ABSTRACT
The main idea is that for some people work is a central commitment in their lives. The idea that it is bad to do nothing connects with the so-called Protestant work ethic, which stresses the character-building nature of respectable occupation. Many people have jobs that they don’t consider to be careers. Others have careers that do not amount to vocations. Ambitious people can be expected to have a lot of commitment, at least if their ambitions are not idle, vaporous fantasy. Consider the idea that vocation could be a moral calling. They may do altruistic work from a sense of moral obligation; they feel morally called to do a particular job, because of the great moral importance that it be done. People draw on threads in romanticism and existentialism to justify the pursuit of authenticity at almost any cost.
