Excessive hard work is counterproductive.


In his essay “In Praise of Idleness”, Ber­trand Russell suggested that the working day should be reduced from eight hours to just four. Russell’s intention was not to boost productivity during those four hours (he distrusted efficiency). No, he wanted half as much work to be done and more leisure to be enjoyed. “There will be happiness and joy,” he suggested, “instead of frayed nerves, weariness and dyspepsia.”

I think he made a good argument for the advantages of less hours in the workforce. But his heading should not of read 'In praise of idleness'. That infers laziness, not the bettering of yourself, community, the arts and exploration.

Thanks for starting the thread. Great topic!..I worry about families today. Some parents work long hours just to make "ends meet" and this definitely affects their kids...We're asked to be "machines" and "robots!" (Or "zombies!") It's sad and spooky too!...So I definitely agree with Bertrand Russell. I think it's important to have a sense of balance in our lives.

There will be happiness and joy? For how long? Until the bills start piling up?

Reading the whole argument may change your mind. I dont understand why OP's only post fragments? It changes the whole concept of the whole.

I like a woman who reads. What's Russell mean, when he says he distrusts efficiency? That is interesting to hear. I see nothing wrong with efficiency, esp. for those who enjoy having accomplished the completion of a task, as opposed to those who enjoy the process more than having finished their work.

So... please, somebody, like for instance you, ladywind (topical name in the breezey thread elsewhere on this forum) what's Russel's beef with efficiency?

Sure...Excessive anything is counterproductive.

Cutting work down to four hours though? I would think that would be just as counterproductive. There's a median for everything, and that median is only a compliment of the two...Thus a, compromise of sorts.

Hi wux,

I am a kinda new to the forums.... That is, those that are outside of the political type.

I will try and attempt to answer your question.

Modern technology has created mass unemployment as people are no longer required to produce goods.

We can produce food in abundance, housing in abundance etc etc with very few people involved.

Most of the unemployed have not been told that they will never again be in paid employment and are not prepared for their free time.

I remember this being discussed many years ago [leisure time] but those that could do something about it didn't bother.

It looks like the solution to the problem today is to get rid of the useless eaters as they are called.

That is my opinion of Russell's opinion

The morality of work is the morality of slaves, and the modern world has no need of slavery.

In Praise of Idleness

By Bertrand Russell

[1932]---->

Link to The Essay----> http://www.zpub.com/notes/idle.html

same Attitude!

http://mises.org/daily/6038/DeadTree-Luddites

Besides,who will pick up the Tab?
Will be real Fun producing as much Goods as before in eight Hours,so the Balance isn't disturbed!

http://mises.org/daily/6073/Is-Greater-Productivity-a-Danger

Welcome to Keynes' and Russell's Schlaraffenland!

To get the whole article of Bertrand Russel's concept you just have to google his name with 'In praise of idleness' and wallah, you can form your own opinion.

I provided the link above your post.

Wux has asked for your opinion.

I would like to hear your and other opinion.

Your opinion in your own words please.

I promise I will not Laugh

Sorry you will have to wait till tomorrow. I am going to bed. But I shall be pondering whether this could work as only a western concept or global concept Laugh you mischievious irishman all you wish. But we kiwis always laugh more.

It's good to laugh...sleep well and ponder wisely

I do envy cultures where money is not the measure of a man/woman.

I have always preferred to be 'productive' as opposed to just punching someones time clock. I think it would be more efficient to pay people on their productivity instead of being so stuck to clocks,,,


from an efficiency standpoint, IF I am not paying someone except for their hours on the clock, and they complete the expected work in LESS Than the alotted time, why should I peanlize them for (in essence) Being MORE efficient?

Yet thats exactly what it feels like when you have to watch a time clock down to the minute in order to hang on to a job....

I plan to work less hours more efficiently and for myself when I get things together, even considering a move to Costa Rica where things are 'laid back' and people value more than money,,,,

The old saying, "Idle hands are the devils workshop", like every profound saying, did not just pop up like a weed in someones perfect garden...Idleness is not natural to the human element...Why?...Because there are definite qualifyers that separarte us from all other animals...No, not the ability to reason, or make tools, or communicate...We know that animals do theses things, some are even capable of communicating abstract ideas....

It is the ability to form or create culture...This ability creates needs and wants....Needs and wants are fullfilled by work...Creative work, mundane work, legal work, illigal work....Whatever it takes to achieve or realize our wants and needs which are forever increasing, forever changing in the ever changing culture we create...The grand cycle of evolution?...Who cares?....

Idleness is nothing more than a by-product of achieving or realizing our ever changing wants and needs...We need to be idle for a certain amount of time, enough time to put enough water back into the well to continue working at optimum to achieve or realize our wants and needs...The ability to adapt to culture change...

Money is necessary to support leisure....WIthout leisure you risk boredom...The dumber you are, the greater the risk of boredom, therefore the dumber your are the higher the cost...This results in a need to work longer hours and generate greater output...Those who choose to work to support their leisure also must work to support the idle.....

actually you would be peeved if I'd denigrated your Bertie!
Seems you haven't answered my question either!
I promise I won't laugh either!

I love this from The Essay.

How clear and simple does Russell explain 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.

Bertrand Russell was Before His Time

When I was a child, shortly after urban working men had acquired the vote, certain public holidays were established by law, to the great indignation of the upper classes. I remember hearing an old Duchess say: 'What do the poor want with holidays? They ought to work.' People nowadays are less frank, but the sentiment persists, and is the source of much of our economic confusion.

Bertrand Russell