14. Robert Louis Stevenson on Idleness from Unpacking Ideas

14. Robert Louis Stevenson on Idleness

1 hour 29 minutes Posted Feb 21, 2022 at 3:00 pm.

Introduction 

Does idleness make us grow weary?

Stevenson’s definition of Idleness

how different generations view idleness

how one’s happiness effects other people

better to be happy and poor than miserable and industrious 

the resentment workers feel towards idlers

rethinking priorities 

the story of Alexander the Great and Diogenes 

the resentment unrecognized workers feel

equating one’s self worth with one’s economic value

spending time being idle in youth

Experiential learning vs. book learning

books are a bloodless substitute for life

leaving yourself space for having your own ideas 

all work and no play is soul crushing

assessing how much time we spend on certain tasks

your work doesn’t matter as much as you think it does

the “great man” theory of history

why sacrificing your youth for work is a bad idea

fame and money doesn’t make you happy

sensitivity to talking about work

wrapping up/outro

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Show notes

In this episode we unpack Scottish Novelist Robert Louis Stevenson's essay "An Apology for Idlers" from 1877.

The essay explores…

-Why we should spend a good deal of time being idle in our youth

-Why we have a moral duty to be happy

-Why books aren't all they're cracked up to be

Links to Reading and Articles mentioned

"An Apology to Idlers" by Robert Louis Stevenson

"Vagabonding" by Rolf Potts

**note** reading is not required to enjoy the episode!

Host: Zach Stehura UnpackingIdeas.com

Guest: Alex Berner Pocket Bard (Interactive music app for gamers and tabletop RPG's like D&D)

Theme Music: Polyenso listen here

Timestamps