The Relevance of Work

The only primary human needs are nourishment, clothing & shelter. The other needs can be relegated as secondary. Work also is a secondary need used to obtain the primary needs. Even though employment & money are viewed as synonymous, they are not. One can have money without employment, for example by inheriting it. Similarly employment need not be economically productive, for example philanthropic activities or activities undertaken for pure enjoyment.

Such being the case, viewing work as the "sine qua non" of human existence is a myopic vision & glorification of it is uncalled for. Lord Bertrand Russel, mathematician & philosopher wrote that a four hour workday is sufficient to take care of human needs, the rest of the day being utilised for really human creative activities. 

Josef Pieper, a 20th century philosopher, appalled at the workaholism of post-war Germany, with consequent de-humanisation, wrote in his influential book "Leisure, the basis of Culture" that only Culture redeems humans from their animal propensities & it is impossible without Leisure, i.e., Cessation from work, to engage in cultural activities including religious worship. 

More recently Dr.Zena Hitz, in her "Lost in Thought - The Hidden Pleasures of an Intellectual Life" wrote how even people in menial professions, found meaning & fulfilment in their dreary lives by entering the magnificent world of books in their free time.

The (Vegetarian Socialist) Playwright George Bernard Shaw, in his "The Intelligent Woman's Guide to Socialism, Capitalism, Sovietism & Fascism" writes how greedy, inhuman employers wore out nine generations of human labour in one generation by overworking them to premature death.

His Fabian Society friend, William Morris, the celebrated designer, also wrote a novel "News from Nowhere" where work is undertaken in a spirit of joy, without coercion about the number of hours put in.

The visionary Robert Owen (1771-1858), though a (Welsh) Industrialist, appalled at the overworking of people in post-Industrial England, pioneered the 8 hour work day, the other 8 hours for recreation & 8 hours for sleep. He was the real "Compassionate Capitalist".

Apart from right to Life & Liberty, basic human rights include right to participate in active sports & preferred cultural activities & time to pursue them daily. This is also mandated by the International Labour Organisation by regulating that the standard working day shall not exceed 8 hours.

It is sad to see the progressive visionary ideas espoused above & even mandated by International Law, being violated with impunity & flaunted with pride & even as an exhibition of patriotism, whereas the ugly truth is that we are relapsing into a previous era of inhumanity, exploitation & barbarity.

It is small wonder that Europe (specially the Scandinavian countries) having a work-week of 35-40 hours, has the happiest people in the world.