Bertrand Russell - In Praise of Idleness pt 1 of 4

One of the commonest things to do with savings is to lend them to some Government. In view of the fact that the bulk of the public expenditure of most civilized Governments consists in payment for past wars or preparation for future wars, the man who lends his money to a Government is in the same position as the bad men in Shakespeare who hire murderers. The net result of the man's economical habits is to increase the armed forces of the State to which he lends his savings. Obviously it would be better if he spent the money, even if he spent it in drink or gambling. But, I shall be told, the case is quite different when savings are invested in industrial enterprises. When such enterprises succeed, and produce something useful, this may be conceded. In these days, however, no one will deny that most enterprises fail. That means that a large amount of human labor, which might have been devoted to producing something that could be enjoyed, was expended on producing machines which, when produced, lay idle and did no good to anyone. The man who invests his savings in a concern that goes bankrupt is therefore injuring others as well as himself. If he spent his money, say, in giving parties for his friends, they (we may hope) would get pleasure, and so would all those upon whom he spent money, such as the butcher, the baker, and the bootlegger. But if he spends it (let us say) upon laying down rails for surface cars in some place where surface cars turn out to be not wanted, he has diverted a mass of labor into channels where it gives pleasure to no one. Nevertheless, when he becomes poor through the failure of his investment he will be regarded as a victim of undeserved misfortune, whereas the gay spendthrift, who has spent his money philanthropically, will be despised as a fool and a frivolous person. All this is only preliminary. I want to say, in all seriousness, that a great deal of harm is being done in the modern world by belief in the virtuousness of work, and that the road to happiness and prosperity lies in an organized diminution of work. First of all: what is work? Work is of two kinds: first, altering the position of matter at or near the earth's surface relatively to other such matter; second, telling other people to do so. The first kind is unpleasant and ill paid; the second is pleasant and highly paid. The second kind is capable of indefinite extension: there are not only those who give orders, but those who give advice as to what orders should be given. Usually two opposite kinds of advice are given simultaneously by two organized bodies of men; this is called politics. The skill required for this kind of work is not knowledge of the subjects as to which advice is given, but knowledge of the art of persuasive speaking and writing, i.e., of advertising. Throughout Europe, though not in America, there is a third class of men, more respected than either of the classes of workers. There are men who, through ownership of land, are able to make others pay for the privilege of being allowed to exist and to work. These landowners are idle, and I might therefore be expected to praise them. Unfortunately, their idleness is only rendered possible by the industry of others; indeed their desire for comfortable idleness is historically the source of the whole gospel of work. The last thing they have ever wished is that others should follow their example. From the beginning of civilization until the Industrial Revolution, a man could, as a rule, produce by hard work little more than was required for the subsistence of himself and his family, although his wife worked at least as hard as he did, and his children added their labor as soon as they were old enough to do so. The small surplus above bare necessaries was not left to those who produced it, but was appropriated by warriors and priests. In times of famine there was no surplus; the warriors and priests, however, still secured as much as at other times, with the result that many of the workers died of hunger. This system persisted in Russia until 1917 (since then, members of the Communist Party have succeeded to this privilege of the warriors and priests) and still persists in the East; in England, in spite of the Industrial Revolution, it remained in full force throughout the Napoleonic wars, and until a hundred years ago, when the new class of manufacturers acquired power. In America, the system came to an end with the Revolution, except in the South, where it persisted until the Civil War. A system which lasted so long and ended so recently has naturally left a profound impress upon men's thoughts and opinions. Much that we take for granted about the desirability of work is derived from this system, and, being pre- industrial, is not adapted to the modern world.

Category:

Education

Tags:

• betrand
• russell
• philosophy
• politics
• work
• capitalism
• socialism

[t0kt0k]

I actually found it that way. I'm not sure what voice it is.

[AranyThiru]

I loved this essay and 100% agree with it. My favorite philosopher. ;D

[notque]

I love Bertrand Russell, this was one of the first articles I ever read from him.

[sprattysy]

This is a great video

[shoppittsburghnow]

some really good stuff here

[thejameskan]

great video thanks

[Erectoralporicy]

@TheDensley7

Of what I've read of Nietzsche (beyond good and evil, the will to power, thus spoke zarathustra) I came to the same conclusion as Russell had, though I confess my own words were not as eloquently put.

[TheGreatDeciever55]

"In this way, it is insured that the unavoidable leisure shall cause misery all round instead of being a universal source of happiness. Can anything more insane be imagined?" ---this is literally true now---instead of people loving the leisure time they have---it becomes a source of shame and suffering....people spend more time complaining about unemployment than actually working on their family ties or personal happiness---but it isnt their fault....they goddamn slave state makes it so

[bensimps123]

that voice pisses me off , sounds like stephen hawkins computer talking

[MagWrath]

This man has no idea of how economics work and his philosophy lacks interpretation of modern living.

[NiHuWi]

Well, mom, according to Bertrand Russell, I shouldn't get a job.

Oh if I'd read this in high school...

[TheDensley7]

@TheDavid2222 I agree, I love Russell but he got Nietzsche completely wrong.