Freedom, Work, Leisure

When are we most free, at work or at leisure? Is work the same as paid employment? Is leisure the same as idleness? When, in turn, are we unfree at work, and what kinds of unfreedom are we subject to that are peculiar to modern life? Such questions press with particular urgency at a time when both unemployment and overwork are major complaints, and when many people find that work takes up the majority of their day yet is unsatisfying. Readings will include philosophers like Aristotle, Bertrand Russell, G.A. Cohen and Charles Taylor, and writings from the sociology of work. Enrollment limited to 20 juniors and seniors.