What Work is For
Wed, Jan 17
In this class, our main focus will be trying to figure out how the "Philosophy of Work" (in general) can help you shape your own philosophy of work. In order to do this, we've got to ask some fundamental questions about the nature and purpose of work, the human person, and the relationship between these two. In class, our central focus will be what role work plays in the life of someone who is flourishing, or achieving characteristic excellences associated with human life.
Read This:
Read these instructions on how to access and engage with course readings via Perusall.
Access via Perusall:
- Reading 1: Gary Gutting, "What is Work Really For?" (New York Times)
- Reading 2: Raymond Geuss, "A Philosopher Looks at Work" Ch. 1
Do This:
1. Click around this course website, familiarizing yourself with the "Course Calendar" and the "Policies & Assignments" pages.
2. Make sure you can access our course's homepage on "Canvas," and the reading I've put on "Perusall" via that page.
3. After completing the readings for today, consider the following questions (which we will talk about in class):
- We are looking for a good answer to the question "What is the purpose or function of human life?" We will consider several answers in the context of this course, but how would you answer this question on day one?
- How would you answer the questions Gutting raises in his essay:
- Is work good or bad?
- What is the purpose of work?
- How should we define "leisure"?
And: - How should we think about the relationship between economic value and "true" value in the context of our lives?