A Philosophy of Leisure

Paper Summary:

This paper discusses and explains the thoughts about leisure of many great philosophers, including Aristotle, Jeremy Bentham, and Immanuel Kant. The writer then discusses his own personal philosophy of leisure and concludes that, so long as pleasure does not impinge upon the lives and productivity of native inhabitants, or the pleasures of others, varied quests in the pursuit of leisure are all honorable.

From the Paper:

"A philosopher such as Aristotle might find the more mentally industrious forms of leisure more beneficial. Watching television and eating foods that please the palate but do not nourish the body may provide pleasure, but do not facilitate happiness. For Aristotle, "the happiest life, the greatest human good, is the fulfillment of the philosopher" is a philosophical life of seeking happiness, but not necessarily a life of seeking or enjoying pleasure. Happiness is achieved through contemplation, but not a contemplation done out of compulsion."

Sample of Sources Used:

• "A Defense of Rule-Based Ethics." NYU Philosophy Homepage. Retrieved 29 May 2007 at http://homepages.nyu.edu/~rpm213/philosophy.html
• McLean, Donald & Yoder, Daniel. (2005). Issues in Recreation and Leisure-- Ethical Decision Making. New York: Human Kinetics Publishers.
• Nussbaum, Martha C. (22 March 2004). "Mill between Aristotle & Bentham."Daedalus, 133 (2). (pp. 60-68. Retrieved 29 May 2007 at http://www.utilitarian.net/jsmill/about/20040322.htm
• Ziniewicz, Gordon L. 1996 "Aristotle: Nichomachean Ethics." Retrieved 29 May 2007 at http://www.fred.net/tzaka/aristot2.html

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