-Let's enjoy being human-
point
Let's think about leisure and boredom.
Wealth is born not from consumption, but from waste.
- Experiencing abundance requires training.
Koichiro Kokubun
1974-
philosopher
The author tackles the problem of leisure and boredom from almost every discipline, drawing on his knowledge from philosophy, ethics, archaeology, history, anthropology, economics, political science, sociology, psychology, psychoanalysis, literature, and even biology and medicine.
Humans live by eating bread, but do they truly savor it? The author suggests that we should seek roses at the same time we enjoy bread. He consistently argues that life should be adorned with roses. Here, roses seem to be used as a metaphor for the extravagance that colors life.
Wastefulness is about indulging in luxury, and it means receiving more than one actually needs. The author argues that wastefulness is a condition for wealth, and that in modern times, this wastefulness is being hindered. Modern people are forced consumers who are told what they should buy and what they should do, and the author encourages people to become spendthrifts.
By becoming a spendthrift, people begin to learn to enjoy life. Through reflection, they become aware of and appreciate abundance. And they should enjoy being the kind of person who can indulge in such extravagance.
When people consciously learn to enjoy their leisure time, their lifestyles change, and naturally, their relationships with those around them also change. This, in turn, leads to changes in the industrial structure of society, ultimately resulting in major social reforms and a break from a compulsory consumer society, the author argues.
Unlike classic philosophy books, this book is simple and easy to read. It features names of famous philosophers such as Pascal, Nietzsche, and Heidegger, as well as economists like Veblen Galbraith. It's an introductory philosophy book that can be easily read even when you're bored or have nothing better to do.
Thank you for reading. Goodbye for now. Take care :)
Author: Koichiro Kokubun Paperback: 440p Publisher: Ohta Publishing
First reading completed on 2017/7/30
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