"...there is no reason to go on being foolish forever."
Bertrand Russell: In Praise of Idleness (1932)
21–30 of 126 posts
Re: Bertrand Russell: In Praise of Idleness (1932)
#22> If so, I shall not have lived in vain. Notwithstanding that small matter of formally defining the logical foundations of all mathematics.
Well, having a good bash at that particular problem. Not sure if Russell and Whitehead actually succeeded . " Work is of two kinds: first, altering the position of matter at or near the earth's surface relatively to other such matter; second, telling other people to do so. The first kind is unpleasant and ill paid; the second is pleasant and highly paid. " I've always liked that quote.
How does programming fit into this? It feels a bit in-between. On the one hand, you tell the computer what to do, in a way that feels similar to Type 2; on the other hand, you actually have to do the work of programming, which feels much like Type 1, except you're not moving physical matter around, but stuff in 'concept space'.
Re: Bertrand Russell: In Praise of Idleness (1932)
#23Earlier quoted context omitted.
The problem with 'holding power' is you also need submission from the masses or at least need to keep them in order. There is never ever going to be a period of time in the human history, there was none in the past, nor will there be in the future where we shall attain peaceful uniform equality among humans. The very concept is against our very internal wiring. Equality means, every one gets the same regardless of th…
"There is never ever going to be a period of time in the human history, there was none in the past, nor will there be in the future where we shall attain peaceful uniform equality among humans" This is simply not true. Hunter-gatherer societies are typically egalitarian, and our species has subsisted by hunting and gathering for the vast majority of its existence.
In the tribe there was inequality of status (eg best hunters) and mate choice.
Between tribes there was inequality of where to live, or living at all due to border clashes, raids etc
Re: Bertrand Russell: In Praise of Idleness (1932)
#24It is rather strange. More and more things of everyday life are automated and computerized. Nevertheless, I have the impression to have less and less time to do all the things I want/need to do.
Might that simply be because there's more things you want to do? Isn't this a basic psychological tendency, to want more and more when you have more?
Re: Bertrand Russell: In Praise of Idleness (1932)
#25Anyone looking for more praise of idleness should look into the works of Tom Hodgkinson. How to Be Idle is particularly brilliant.
Here's the 5 minute summary: http://www.wikisummaries.org/How_To_Be_Idle
This book is less about being a guide and more about learning how to experience the world at a human speed. The chapters are just guide-points or koans.
Re: Bertrand Russell: In Praise of Idleness (1932)
#26I was half through and I suddenly had a click in my head, thought this was written by pg.
Same clean and efficient style, same nakedness without any philosophical scaffolding, while being bullet tracing a straight line through many philosophical stand points.
Two very clairvoyant minds. Let's go back reading.
Re: Bertrand Russell: In Praise of Idleness (1932)
#27I'm way too lazy while idling to read this. tl;dr?
As automation increases and we have machines do most of our work. We don't seem to put that saved time into leisure. We rather seem to use that saved time to do more work. Humans aren't too happy with every one getting the same, even if that is sufficient for every one's sustenance. We inevitable use our time to buy things that distinguish us from other fellow humans. The theme was also propagated in the novel 1984,c…
>The theme was also propagated in the novel 1984,concept of equality among humans was/is going to be a big disaster.
Not at all. If you want to mention an anti-egalitarian novel, Harrison Bergeron is probably the one to pick.
Orwell was very definitely big on equality and socialism - In one of his essays, circa World War 2, he even proposed a maximum wage!
1984 was largely a critique of Stalinist totalitarianism (and post-war British austerity) rather than a criticism of socialism itself. In fact, one of his problems with Stalin (as well as the previously-mentioned totalitarianism) was that Stalin was a counterrevolutionary who crushed the egalitarian revolution going on in Spain during the Civil war - Orwell was fighting alongside a Trotskyite militia at the time and recounted his ideas in Homage to Catalonia. Orwell was to the left of Stalin, if anything.
Orwell's socialism is certainitely the main thread throughout all of his work, but unfortunately his two most famous works - Animal Farm and 1984 - because they happen to be attacks on the Soviet Communist Party, are often erroneously read as attacks on socialism.
Re: Bertrand Russell: In Praise of Idleness (1932)
#28There is this thing about ancient China: each son, when his father died, had to mourn for three years. Yes, three years. And it meant stopping your official occupation, e.g. official employment. (This didn't apply to the peasant).
Result: most of the great products of Chinese culture are a direct consequence of this forced idleness.
Re: Bertrand Russell: In Praise of Idleness (1932)
#29I'm way too lazy while idling to read this. tl;dr?
As automation increases and we have machines do most of our work. We don't seem to put that saved time into leisure. We rather seem to use that saved time to do more work. Humans aren't too happy with every one getting the same, even if that is sufficient for every one's sustenance. We inevitable use our time to buy things that distinguish us from other fellow humans. The theme was also propagated in the novel 1984,c…
> Humans aren't too happy with every one getting the same.
> We inevitable use our time to buy things that distinguish us from other fellow humans.
IMHO this is cultural, not biological phenomenon. In developed countries, especially US, people are pretty much being brainwashed to 'think different and buy X'.
Yes, inequality is inevitable to some extent, however it is often artificially promoted for its own sake.
Re: Bertrand Russell: In Praise of Idleness (1932)
#30Earlier quoted context omitted.
>>I have all this leisure time that I am being leisurely, but it doesn't feel leisurely. This happens to me too. I wonder its because we are using the same tools for work and leisure. I would describe leisure as going out and playing a sport, or playing a musical instrument, or . I am now thinking we are confused between leisure and procrastination.
> I am now thinking we are confused between leisure and procrastination. It's even simpler than that. We're addicted to the instant gratification of easily digestible information packets. Humans like to be informed and we innately think this is valuable, even when it isn't.
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