Does Work Give Our Lives Meaning?
Truman Chen

19 May 2017

The possibility of a world without work is making plenty of people nervous: what would it look like, will it actually be good for us, will life even be meaningful anymore?

In a recent editorial for The Guardian, Yuval Noah Harari has made the case that we don't need to fret, at least not when it comes to having meaningful lives. As Harari sees it there are already enough examples of meaning-making in the world—ranging from religious belief to Pokémon to consumerism—that we'll be able to impose meaning onto the world even if we're rendered obsolete as workers. 

What do you think? Is Harari right to be so optimistic? Is meaning really the value by which we should be evaluating a world without work? 

See the full article here: https://www.theguardian.com/technology/2017/may/08/virtual-reality-religion-robots-sapiens-book

 

Comments (1)


cloverlilac's picture

cloverlilac

Tuesday, May 6, 2025 -- 5:50 AM

I believe work can provide a

I believe work can provide a sense of purpose and fulfillment, but it’s not the post acute care only source of meaning. A career offers structure, growth, and connection, but true meaning often comes from a balance of personal relationships, passions, and experiences. Work is important, but it’s part of a bigger picture.

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