087447
New York
1963
10,5×17,5
meki
127
engleski
Cijena: 12,00 EUR
Leisure: The Basis of Culture (originally published as Muße und Kult in 1948) is a classic work by the German Catholic philosopher Josef Pieper, which explores the crucial role of leisure in the development of human civilization. Pieper argues that leisure is the foundation of all true culture and warns of the dangers of a society that puts work above all else. In his book, Pieper redefines the concept of leisure, contrasting it with the modern understanding of "free time" or mere rest. Leisure is not just the absence of work or a "break" from work. It is an attitude of mind and a state of soul that allows a person to perceive the reality of the world beyond its utilitarian function. Pieper criticizes the modern world of "total labor" in which human value is measured solely by social utility and work performance. In such a system, man becomes a mere "functionary" in the machine of production. The author emphasizes that leisure is historically associated with worship. Without silence and contemplation, which are the essence of leisure, culture loses its spiritual foundation and turns into mere entertainment. Pieper connects the inability to have leisure with the concept of acedia—the restlessness and despair that arise from a person's disagreement with his own existence. Paradoxically, workaholism may be a manifestation of this very spiritual hopelessness. The book also features the author's essay The Philosophical Act, in which the author explores the nature of philosophy as an activity that transcends the working world. Translated by Alexander Dru. Introduction by T. S. Eliot.
