ABSTRACT
At its core, philosophy of leisure is an investigation into part of the good life. As such, it is a branch of moral and political philosophy. Philosophy of leisure enquires into the ends that should be pursued for their own sake, the role of social institutions in supporting valuable ends, and the virtues that people ought to cultivate so as to best avail themselves of their free time. It is in this spirit that this chapter examines the meaning of leisure, traces its philosophical development, and discusses its moral and political significance. The chapter begins by doing two things: it offers a definition of leisure and distinguishes it from related concepts. In the following section it briefly traces the historical development of the idea of leisure in the Western philosophical tradition. The discussion then turns to leisure’s ethical implications. The final part of the chapter explores the politics surrounding leisure.
