Meaningful Work

It is commonly said that there are some people who work to live and others who live to work. The first category is purported to include those who work for material survival as well as those for whom work is a means to other meaningful ends. The second category is purported to include those for whom work itself is a meaningful end, although it might also include those [Page 1356]who are seemingly compelled by forces beyond their control to be so-called “workaholics.” In many periods of history, including in our contemporary industrialized societies, more of the average worker's waking hours have been spent at work than anywhere else. The topic of meaningful work explores the importance of spending that time well, including the aims of ...