“Amusement is a sort of relaxation, and we need relaxation because we cannot work continuously.”
Aristotle, Nicomachean Ethics
“Leisure is the end of toil.”
Aristotle, Politics
Aristotle distinguishes two kinds of downtime: amusement and leisure.
Amusement refers to those activities we do because they are fun, or diverting, or simply relaxing. We play a game, ride a bike, go out on a boat, or watch a movie. We enjoy these activities even while they have no obvious product or utility.
Leisure refers to activities that are more serious: we have a deep conversation, we lie on our backs observing the stars, we listen to great music. We contemplate deeper things, we worship God.
Amusement and leisure share a common element: they are not work. But this similarity points to their fundamental difference. At the end of the day, amusement is less important than work, and it takes its immediate meaning from the fact that it serves work, by refreshing us to go back to our labors.
Leisure on the other hand is served by our work. It provides the ultimate meaning and justification for human work.
Some have made the mistake of seeing work as giving meaning to life. Others have made what is perhaps an even worse mistake: seeing amusement as the point of life.
At the center of Aristotle’s worldview is the conviction that certain human activities contain their meaning within themselves—and thus should give meaning to everything else we do. These he calls leisure activities.
Vacation by definition is time off from work, and a major element will certainly be in amusement. This amusement can be done in such a way that it plays its role in life well, by serving our work, as well as by serving our leisure. But all amusement is not equal. We will want a discerning eye.
Our vacation can also have another element. It is a great opportunity to cultivate those activities that are the point of human life. Such activities are the very essence of ‘having a good time together.’ They will require practice–and special times set apart in which to practice them.
Husband, father, and professor of Philosophy. LifeCraft springs from one conviction: there is an ancient wisdom about how to live the good life in our homes, with our families; and it is worth our time to hearken to it. Let’s rediscover it together. Learn more.
Dr. Cuddeback,
Have you read Josef Pieper’s essay, “Leisure, the Basis of Culture”?
He elaborates on this point quite beautifully. It is a work which changed substantially the way in which I order my occupations, and which was very influential in my understanding of the importance of reserving Sundays for worship and leisure, as well as set evening times for the same.
Thank you for producing such a beautiful blog – it is a highlight of each week to receive a brief reflection like the above.
Ad Jesum Per Mariam,
Andrew
Andrew, Thank you very much for these words. I must say that I too am deeply indebted to Josef Pieper on this, and many other, matters. Another book of his, In Tune with the World: A Theory of Festivity, is a great companion to Leisure the Basis of Culture.
It is inspiring to hear of how your reading on these matters has formed how you and your family live. God bless you all.
Dr. Cuddeback,
I love this short, sweet, clear and helpful post. I have a question. I enjoy work and I enjoy leisure. Amusement, I find difficult because I feel it’s a waste of time. I do like playing games and enjoying movies now and then but I find myself always thinking about it like it’s a bit of a time waster unless it’s with a family member or relative and then it’s an act of charity which justifies it in my mind. I think there’s something wrong with this…can you diagnose me? Pride?
Thank you!
Simone, I know what you mean. Here is a thought. For starters of course we want to be intentional about how we spend our time, realizing that how we spend our time is really at the center of who we are. I think that the distinctions made by Aristotle in this post help us be intentional as we realize that there are different kinds of activities that stand in a hierarchy and have an order among them. I too have struggled with feeling that amusement can be a waste of time (we all have our own struggles!). I think we have to be careful not to be scrupulous. We try to make a reasonable allotment of time, including time for amusement, and then, I think, we should enter into it appreciating it for what it is. You are certainly right that such times can be an act of charity. Perhaps we don’t need too much ‘private’ amusement time if we are getting good amusement time with others. But certainly there is a place for that too. I would be interested in any further thoughts you might have. Thank you for asking.
Thank you so much for responding Dr. Cuddeback. I think because I wasted so much time watching television as a kid I feel guilty when I’m not doing something fruitful with my time now. There are so many books I haven’t read and it’s a shame because there’s something special about reading literature when you’re young that can’t quite be recaptured as an adult.
“Our vacation can also have another element. It is a great opportunity to cultivate those activities that are the point of human life.”
As one who doesn’t spend much time in amusement or leisure (not by choice!), can you elaborate on “those activities that are the point of human life”? Thanks!