An Inquiry into the Philosophical Concept of Schol Leisure as a Political End [Paperback]

Though the ancient Greek philosophical concept ofschol?is usually translated as 'leisure', there is a vast difference between the two. Leisure, derived from Latinlicere, has its roots in Romanotiumand connotes the uses of free time in ways permitted by the status quo.Schol?is the actualization of mind and one's humanity within a republic that devotes its culture to making such a choice possible. This volume traces the background in Greek culture and the writings of Plato of a daring proposal presented by Aristotle, thatschol?is a principle for political organization.

The concept ofschol?by and large did not survive Aristotle. To sharpen our understanding ofschol?the book goes on to identify the concepts of leisure which we have inherited from the intellectuals of the Hellenistic and Roman empires and the early Church Fathers.Schol?also had its contraryascholia busyness  which Plato described as a social and psychological pathology and his analysis suggests why, due to these ills, current visions of a leisure society are highly unlikely.

Acknowledgements
List of Abbreviations
Introduction

I. Sisyphus orSchol??
II. Plato onSchol?andAscholia
III. Catharsis,Schol?and Play
IV.Aristotle: On the Nature of Schol?
V. MakingSchol?Practical -Diag?g?, Mousik? and Philia
VII.Otium: Withdrawal for Action and Duty
VIII. The Disappearance of Schol?

Afterword
Leisure as a political end
Notes
Bibliography
Further Reading
Index