Best Read [Josef Pieper] ↠ Leisure: The Basis Of Culture || [Fantasy Book] PDF ↠

By Josef Pieper | Comments: ( 718 ) | Date: ( Dec 08, 2019 )

One of the most important philosophy titles published in the twentieth century, Josef Pieper s Leisure, the Basis of Culture is significant, even crucial, today than it was when it first appeared fifty years ago.Pieper shows that the Greeks understood and valued leisure, as did the medieval Europeans He points out that religion can be born only in leisure a lOne of the most important philosophy titles published in the twentieth century, Josef Pieper s Leisure, the Basis of Culture is significant, even crucial, today than it was when it first appeared fifty years ago.Pieper shows that the Greeks understood and valued leisure, as did the medieval Europeans He points out that religion can be born only in leisure a leisure that allows time for the contemplation of the nature of God Leisure has been, and always will be, the first foundation of any culture.He maintains that our bourgeois world of total labor has vanquished leisure, and issues a startling warning Unless we regain the art of silence and insight, the ability for nonactivity, unless we substitute true leisure for our hectic amusements, we will destroy our culture and ourselves.These astonishing essays contradict all our pragmatic and puritanical conceptions about labor and leisure Josef Pieper demolishes the twentieth century cult of work as he predicts its destructive consequences.

  • Title: Leisure: The Basis Of Culture
  • Author: Josef Pieper
  • ISBN: 9781890318352
  • Page: 444
  • Format: Paperback

About Author:

Josef Pieper

Josef Pieper was professor of philosophical anthropology at the University of M nster Germany he was a member of several academies and received numerous awards and distinctions, among them the International Balzan Prize for outstanding achievements in the field of humanities.Pieper is among the most widely read philosophers of the 20th century The main focus of his thought is the overcoming of cultural forms of secular totalitarianism and of its philosophical foundations through a rehabilitation of the Christian concept of man that is related to experience and action Plato and Thomas Aquinas in particular were the inspiring sources of a constructive criticism of contemporary culture.

Comments Leisure: The Basis Of Culture

  • Mia

    "Pieper's message to us is plain. The American democracy is not blissfully immune to the Western blight; we have in fact done our part in generating the totalitarian epidemic. The idolatry of the machine, the worship of mindless know-how, the infantile cult of youth and the common man--all this points to our peculiar leadership in the drift toward the slave society. "--from the 1952 NYT Book Review A lovely, contrarian work of philosophy. Pieper watches how Socrates' prerequisite for philosophy [...]

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  • Fr. Peter Mottola

    The definitive analysis, and rebuke, of our society's obsession with productivity. Pieper explains why the inability to enjoy leisure is also closely related to sloth and despair. "One can only be bored if the spiritual power to be leisurely has been lost." Leisure is rooted in wonder, and therefore brings us a lasting joy that we cannot find in the mere temporary cessation of work ("vacation"). Pieper shows the perverse effects of thinking that something is better simply because it is harder, a [...]

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  • David Withun

    This book, which actually consists of two essays, is very short; I read the entire thing in only three sittings and probably could have read it in less time if I had not gone back and re-read several portions of it. It is, at the same time, one of the best books I have ever read and one of the greatest defenses of and introductions to philosophizing that I have yet come across. Pieper offers a wealth of insight into the subjects he takes up, focusing especially on the necessity of authentic leis [...]

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  • Kirk Lowery

    This book is actually two monographs. The first, from which the book's title is taken, laments the distinction made in modern (circa 1947 post-war Germany) between work that is "useful" and philosophy which is "useless". Pieper argues that the distinction is false: philosophizing (the subject of the next essay) is an essential part of human nature. Leisure is not snowboarding in the Rockies or yachting in the Caribbean. It is taking the time to contemplate Things As They Are. So what is philosop [...]

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  • Vincent

    dense, loquacious, pragmaticThe Good: contains some real gems; socially relevant themeThe Bad: dense philosophical writing;Pieper's book, Leisure:The Basis of Culture is about work and play, labor and leisure, the ultimate point/counter-point of our lives. The initial attraction of the book is based on the assumption that the concept of leisure can be discussed lucidly and without the erudite language that typically accompanies philosophical writings. This is a misconception, as the work could b [...]

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  • Matt Bianco

    What an astounding little book, my first introduction to Josef Pieper, other than him being footnoted in other books I've read. The book, if you aren't familiar with it, is essentially two essays made up of a series of lectures and papers Pieper wrote. The first, "Leisure: The Basis of Culture" and the second, "The Philosophical Act" are both excellent and worthy reads. The two were written near to one another in time, so their themes play right into one another.This is an important book to read [...]

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  • Scott

    A wonderful little book.

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  • Craig Barner

    The background of "Leisure: The Basis on Culture" is almost as interesting as the book itself. It was published two years after World War II by Josef Pieper, a German philosopher. Germany had worked itself--and most of Europe, as well as a good portion of the rest of the globe--to death under a tyrannical regime. This book represents Germany and most of western society rejecting the mindless slavery of work for a true understanding of prosperity.Pieper's strongest insight is that leisure is an a [...]

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  • Bob Nichols

    The book is an excellent description of a modern-day Platonic perspective. The book has two essays (and an introduction by T.S. Eliot). In the first essay, “Leisure: The Basis of Culture,” Pieper distinguishes between the common man and the man of leisure. The former is the one who works, who does the menial things, who focuses on the practical to satisfy human need. The latter is free of all of this, and this is the meaning of “leisure.” But it is not a piddling leisure. Leisure allows [...]

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  • David

    I've been interested in studying a Christian perspective on leisure, which led me to this and one other book (there was actually a third book by Jurgen Moltmann titled A Theology of Play but it is out of print and my budget does not allow purchasing almost $100 books!). Pieper mostly focuses on philosophy as leisure, though many of his conclusions could be generalized to apply to other types of leisure such as cooking, hiking, board games and really anything that is not work. They key for Pieper [...]

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  • Dana

    Piper explains how leisure is different from work. Leisure is not idleness, but a ceasing from work for productivity's sake in order to "affirm the universe" or to celebrate life. He pulls from Aristotle who says that leisure is the purpose of life and what makes life worth living. The author didn't emphasize this idea with the Christian tradition of the Sabbath (although the author is Christian), but the book helped me understand the purpose of the Sabbath. The second half is an essay on philos [...]

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  • Jessica

    This little book is mind-blowing. Pieper makes a case for leisure--the liberal arts--as an integral aspect of humanity. What he says is largely counter-culture, and has me thinking of all sorts of ways "work," which dominates American value sets especially, is soul-sucking and counter-productive to reaching our full potential. His solution, however, was not what I was expecting and still has me thinking!

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  • Tam Nguyen

    I quite disappointed at the end of this book when he mentioned that Christian philosophy is the way to attain truth. It is not persuasive since he hadn't given an account of Christian theology in relation with philosophy in general. But the rest of this book is excellent. What I want to ask him is while Philosophy is about doubt and wonder, science also concerns about wonder and questioning. If they are very similar in the sense of questioning, then what are the distinctions between them?

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  • David Mosley

    Previously Read:2013 (11-16 September)2014 (23-28 December)2016 (31 August-6 September)

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  • Michelle

    I have never seen so much dense information packed in 176 pages! I picked up this thin book thinking I would finish it with a little enlightenment on embracing a more leisurely lifestyle (more "down" time for pursuits of enjoyment and learning). What I found was an incredibly thoughtful discussion (2 essays) on leisure as an act of intellectual thought and on philosophy as a thought that not only needs but also requires us to embrace our theology in the process of philosophizing. I spent over a [...]

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  • Kyle

    This edition of Pieper's work includes both Leisure: The Basis of Culture and The Philosophical Act. These two collections of essays, although not written as a single book, nonetheless read well in a single volume as they have a good deal of overlap in theme and topic. Pieper's basic premise is that the basis for culture is contemplation. One of the more direct statements of this thesis is his quotation of Aquinas when he writes "It is necessary for the perfection of human society that there sho [...]

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  • Feliks

    Surprisingly slim read. Written in an engaging but rather 'lightweight' manner. Although the pages do contain very easy-to-track footnotes and there is an index, a bibliography, and an afterword (everything properly done); it takes the author a long while before he makes cogent points. There's a lot of convenient 'cherry-picking' from the statements of great men. Once the argument begins in earnest (approximately halfway through) it's thoughtful enough. He makes decent sense. I wound up enjoying [...]

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  • Theresa Kenney

    This book is an ever-fresh reminder of what human beings are really made for in our noise-hungry age. Pieper is concise, clear, and profound. An unforgettable book.

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  • Grizol

    For the Greeks, as will as the Romans, there was no word for work, but instead it was represented by a word which signified the negation of labor: i.e 'not labor'.Note that there was a difference, historically, between 'servile' and 'liberal' arts. As such, the modern concept of 'intellectual worker' resulted in the line being blurred between the two, where they are both 'servile' now in function, and merely differ by degree.For Kant, the knowledge is born not form mere perception, but rather th [...]

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  • Heather

    Pieper offers many dazzling insights and important truths. Doubtless this is the sort of book that demands multiple readings to fully divulge its secrets. I took notes and reread portions as I went, and I still felt utterly overwhelmed at points--aware that I was seeing only a portion of what he intended to communicate. The defects are not in the book itself, though, but rather in me as a reader. What is revelatory is the view of leisure (both passive and active reflection) as integral to humani [...]

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  • Robert Tessmer

    This book was a pleasant surprise. It is actually two lectures and I enjoyed both. It also included an introduction by T. S. Eliot.ignatius/Products/LBC-The web link provides the following review:One of the most important philosophy titles published in the twentieth century, Josef Pieper’s Leisure, the Basis of Culture is more significant, even more crucial, today than it was when it first appeared more than fifty years ago. This edition also includes his work "The Philosophical Act."Leisure i [...]

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  • Ann

    I love reading Josef Pieper his writings stir up a desire for the joy of truth. Leisure the Basis of Culture actually contains two of Pieper's essays, Leisure the Basis of Culture and The Philosophical Act. In both essays, Pieper calls us out of the strain and tension and perpetual activity of the world of work, challenging the idea that man is most useful and most valuable when he is working. He challenges the idea that man must mistrust everything that was acquired without great trouble and e [...]

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  • Matthew

    This "book" is essentially 2 essays. The first is set to define "leisure" and differentiate it from idleness as well as to separate utilitarian and "useless" (philosophy) intellectual work. These are fascinating ideas that are well fleshed out in ways that I've never heard talked about previously.The 2nd essay answers questions of "what is philosophy?" and "what is philosophizing?" as well as discussing the value of each. Briefly, Pieper talks about philosophizing as being in a state of wonder, [...]

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  • Axolotl

    I added it to my "want" list, it looks so interesting & "nice", then found it immediately a used bookstoreI'd only been in twice.The convenience of it seemed almost dreamlike,a mystery for the ages, I didn't think I'd find this tome in a shop for ages.--I was really quite impressed. Will read it soon, though deep down I've a feeling it'll leave me quite depressed.

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  • Jacob

    Here are some good things about this sort of philosophical writing: brief; memorably phrased; learned but not esoteric; straightforward in its assumptions; rooted in Plato; able to make me reconsider things of which I am mistrustful (in this instance, scholasticism). Also, it has an introduction by T. S. Eliot.

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  • Angie Libert

    An excellent comparison between work/leisure and servile/liberal education. I have explored the topic of servile/liberal education, but looking at it from the perspective of leisure was really interesting. I also appreciated that the author fully explained what leisure is, it is not recreation like most modern people would think. It is as the author says essential to being a whole human. :)

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  • Tricia Oaks

    Amazing philosophical treatment of leisure/feasting/rest. Meaty and so good that I want to return to it again later

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  • Kyle

    What an interesting read, a keeper, a book to be re-read again and again. Pieper wrote this book right after the close of World War II, in Germany, as it laid in ruins and was rebuilding. A nation, deep in building a new culture, a new nation, a new government, and new buildings. A nation devastated and in ruins.Yet, in the midst of all this, the insight Pieper had of the world and where it was headed. It's obsession with the industrial revolution, of forging ahead to build something greater out [...]

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  • Jay

    “In fact, [Aquinas] says, the sublime achievements of moral goodness are characterized by effortlessness—because it is of their essence to spring from love.” p. 34“But the decisive thing is that virtue means the realization of the good; it may imply a previous moral effort, but it cannot be equated with moral effort.” p. 35.“Is it possible, from now on, to maintain and defend, or even to reconquer, the rights and claims of leisure, in face of the claims of ‘total labor’ that are [...]

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  • Kristin Gottron

    “That hub manager usually works 12 hour days,” a coworker told me. “The hub is essentially his life. He will take notice how much time you put into it. So you can clock out for the day after 8 hours, but he won’t really stick his neck out for you if you do.”Because of my work travels in the past few months, I have spent more time in “the Field” and less in my normal workspace at the Corporate office than I ever have. What I am finding is that the attitude above is the rule, not the [...]

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  • Best Read [Josef Pieper] ↠ Leisure: The Basis Of Culture || [Fantasy Book] PDF ↠
    444 Josef Pieper
  • thumbnail Title: Best Read [Josef Pieper] ↠ Leisure: The Basis Of Culture || [Fantasy Book] PDF ↠
    Posted by:Josef Pieper
    Published :2019-09-10T01:37:59+00:00