I do think we have bad attitudes toward work and that many jobs just
make people sick and produce nothing of value. As the article says, in
Aristotle's view that saps society of valuable civic energy. But I
don't think he was championing laziness. People I know who "gave up
work" went back to some voluntary or lower-paid socially useful
activity, because we are naturally generous, industrious and "restless
creatures" (De Tocqueville). It wasn't until they were free of a
so-called "boss", grubby office politics and unnecessary anxiety that
they were able to truly <i>give</i> anything.<p>The problem lies in our present society's values coming from a twisted
Protestant ethic of martyrdom, and celebration of exploitation. There
are unwritten rules that it's not 'real' work unless you're utterly
miserable doing it. It descends into a competition to be the most
virtuously over-worked wretch. That's just a psychological disease.<p>So when I meet people who are always "terribly, terribly busy" I
wonder what is going on for them. Really? Or is "work" actually
defence mechanism from engaging in *living", that messy, awkward,
complicated but exhilarating activity? Many work-places provide a
rationale and framework for avoidance.