to draw attention to themselves by sensational potboilers, with a view to acquiring the economic independence needed for monumental works, for which, when the time at last comes, they will have lost the taste and the capacity."
-- Bertrand Russell

Comments

[siliconshaman]

What Bertrand Russell didn't foresee was the rise of automation and robots, and the introduction of Universal Basic Income... making working just 4 hours a day unnecessary. [eventually I hope].

There is a very, very high percentage of people out there, with undiscovered talents in every field.. who are working some utterly unfulfilling job that any trained monkey could do, just to make ends meet.

There's also a percentage who are frankly, unsuitable for any kind of job too, and really ought not.. but that's another matter.

[zeeth_kyrah]

And here I am with shaman's sickness, which is making me unfit to work. Coming through a pretty tough bout, but with all the training and challenges I've had, I'm at least coping. I'd better get some food soon, and get to bed, however. Laundry tomorrow/tonight, whenever I feel up to being out of bed for a couple of hours.

[pronker]

they will have lost the taste and the capacity." This shows what sounds like Russell's own experience, and quite a lot of wisdom re the passage of time from fiery Youth With A Message to Lowered Expectations Middle Age or Old Age. I like the "compelled to work" phrase because that allows for those who want to work more than four hours daily.

Yes ...

[ysabetwordsmith]

I've always just written what I wanted to write, and looked for markets. It wound up being far more efficient to create my own through crowdfunding. Normal editors don't want to buy more than one or two things a year from me. Fans are hanging around every month going MOARRRRR.