Lazy Bones
We’re naturally lazy
Ambition is a poor excuse for not having sense enough to be lazy.
— Milan Kundera
The Argument
If we observe animals in the wild, we can assess that, once their basic needs are met, they tend towards inactivity (rest, conserve energy). They enjoy biological equilibrium that they just established by fulfilling immediate/basic needs. Whether that can be described as laziness is the topic of this essay.
Humans, on the other hand, are going far beyond fulfilling their basic needs.
The argument here is that, given the choice between working and not working, provided that their basic needs are met, most people would choose the latter.
Necessary vs Desired Actions
Laziness can be described as a tendency towards inactivity, apathy, or a lack of motivation to perform necessary or desired actions. The degree to which it is considered positive or negative can depend on cultural and personal factors.
The key part of the above definition is making a distinction between “necessary” and “desired” actions. Necessary actions are those that are required to maintain basic needs, such as food, shelter, and safety. These actions are generally considered to be of a higher priority and more important than desired actions.
Desired actions, on the other hand, are those that are preferred or wanted, but are not necessarily essential for survival. These actions can include but are not limited to hobbies, leisure activities, or personal projects.
Motivational factors for “Desired” actions
The motivation of workers in different social systems can be influenced by a variety of factors, including the type of economic system, the role of the state, the nature of work, and the distribution of power and resources.
In a capitalist system, workers may be motivated by financial rewards such as salaries and bonuses. In a socialist system, workers may be motivated by a sense of social purpose and the belief that their work contributes to the common good.
In a command economy, where the state controls the means of production, worker motivation may come from a sense of duty to the state and the belief that their work serves the greater good. In a mixed economy, a combination of market forces and state intervention may influence worker motivation.
In all social systems, the nature of work, the level of autonomy and control that workers have over their jobs, and the provision of benefits and security can also play a role in motivating workers. Overall, the motivations of workers are complex and influenced by a variety of social, economic, and psychological factors.
Concept of “Work”
The concept of work and the organization of work into jobs has a long and complex history, spanning thousands of years and encompassing many different cultures and societies.
One of the earliest forms of work was subsistence agriculture, where individuals and families worked to grow their own food and meet their basic needs. Over time, as societies became more complex and specialized, people began to specialize in specific tasks, leading to the development of specific jobs and occupations.
The industrial revolution in the 18th and 19th centuries brought about significant changes to the organization of work, as large factories were built and workers were hired to perform specific tasks in the production of goods. This led to the growth of urbanization and the rise of a new working class.
In the 20th century, technological advancements, such as automation and computerization, continued to shape the concept of work and the types of jobs that were available. The growth of the service sector and the increasing importance of knowledge work also transformed the nature of work.
Today, the concept of work continues to evolve and change, driven by technological advances, globalization, and other social, economic, and political factors. The types of jobs available, the skills required to perform them, and the way work is organized and compensated are all undergoing significant change.
Work Motivation
If our basic needs are already met, what motivates us to work further? Yes, there are some factors, such as personal fulfillment, financial stability, sense of purpose, etc. that could be viewed as individual and positive.
Going back to our initial argument: People are essentially lazy and society has to motivate them to do work they otherwise wouldn’t. What would be the societal approach to solving that?
So, in order to make people less content and thus more motivated to work, social systems came up with a myriad of systems in order to make it so, starting from sheer forced labor, to fear-mongering, to making basic so expensive so only full-time employment would cut it, to marketing ploys that all essentially say that nothing is ever enough.
Manipulating our basic instincts/emotions (fear, greed, lust), they’re enticing us to do “desired” actions. Without that manipulation, all modern societies would stop functioning.
The Solution
If history is our guide, and considering a very corruptible human nature — no, there isn’t one, unless we’re forced into it by some benevolent non-human entity. On our own, we can’t do it, and that sure is a shame, considering that that was our only mission on this planet.
Simply dialing down would save us, but, sadly, we’re not capable of doing just that. Rather, like so many civilizations before the current one, we’ll simply crash and burn.
Hey, at least we’ll go down with a bang, and destroy everything in the process. Waaaaa hooooo!
If you like this story, please sign up for my infrequent newsletter. Also, consider becoming a member.