On 2013-10-28, at 10:10 PM, David Shemano wrote: > I have asked this question before on this list (with not much success), but > when we think of freedom in marxist terms, is the life of the wealthy under > capitalism a guide to what life will be like for all under communism? In > other words, is the problem with the life of the wealthy under capitalism > that such a life is not a good life for the wealthy individual, or that it is > a good life but limited to the few and that is unjust? The quote below from > Mills indicates that he would tend to agree that the life of the wealthy is a > good life. Related to this question is the question of what will happen > when working hours are significantly reduced. If we look, for example, at > the lives of women married to wealthy men, reduced hours (in fact, the > absolute lack of need to work at all) means more time at the country club, > gym and mall. Is that a life of freedom in marxist terms?
I'm retired. I no longer have to work, though I was fortunate enough to enjoy my work, unlike most. Now I have full freedom to choose to spend my leisure time as I wish. I'm mostly outdoors during the day, and enjoy reading and sometimes writing early mornings and evenings. I wish the same freedom from material constraints for others, even those who would choose to frequent shopping malls or lounge around at the pool. You could see history as a struggle for for more "free time", for popular strivings to escape from what Marx described as the realm of necessity to the realm of freedom. _______________________________________________ pen-l mailing list [email protected] https://lists.csuchico.edu/mailman/listinfo/pen-l
