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Bertrand Russell: In Praise of Idleness (1932)

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Re: Bertrand Russell: In Praise of Idleness (1932)

#42

Post by imarg »

Of a similar thinking is, I suppose, "The Right to Be Lazy" by Paul Lafargue.

I read it some time ago and if I remember correctly he believed that there isn't/wasn't any need to work more than 3 hours a day because of the technological advances of the time (and to think this was in 1883!)

After a quick search I found it is available online at: http://www.marxists.org/archive/lafargue/1883/lazy/

Re: Bertrand Russell: In Praise of Idleness (1932)

#45

Post by foobarqux »

imarg wrote: post #42

Of a similar thinking is, I suppose, "The Right to Be Lazy" by Paul Lafargue. I read it some time ago and if I remember correctly he believed that there isn't/wasn't any need to work more than 3 hours a day because of the technological advances of the time (and to think this was in 1883!) After a quick search I found it is available online at: http://www.marxists.org/archive/lafargue/1883/lazy/

"Quitting the Paint Factory" is another good essay on the theme but is marred by an atopical discussion of George Bush.

http://paulbe.dreamwidth.org/961.html

Re: Bertrand Russell: In Praise of Idleness (1932)

#46

Post by leejoramo »

As wikipedia notes on Bertrand Russell:

> His work has had a considerable influence on logic, mathematics, set theory, linguistics, artificial intelligence, computer science (see type theory and type system), and philosophy, especially philosophy of language, epistemology, and metaphysics.

Plus he won the Nobel Prize in Literature!

For a very approachable overview of Russell's complex life, I highly recommend the graphic novel "Logicomix"

http://www.logicomix.com/

Then you will certainly find yourself wanting to learn more about this amazing person.

Re: Bertrand Russell: In Praise of Idleness (1932)

#48

Post by jonahss »

gbog wrote: post #28

There 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.

Could you provide a source for this conclusion? I'm interested in the idea, but can't find anything on it.

Re: Bertrand Russell: In Praise of Idleness (1932)

#49

Post by simbolit »

Swizec wrote: post #10
parasight wrote: post #7

It 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.

I have noticed the same. Then I remembered the internet makes my day feel like running with a parachute. Sure, I could just get up and go make lunch when I'm hungry. But I could also just refresh HN first. I think it takes a second, it actually takes 10 minutes. Especially if I reply to something. Sure I could just get home from exercise and start working. But I can also check out imgur and twitter first. I feel liek…

>the internet makes my day feel like running with a parachute

this phrase gets you an upvote. thank you! :-)

Re: Bertrand Russell: In Praise of Idleness (1932)

#50

Post by cliffbean »

kasperbn wrote: post #9
RyanMcGreal wrote: post #5

> If so, I shall not have lived in vain. Notwithstanding that small matter of formally defining the logical foundations of all mathematics.

Actually, Gödel proved that no such foundation exists.

Gödel proved that the foundation can't be complete (without being inconsistent), but it can still be useful.
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