“It is clear then that there are branches of learning and education that we must study merely with a view to leisure spent in intellectual activity, and these are to be valued for their own sake.”
“And therefore our fathers admitted music into education…”
Aristotle, Politics
Perhaps we are not yet really capable of leisure. This is a bracing thought, but one worth considering. Josef Pieper once wondered what it takes to make people capable of having a truly good time.
Surely we, and those we love, can become more capable of leisure. Since true leisure is in activities valued for their own sake, there are also certain kinds of learning valued for their own sake. Traditionally a liberal education was a key part of such learning.
True leisure comes from dispositions deep within us, the fruit of disciplined cultivation. To cultivate this ability is a thrilling possibility, for young and old alike. For Plato and Aristotle this was a central focus of ‘education’—that lifelong process of growing in the ability to live a human life.
Other than seeking out formal liberal education, or ‘going back’ to the one we had, what then might we do to educate ourselves and others for leisure? Here are three suggestions:
1. Study, or at least read, great texts and authors. This arouses a sense of wonder and brings to the forefront of our consciousness the great issues of life. This then gives more color and depth to all we do.
2. Listen to great music. Why ‘our fathers admitted music into education’ for the sake of leisure is a great question. But we don’t really need to know why. They were convinced of the power of great music to expand our soul and deepen our powers of perception. How can we go wrong in giving it a try? Bach, Haydn, and Mozart are always in order.
3. Spend reflective time observing and enjoying nature. There is always more therein than we have yet noticed. Learning to identify species is a great exercise. Just looking and wondering at what things exist and how they exist deepens our insight and wonder. Intentional appreciation will draw us to savor ever more the deeper aspects of creation and also of human life.
In these ways and others we can make strides, even if small ones, toward being more able to enjoy a truly good time, both alone and with others.
This is the fourth and last in a series on leisure.
Leisure Mini-Series
I. The Leisure Question: A Series
II. The Difference Between Leisure and Amusement
III: Fostering Leisure
IV: An Amazing Connection: Education and Leisure
Aristotle (384-322 B.C.), student of Plato, tutor of Alexander the Great, has been considered by many to be the greatest ancient philosopher. The Politics is one of his major ethical works.
Image: Matthias Stom (1600-1652), Italy, A Young Man Reading by Candlelight
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.
As always I enjoy reading your essays. (I never watch the video)
I struggle with leisure. Seems like I always have some pressing chore that must be done. Time to reflect is scarce.
I will throw out one on item #3. I’m always looking at and marveling at Nature.
My mother was better at it than I am. She was always listening to bird calls to identify what she couldn’t see. She knew the names of most wild flowers.
I know many things about plants that I work with but then there is a huge group called WEEDS. Usually referred to as “that nasty weed with the _______.” Could be thorns, or bad smell, or little white flowers or some other characteristic.
Now I have an app on my phone called Picture This. I snap a picture of any plant and it identifies it in seconds. I find it at least 90% accurate. On the one hand it makes me feel like a dinosaur because people no longer need me to identify plants. On the other hand, I am learning the true names of many weeds I have trampled, burned, mowed, and sprayed for years.
Dick, The only things I see in common between you and a dinosaur are that your life is exciting, and that you were here when most of the rest of us weren’t. 🙂 Keep on identifying those plants for people. If nothing else they see the joy you have in your knowledge.
I think that people like you and me who find it hard to set aside special time for reflection can also look for ways to bring a reflective spirit into our activities. Something tells me that’s what you’re doing. Thanks again.
John, If i weren’t trying to sneak in a reflective moment here and there I would not bother reading your essays.
Thanks for all you do.
Thank you so much, John, for these reflections! We have been immersed in care, concern, and prayer for Tony’s dad, Paul, who has had a recurrence of non hodgkins lymphoma. Imagine my smile when a dear priest friend sent me a forward of last week’s reflection on leisure from you! Wonderful!
We have been praying for decades, and especially now, for Paul’s return to the sacraments (and please join us!)….but what occurs to me thanks to this latest post is that we are all so grateful for the little things we are enjoying with Paul “for their own sakes.” His being at home…his smile…his gentle perseverance in gratitude through this period of suffering….
Thanks so much, John, for your faithfulness in teaching us through your blog! You and your family’s intentions, and those of your readers, are included in a triple novena going on now, and on St Padre Pio’s feast last Monday, you were all prayed for at Padre Pio’s relics in Rome!
You can see photos and even join in the novena as we pray now for roses from St Therese, at suzieandres.com/blog
With our love and gratitude,
Suzie and Tony
Dear Suzie and Tony,
Thank you so much for sharing this! I will certainly join you in prayer, and am very grateful for yours.
How true that there is so much to rejoice in for its own sake in our relationships with our loved ones! May you and the whole family find peace, healing, and many blessings in these difficult days.
With my love and gratitude.
Dr.Cuddeback, Will you kindly recommend a great text to read — for a stay at home mother who does not have a liberal arts education, more than 15-minutes to read at a time, and whose ability to focus and pay attention (or reflect!) has greatly diminished, or perhaps, never was well established! Thank you in advance!
Dear Jan, This is a great question. I’m going to throw out a few ideas here. May I just ask one thing? Will you please kindly let me know, if you have a chance to read any, how you found them? That way I might be better able to help the next person who asks. I’m going to give an eclectic list; I recommend that you simply follow your inspiration.
St. Thomas Aquinas: His commentaries on: The commandments, The Lord’s Prayer, The Apostle’s Creed. These are available in a book called The Aquinas Catechism from Sophia Press.
St. Aelred, Spiritual Friendship (a classic medieval text on friendship)
Josef Pieper, Leisure the Basis of Culture (this is pretty dense, but can be taken slowly; a modern classic)
G.K Chesterton, St. Thomas Aquinas: The Dumb Ox (an eccentric and witty introduction to St.Thomas Aquinas)