Adam and Eve in paradise would eventually get bored

Adam and Eve in paradise would eventually get bored. "They would have nothing of other installed side by side, that sing Arcadian songs and contemplate the beauty of nature..." "Everyone should be: it is not enough to fill a life. Still less to develop its capabilities. Fortunately, the work came! Chased out of Eden, to earn his bread in the sweat of his brow, humans, through the hard work, beyond the "torments of boredom", and especially to discovers himself, as, by deploying its opportunities.

Such is the design that Kant's work, is in its "statement of pedagogy" (1780). The philosopher has paved the way for a long series of speeches to the glory of the virtues of the work of its trainer. Right-minded bourgeoisie of the 19th century to the heroes of Stalinist socialism, it has ceased to repeat that all human potentialities to update in the laborious activity. It is working, and only thus, the individual becomes himself. It is the same for the group. In fact, for all humanity.

Serious error in other eyes, as these praise agreed. In fact, it should support exactly the opposite: in the daily work, the community to standardize, the individual consumes its creative possibilities. Formatted by technicians corporations, labour devours our forces burned all our energies, flowing life even with constraints and performance pressure. Nietzsche, this time, is critical. Not awaken or flourish, work, according to him, enjoins, dumbs, enslaves. It is "the best fonts", wrote in "Lights", "because it consumes an extraordinary amount of nerve force and from reflection, meditation, dreams, worries, love and hatred". This verdict without appeal has created, similarly, an abundant posterity.

Who is right Ultimately, is the work which makes us more human, or less human Which develops and blossoms us, or which shriveled and we worsen Asked in return: in fact, is this a relevant query Because think recession, jobs disappear by the millions, entire populations by force, cease to work. In this emergency, should really follow the philosophers on a seemingly strong ground from our actual concerns

The true debate seems to be quite otherwise. In daily life, "work" means all "resources" means to shelter, feed, educate its children, or trip. "Share the work": simply fewer resources, but to ensure the little that remains. To be "without work", while it was or that it is seeking: no more what live, except in countries with strong social protection. Will be found too fast! that there is a gap between the concerns of philosophers and social realities. On the one hand, the major considerations on human activity, on the other, the data of life concrete. Hollow General against stubborn facts, philosophy versus economy

This is not so simple! Because the current difficulties should not lose sight of long-term phenomena. Since multiple generations, on the planet, the use of machines grows and diversifies, productivity, human working time decreases, free time becomes more important. No doubts radically this global process, already several times that secular. In all likelihood, free time will therefore continue to increase.

Then, can avoid to ask by what way, exactly, the human becomes itself: is it in idleness the free creation the time-consuming tasks return square They are are removed easily philosophers. However, the task of tomorrow will not resume their eternal debate, but to confront the policies of employment.