Andrew Taggart, a practical philosopher, discusses the concept of 'total work' and explores different modes of making a living. He encourages individuals to dis-identify with their worker identity, question the 'good life,' and engage in philosophical inquiry. The podcast also delves into the connections between making a living and relationships, settlement versus nomadism, and the importance of cultivating a philosophical mindset in our modern society.
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insights INSIGHT
Good Life vs Sustaining Life
The good life and sustaining life are separate questions that are often muddled together.
The good life has priority as it addresses what is most worthwhile beyond mere survival.
insights INSIGHT
Work as Adjective of Good Life
Modern phrases like meaningful or purposeful work mix the good life with labor, limiting our imagination.
These adjectives turn questions of the good life into mere qualities of work.
insights INSIGHT
Income Drives Work Imperative
The need for regular income persuades people to accept the imperative to work.
Steady employment and income are recent historical norms, not universal human conditions.
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Andrew is a Practical Philosopher who believes that "there may be no greater vexation in our time than the question of how to make a living in a manner that accords with leading a good life." We dive deep into the questions of "what is the good life?" and what he means by "sustaining life." He also shares his perspective on the concept of "Total Work," a phrase first put forth in 1947 by the German Philosopher Josef Pieper, and shares how that phrase became central to his current writing on the topic and conversations he has with business leaders and executives.
We also dive into his dichotomy of the three modes people could think about to make a living:
Use what you've got
Exchange what's in hand
Offer what you can
He reflects on our modern culture's over-reliance on exchanging our time for money while ignoring how we can live off the land and operate within the gift economy. Next, we talk about some of the different modes of living (whether it be a "settler", nomad or somewhere in between) and the implications for the community in society as a whole as well as how has dealt with that with his wife.
Finally, Andrew offers three practical steps people can take to re-engage with life and try to understand what "a life worth living looks like" that does not include the advice to just quit your job.
Dis-identify with the identity of the worker: Questioning whether you truly only are a worker, a CEO, a marketing manager, an accountant, etc...
Begin an inquiry into the question "If I am not a worker, then who am I?": What else is worth living for? What practices do I want to have in part of my life? What relationships and conversations nourish me?
The question whether or not the life you have defined is "sufficient": Are you thinking deeply enough about the question of who you are?
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