Leisure Demands Sacrifice

The ancients viewed the cultivation of virtues as requiring leisure time, which they believed could only be obtained through the subjugation of others. Philosophers like Aristotle and Plato emphasized the importance of discussion, thought, and study, yet this intellectual pursuit comes at a cost. The leisure enjoyed by the elite was underpinned by the enslavement of others, suggesting a disturbing notion that freedom and virtue for some are rooted in the oppression of others. This perspective frames freedom as a zero-sum game, where the ability to engage in philosophical dialogue and personal growth is contingent upon the sacrifice of others' autonomy and well-being.