Freie Zeit

The realm of freedom indeed begins where work, determined by necessity and external practicality, ceases - as Karl Marx once stated. And today? Despite extensive automation, the norm of full-time work remains intact. The motto "What creates work is social" is upheld by almost all political actors. At the same time, the existing form of full-time work society is becoming increasingly fragile and unequal: the care crisis, the gender pay gap, precarious jobs, and unregulated crowd work on digital platforms reveal just some of the many fault lines. In light of the political history of free time and the current debates surrounding automation and digitalization, Gregor Ritschel presents a plea for a gradual transition from the existing work society to a "multi-activity society" (André Gorz). He demonstrates that a reduction in working hours can enable us to create a more social, creative, and environmentally sustainable world.