It is indeed disappointing, though perhaps unsurprising that people naturally seem to fill their leisure time with entertainment instead of “higher” pursuits.
Leisure time has certainly expanded, by some extent, due to the proliferation of electronic/time saving devices. As noted here: https://www.lianeon.org/p/homefront-liberation, the total time spent on “housework” collapsed from nearly 60 hours a week in 1900 to about 17 hours by 2000.
Much of this freed time was directed into work as women joined the workforce, but overall “leisure” time is still up.
"Learning new skills" - I've been learning something new every month for the last 2 years, and it's been a real eye opening experience. Feels good to do so!
I don't understand the four categories. The first is a pretty comprehensive catch-all. The second two, entertainment and companionship are sort of clear though they would also both seemed to be included in the first leisure catch-all. And what the heck is "approval?"
Thanks. I would have dug into it myself, but I do not have JSTOR access. It's an odd choice for a classifying word. I can't find any dictionary meaning of "approval" in the sense of activities performed in order to gain the approval of others. Of course, I don't have OED access either!
It is indeed disappointing, though perhaps unsurprising that people naturally seem to fill their leisure time with entertainment instead of “higher” pursuits.
Leisure time has certainly expanded, by some extent, due to the proliferation of electronic/time saving devices. As noted here: https://www.lianeon.org/p/homefront-liberation, the total time spent on “housework” collapsed from nearly 60 hours a week in 1900 to about 17 hours by 2000.
Much of this freed time was directed into work as women joined the workforce, but overall “leisure” time is still up.
"Learning new skills" - I've been learning something new every month for the last 2 years, and it's been a real eye opening experience. Feels good to do so!
That's excellent - not only life long learning, but focused learning.
I don't understand the four categories. The first is a pretty comprehensive catch-all. The second two, entertainment and companionship are sort of clear though they would also both seemed to be included in the first leisure catch-all. And what the heck is "approval?"
Ah... in his article Thorndike indicated approval was self-grooming, bathing, cleansing, styling hair, etc..
Thanks. I would have dug into it myself, but I do not have JSTOR access. It's an odd choice for a classifying word. I can't find any dictionary meaning of "approval" in the sense of activities performed in order to gain the approval of others. Of course, I don't have OED access either!
The use of 'approval' is indeed strange - it also says - "approval
(of himself, his fellow-men, or his God)