I think you mischaracterize Russell’s view; his “doing nothing” looks an awful lot like Graham’s “project of your own:” > In a world where no one is compelled

I think you mischaracterize Russell’s view; his “doing nothing” looks an awful lot like Graham’s “project of your own:” > In a world where no one is compelled to work more than four hours a day every person possessed of scientific curiosity will be able to indulge it, and every painter will be able to paint without starving, however excellent his pictures may be. Young writers will not be obliged to draw attention to themselves by sensational pot-boilers, with a view to acquiring the economic independence needed for monumental works, for which, when the time at last comes, they will have lost the taste and the capacity. Men who in their professional work have become interested in some phase of economics or government will be able to develop their ideas without the academic detachment that makes the work of university economists lacking in reality. Medical men will have time to learn about the progress of medicine. Teachers will not be exasperatedly struggling to teach by routine things which they learned in their youth, which may, in the interval, have been proved to be untrue. He’s not talking about literally sitting still, but about having the freedom to do whatever you want, without needing to justify your actions to anyone. For some people, that’s watching TV all day. For others, that’s actively pursuing a vision.