Keep Talking Episode 97: Stuart Whatley - The Case Against Work
Mar 8, 2024
Stuart Whatley, Senior Editor at Project Syndicate and author of 'Toward a Leisure Ethic', dives into the historical and philosophical roots of work and leisure. He challenges the stigma around embracing leisure, highlighting its importance for a fulfilling life. Whatley discusses modern workaholism, the impact of passive consumption, and the cultural shame attached to rejecting the rat race. He provides insightful advice on achieving a more balanced life, emphasizing moderation and control over our time as key to true contentment.
01:00:47
Leisure Came Before Work
- Leisure historically preceded the concept of work and was the freedom people worked to secure.
- Stuart Whatley argues leisure means control of time and energy, not idle consumption.
Leisure Is Active, Not Passive
- Advocating leisure is not a call to laziness; classical thinkers prized active, thoughtful pursuits.
- Whatley rejects passive consumption (doomscrolling) as a poor model of leisure.
Ancients Valued Contemplation Over Toil
- For most of history, work was associated with slavery and looked down upon by thinkers.
- Classical and Christian traditions both valued contemplation and freedom from toil.
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Intro
00:00 • 38sec
Origins of the Leisure Ethic
00:38 • 3min
Addressing 'Leisure Equals Laziness'
04:02 • 5min
Modern Addictions and Passive Leisure
08:46 • 2min
Historical Views: Greeks to Aquinas
10:44 • 5min
Shame Around Rejecting the Rat Race
15:33 • 5min
Time Well Spent: Plato to Contemporary
20:45 • 6min
Practical Constraints: Kids, Bills, Mortgages
27:02 • 57sec
Practical Steps Toward Leisure
27:59 • 4min
Having 'Enough' and Naval's 'Art' Advice
32:11 • 1min
Rejecting Insatiable Desires
33:37 • 4min
Self-Sufficiency and Education for Leisure
37:54 • 2min
Workload Then and Now: Hunter-Gatherers
39:46 • 4min
Role Models for a Leisure Life
43:36 • 5min
Workism and Addiction to Busyness
48:25 • 3min
Hoarding Wealth vs. Living with Enough
51:32 • 3min
Money, Freedom, and Financial Security
54:31 • 2min
Redefining Progress Around Time Control
56:47 • 4min
Outro
01:00:24 • 12sec
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Leisure
The Basis of Culture
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Stuart Whatley is a writer, a Senior Editor at Project Syndicate, and the author of "Toward a Leisure Ethic," my favorite essay that I've read of the past few months. During our conversation, Stuart talks about the historic purpose of leisure and work, our culture's obsession with busyness and praise of toil, and the reason for striving towards a life of a leisure ethic: where one has control of one's time, one's energy, and where one works on projects for their own sake.
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00:00 Intro
00:57 What has been a "leisure ethic" in history?
03:51 Isn't extolling leisure a call for laziness?
09:50 The role of work and leisure in history
15:30 The shame of having an anti-work mentality
20:30 A quote from "Toward a Leisure Ethic"
26:48 A response to people who disagree with Stuart
31:57 "Enough" and how to live a life well-lived
40:05 How much we worked as hunter-gatherers
43:22 We lack models for a "leisure ethic"
48:10 Workaholism in America
51:30 Derek Sivers, money hoarders, and insatiable desires
55:00 A story from "The Psychology of Money" and how to use money