In Praise of Idleness - Essay Example

Essay, Philosophy Topic: Bertrand Russell, “In Praise of Idleness”1. Think about a person who has worked full-time all of their lives to provide for themselves and/or their families. What, if anything, do you find respectable or virtuous about this? The viewpoint of Russell: When an individual articulates that he is only a thinking machine, individuals like Bertrand Russell arrive at the horizon of this Planet Earth. He hails laziness and that according to me, is rubbish. The life of a lazy individual is like the existence of a filthy pool with its water stinking.

Russell is an argumentative Tom; as such he does not know anything about the human spirit except to argue. My response: Though I am not working now in the professional sense of the term, I have a great fascination to shape into a hard and intelligently working professional. Family is the unit of the society and a happy and contented family is an asset for the nation. I am willing to applaud that individual who has worked for his family all through his life. This is virtuous living, for he lives for a noble cause. 2. If you had a trust fund that provided you with enough money for you to live comfortably on, would you take a job or pursue a career?

Why or why not? The viewpoint of Russell: According to Russell, in such conditions, an individual need not work and such an individual must spend from his earnings, and should not save, as saving money leads to unemployment, and spent money generates employment. My response: This problem arises when philosophers try to become economists and make an attempt to advise the Finance Ministers! Job satisfaction is a psychological virtue, as such earning money and saving with a purpose, are alternative beats of the same heart. 3. Do you think you would be happy if you could earn the same amount of money by working only 4 hours a day, 20 hours a week?

Why or why not? Would you know what to do with your free time? The viewpoint of Russell: “If the ordinary wage-earner worked four hours a day, there would be enough for everybody and no unemployment -- assuming a certain very moderate amount of sensible organization. This idea shocks the well-to-do because they are convinced that the poor would not know how to use so much leisure.”(p.5)My response: I agree on this issue partially. The important point is how one will spend the remaining 20 hours.

One is not expected to sleep for more than 8 hours—that will be inviting idleness. Recreation for the remaining 12 hours of the day on a long-term basis is impossible. I will be bored of such a recreation. For example, suppose an individual likes ice cream. The first cup is fine; the second one is good; the third one is tolerable. The fourth one, that individual will vomit!! As such happiness is not in free time, but in spending the time purposefully.