{Archive} Are We Our Work?

Are We Our Work?

Reading:

Preparation time ⏱️ Approx. 1 hour (~50 pages of reading)

• "A Right to Be Lazy" by Paul Lafargue

  • A spirited defense of idleness, this manifesto critiques the relentless drive to work and produce. Lafargue argues that rest and leisure are vital to human flourishing, challenging the idea that our worth is tied to our productivity.

    Length: ~50 pages (selected portions)

🤔 Enduring Questions: What Will We Talk About?

• What does it mean to define ourselves by our work, and who are we when we aren’t being productive?

• Can idleness be a source of creativity, joy, or fulfillment, or does it lead to restlessness and purposelessness?

• How does hustle culture shape our understanding of success, and is there value in resisting it?

• What role does rest, leisure, and “doing nothing” play in a balanced, meaningful life?

Description

In a world where the first question we often ask someone is, "What do you do?" it’s easy to see how work can become a defining part of our identity. But what if we weren’t defined by our productivity? In this thought-provoking Speakeasy session, we’ll dive into Paul Lafargue’s A Right to Be Lazy, a bold critique of the obsession with work and productivity, written by Karl Marx’s son-in-law in the late 19th century. Lafargue’s irreverent manifesto challenges what we now call "hustle culture" and raises the provocative question: Is idleness a privilege, or a right?

Drawing on Lafargue’s powerful text, we’ll explore how societies—particularly in capitalist economies—have glorified work at the expense of rest and leisure. We’ll consider the consequences of living in a world that prioritizes constant productivity and reflect on the Italian concept of dolce far niente (the sweetness of doing nothing), as we ask ourselves what idleness means in our own lives.

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