Rosneathian
1471
That's a generous interpretation. Thanks. My own experience is that purpose is not enough.
More important than purpose - by far - is consequence, which is what Russell alludes to in the passage above.
We no longer live in a world of ambition or intentions. We live in a world of consequences.
It's human to make light of the negative consequences of our work. No-one likes to be told - impartially - that what we have chosen to do for a living and the way we do it is ineffectual or even openly damaging.
The narratives we build around ourselves - as individuals or as organisations - are invariably positive and affirming. They are by definition self-serving and to such an extent that they can and do contradict actual performance. A lot of executives and employees know this privately but would prefer to keep mum. It's the same across different work cultures, sectors and organisational environments: from Brazil to Zambia to Indonesia; from Canada to Germany to Kazakhstan.
It's why so many individuals and organisations are deeply uncomfortable with independent evaluation of their work, and why bona fide institutional learning ends up becoming so politicised. Having worked in the private/corporate sector, for national public institutions and international organisations, for the non-profit sector, spread across five continents - there are striking similarities across the lines. Independent evaluations routinely points to poor conception, design, implementation, reporting and accountability. It's the same for internal performance areas such as workforce planning to outward-facing operations. Inertia and conservatism always trump foresight and transformation. The reality gap between what's written on the tin and what actually comes to pass is enormous.
Russell wasn't alone or even the first to think about this. 150 years earlier Blaise Pascal made remarks to the effect of the following: "the sum of the world's ills would be greatly diminished if more people learnt to sit quietly in a room and did nothing." Three decades after first reading this stuff, I agree.
It's why so many individuals and organisations are deeply uncomfortable with independent evaluation of their work, and why bona fide institutional learning ends up becoming so politicised. Having worked in the private/corporate sector, for national public institutions and international organisations, for the non-profit sector, spread across five continents - there are striking similarities across the lines. Independent evaluations routinely points to poor conception, design, implementation, reporting and accountability. It's the same for internal performance areas such as workforce planning to outward-facing operations. Inertia and conservatism always trump foresight and transformation. The reality gap between what's written on the tin and what actually comes to pass is enormous.
I am of course generalising here, and I'm aware that I'm not providing specific examples to illustrate my points. But I draw these conclusions based on decades of involvement and observation out of which pattern behaviour becomes quite apparent.
Russell wasn't alone or even the first to think about this. 150 years earlier Blaise Pascal made remarks to the effect of the following: "the sum of the world's ills would be greatly diminished if more people learnt to sit quietly in a room and did nothing." Three decades after first reading this stuff, I agree.
In Praise of Idleness
“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 organised diminution of work.” - In Praise of Idleness by Bertr...
The belief in the virtuousness of work is a deep one, hard to shake free of
Example: I'm immediately inclined to deny, to you, that you are in fact inclined to idleness, and insist, rather, that your dissatisfaction is with *some forms* of work, that this is shown by your sustained efforts in your 'withdrawing', etc. etc. But why...
The point of work is purpose.
Whether one derives purpose from work as defined by Western or industrialised societies or any other activity, the critical factor I believe is purpose. You have obviously found what gives your life a sense of purpose. May it be long and healthy.
That's a generous interpretation. Thanks. My own experience is that purpose is not enough.
More important than purpose - by far - is consequence, which is what Russell alludes to in the passage above. We no longer live in a world of ambition or intentions. We live in a world of consequences. It's human to make light of the negative consequences...
I have no disagreement with Pascal.
Many strive for consequence and fail. Others change the course of history without ever knowing. The moral evaluation of consequence is of course subjective and many go to the grave believing in the goodness of their actions. I merely refer to that which m...
For me idleness soon turns into boredom.
I'm feel most content AFTER a period of activity, exertion or creation of something. And part of the contentment comes from the 'deserving' of the downtime. Enjoy your beautiful vistas and idle activities.
Thanks for a typically thought-provoking post, made even more meaningful by the fact that, here, we rarely have the pleasure to read you on topics other than watches...
I admire talents or even interests that are entirely foreign to me....your aspiration to "idleness" or "repose" (I almost literally jump around 24/7 nonstop, and my brain --- at least for the time being --- tries to go even faster); your credible way of d...
I’m with you on idleness, I read this poem by an unknown author a few years ago and haven’t worked a day since.
We squander health in search of wealth; We scheme and toil and save; Then squander wealth in search of health, But only find a grave. We live, and boast of what we own; We die, and only get a stone.
Beautiful pictures!
I'm reminded of the protagonist in Iris Murdoch's The Sea, The Sea. Like you, he moved to remote Scotland after retiring as a famous theatre director. There, he gets embroiled in various adventures, both real and metaphysical. In the end, he realises his ...
That's quite a story. The idea of adventure appeals, of course, as do fruitful ruminations. What more could one wish for?
... and thank you for pointing out Murdoch's novel. I'm now going to dig it up. With best regards.
Admiring your position
I am also not convinced by the cult of "work" or "hustle" culture. Who really benefits when we work ourselves to the bone?
Obviously I agree and you know my answer already.
I should clarify that by doing nothing I don’t mean that I intend to be idle. What I should have said is that I don’t think that work is in my best interests, and that I’ve had enough of it. Will spend time doing the things I actually enjoy, and at a pace...
Thought-provoking posts
Well illustrated with beautiful photos. I am currently travelling to attend one of my sons graduation and off to another continent to see how our older son is doing with his life and his studies. Seen the hatchlings and this discussion brought back a quot...
Oh no, not "nothing" rather you will be busy stopping leaks, patching plaster, things like that ...
My house is only as old as I am, and it's falling apart in the gentle San Diego seaside climate (mild weather encouraging mold and mildew, constant salt air breeze corroding everything in sight, etc.) I retired 10 years ago after a career spanning 45 year...
