3 ms·

> Intellectual stimulation, or goals that stretch one's abilities, don't have to come from work Just different definitions of "work". I think the sense meant

> Intellectual stimulation, or goals that stretch one's abilities, don't have to come from work Just different definitions of "work". I think the sense meant by those saying people "need work" is "meaningful toil". Something that requires focused effort, and done for some tangible purpose. So cashier, janitor, waiter would fit that broad definition, even though they are not a focus of intellectual life. But there can be other types of work that also fulfill intellectual needs, that might be more fulfilling for many (most? all?) people.

ravitation 5y ago
> Just different definitions of "work". I'm going to disagree on this simplification. There is a common definition of work, e.g. the definition used in the context of work/life balance (i.e. the context of the original article), that is widely used; redefining it to be as broad as you've described is detrimental to the conversation. > Something that requires focused effort, and done for some tangible purpose. Essentially everything can be made to fit this definition, making it, I think, not very useful.
romwell 5y ago
>I think the sense meant by those saying people "need work" is "meaningful toil". The author literally said "We need food. We need shelter." right after saying we need work. I meaningfully toiled over a 3D print of a twisted hexagonal mesh over a tube around a 5,4 torus knot yesterday. Guess how much it helped me pay rent.