Leisure as a Philosophical Act
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Keywords | Nøgleord

leisure, play, thinking, acting, being, philosophical act

Citation/Eksport

Holba, Annette M. 2015. “Leisure As a Philosophical Act: Thinking, Acting, and Being”. Academic Quarter | Akademisk Kvarter, nr. 11 (oktober):10-23. https://doi.org/10.5278/ojs.academicquarter.v0i11.2748.

Abstract | Abstract

Aristotle argued leisure was the first principle of all action; Thomas Hobbes suggested it was the mother of philosophy. Today leisure is more often associated with rest, relaxation, or idleness. These associations have contributed to a misunderstanding and lack of leisure. In our changing technological environment, leisure is overshadowed by a cult of speed where immediacy has replaced thoughtfulness and intentionality which poses communicative challenges to the human capacities of thinking, acting, and being. This essay suggests that reengaging leisure as a philosophical act, thus returning to its classical roots, provides recuperative possibilities for these challenges. Beginning with situating leisure as a philosophical act, then identifying the challenges that confront leisure, I demonstrate how leisure enables the necessary cultivation of thinking, acting, and being which provides recuperation of those human capacities even within our technological environment.

https://doi.org/10.5278/ojs.academicquarter.v0i11.2748
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