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Author's lens is of work vs. rest, and sure enough, robots will always beat humans at work. Except that not all work is robotic. Sure, profits can be found in t

Author's lens is of work vs. rest, and sure enough, robots will always beat humans at work. Except that not all work is robotic. Sure, profits can be found in the rote optimization of process until the final result is made available through mass production for an affordable price; such optimization for process trends towards robotic optimization. But profit can also be found in the boutique, the artisan; a focus on quality and all other factors be damned, where the labor of love is self-inspiring and self-rejuvenating. Arguably, one's aim early in life should be to find for oneself labor that is so characterized - boutique, internally motivated, and capable of ekeing out a profit.

chromoblob 3y ago
I'm sure that quality will be modeled mathematically and optimized for as well
badpun 3y ago
> Arguably, one's aim early in life should be to find for oneself labor that is so characterized - boutique, internally motivated, and capable of ekeing out a profit. This is a very modern and American take on work. Through history, work was despised and avoided whenever possible. Under that framework, the goal of the early life would be to find out a line of work which allows you to work as little as possible. Which is basically the goal of the FIRE movement.
- ppsreejith 3y ago
  Excluding the profit motive, different cultures had different ideals about work and not all despised/avoided work. One interpretation from the Gita is to find purposeful labor that is motivated by our inner divinity. https://www.goodreads.com/quotes/1394795-you-have-the-right-to-work-but-for-the-work-s https://www.goodreads.com/quotes/1394795-you-have-the-right-... > You have the right to work, but for the work's sake only. You have no right to the fruits of work. Desire for the fruits of work must never be your motive in working. Never give way to laziness, either. > Perform every action with you heart fixed on the Supreme Lord. Renounce attachment to the fruits. Be even-tempered in success and failure: for it is this evenness of temper which is meant by yoga. > Work done with anxiety about results is far inferior to work done without such anxiety, in the calm of self-surrender. Seek refuge in the knowledge of Brahma. They who work selfishly for results are miserable.
  - badpun 3y ago
    What I was meaning to say was, "throught western history". I don't know enough to make an universal claim. In Europe, though, aristocracy was at the top of society and they thought work was a domain of slaves. They thought highly of fighting in wars, but otherwise prefered a life of leisure.

chromoblob 3y ago

I'm sure that quality will be modeled mathematically and optimized for as well

badpun 3y ago

> Arguably, one's aim early in life should be to find for oneself labor that is so characterized - boutique, internally motivated, and capable of ekeing out a profit. This is a very modern and American take on work. Through history, work was despised and avoided whenever possible. Under that framework, the goal of the early life would be to find out a line of work which allows you to work as little as possible. Which is basically the goal of the FIRE movement.

ppsreejith 3y ago
Excluding the profit motive, different cultures had different ideals about work and not all despised/avoided work. One interpretation from the Gita is to find purposeful labor that is motivated by our inner divinity. https://www.goodreads.com/quotes/1394795-you-have-the-right-to-work-but-for-the-work-s https://www.goodreads.com/quotes/1394795-you-have-the-right-... > You have the right to work, but for the work's sake only. You have no right to the fruits of work. Desire for the fruits of work must never be your motive in working. Never give way to laziness, either. > Perform every action with you heart fixed on the Supreme Lord. Renounce attachment to the fruits. Be even-tempered in success and failure: for it is this evenness of temper which is meant by yoga. > Work done with anxiety about results is far inferior to work done without such anxiety, in the calm of self-surrender. Seek refuge in the knowledge of Brahma. They who work selfishly for results are miserable.
- badpun 3y ago
  What I was meaning to say was, "throught western history". I don't know enough to make an universal claim. In Europe, though, aristocracy was at the top of society and they thought work was a domain of slaves. They thought highly of fighting in wars, but otherwise prefered a life of leisure.