View Of Leisure Research Articles

Philosophy at Leisure: How Is Festivity Possible?

The article explores the conditions enabling the celebration within the context of philosophical, enlightening, and educational activities. The authors contemplate the role of leisure in human life, referencing Plato’s view of leisure as a prerequisite for philosophical discussion, Aristotle’s concept of intellectual leisure for the free citizen, Josef Pieper’s understanding of leisure as a means for personal and spiritual development, and Sebastian de Grazia’s perspective on the interconnection between leisure and creativity, culture, individual freedom, and society. It is argued that leisure as an intellectual activity has not become customary in society since Aristotle’s time and, in the modern world, the definition of this concept is confined merely to the realm of entertainment. This limitation necessitates the search for new forms of intellectual leisure that are relevant in the context of contemporary mass culture. The authors analyze the philosophical ball as a form of intellectual leisure, particularly focusing on the years of experience in organizing annual festive events by the family philosophical club “School of Socrates” at the Central House of Artists in Moscow. The external, attributive form of the philosophical ball is linked with Mikhail Bakhtin’s concept of the carnivalization of culture: its spectacles, theatricality, the presence of masks and costumes, and the involvement of all participants in a unified action. The internal content of the philosophical ball is determined by philosophical concepts, historical figures, or artistic images relevant to the specific era and culture, facilitating the perception and discussion of the proposed philosophical ideas. The narrative is further enriched by a case study detailing the methodological orchestration of a philosophical ball themed around Russian Symbolism. The authors conclude that the philosophical ball, as a form of intellectual leisure, addresses epistemological tasks and serves enlightening and educational functions: it engenders an authentic milieu of philosophical festivity, nurturing the creative impetus of its participants and facilitating a profound and universally accessible experiential odyssey into the realms of worldview and cognition.

The End of (Objective) Leisure

This paper examines the ontological and epistemological assumptions about leisure to critically assess the state of leisure scholarship. It argues that there are no intrinsic characteristics or essences inherent to leisure, and that researchers ought to make an important distinction between leisure as socially constructed social facts, and the erroneous view of leisure as an ontologically objective and universal entity. It is purported that from an epistemological standpoint the crisis of leisure sciences has never been resolved; however, the absence of a stable theory is an opportunity for new forms of research and knowledge to emerge. The article introduces postleisure as a departure from leisure-objectivism and a shift towards plural readings of leisure, which may find sufficient backbone in Rorty’s notion of epistemological solidarity.

A Conceptualization of Recreation that Contributes to Human Flourishing

Recreation and leisure, foundational elements of therapeutic recreation (TR), are nonmaterial, socially constructed entities. While it is difficult, and maybe impossible, to conclusively describe such entities, the task must be tackled because both constructs contribute to human flourishing, a central goal of TR. Concomitantly, a greater in-depth understanding of recreation and leisure, the relationship between the two constructs, and how both connect to flourishing would enhance the effectiveness of therapeutic recreation specialists (TRSs). Since relatively much more philosophical-based inquiry has been devoted to investigating leisure and its relationship to flourishing this article develops and presents a conceptualization of recreation based on a theory authored by Alasdair MacIntyre (1999, 2007). The presented conceptualization of recreation is linked to human flourishing and a correlated view of leisure. The article concludes by discussing four actions TRSs should take to guarantee recreation and leisure function as significant facets of living well. Subscribe to TRJ

Leisure as not work: a (far too) common definition in theory and research on free-time activities

ABSTRACTIn Leisure's Legacy Stebbins [2017. Leisure’s legacy: Challenging the common sense view of free time. Basingstoke: Palgrave Macmillan.] explored the nature of the common-sense definition, comparing it with what leisure studies has learned since its inception around 1970. A different tack is taken in the present article, doing so by looking into how common sense has affected thought and research in the social sciences as well as that in professional, administrative and governmental work. The common-sense or popular definition of leisure is “leisure as not work, leisure as fun.” Attention in this article will be limited to the ways that leisure is defined in philosophy and those social sciences that have a theoretic interest in free time. The latter set includes economics, political science, psychology, sociology, geography, and history. A section follows in which the consequences of the leisure-as-not-work image are examined in contemporary higher education, leisure provision, and governmental policy. In conclusion, leisure studies scholars must become proactive and insist wherever called for on correcting the commons-sense view of leisure. The hint that such action is needed should be evident when the conversation or the text leans heaviest on work, with leisure seen as residual and unspecified, as not work.

Meanings of leisure among young consumers of a Rio de Janeiro low-income community

This study investigated the meanings attached to leisure by low-income young consumers. In order to achieve this research objective, the study was conducted in a low-income community in the city of Rio de Janeiro. We used semi-structured interviews with community leaders and observation to acquire a preliminary knowledge of the field. We then interviewed 80 young people with ages varying from 15 to 25 years old. The data were treated qualitatively and quantitatively, using cluster analysis. The results showed, as expected, that these consumers have limited resources for leisure activities, due to lack of money, time or both. However, although the subjects recognise leisure as an important part of their lives, they attribute different meanings to it. Also, their understanding of free time and leisure varies somewhat. The findings provide evidence that these consumers' view of leisure, to some extent, resembles a pre-industrial understanding of leisure, associated with time for rest and time with family and friends. The results also permitted the identification of four different clusters, based on the meanings attributed to leisure and free time, individual aspirations and demographic characteristics.

The Leisure Experiences of Older U.S. Women Living With HIV/AIDS

Although leisure is held to provide positive health benefits, structural and social obstacles deny equal participation to the disenfranchised. Employing quantitative and unique qualitative (e.g., Photovoice) methods, we examined the leisure behaviors of older women who were living in the United States and diagnosed with HIV/AIDS. Findings pointed to differences in time for, access to, and meaning of leisure in pre- vs. post-infection leisure for these women. As the disease progressed, however, each woman exhibited resilience in transcending systemic barriers to derive a spiritual view of leisure as a metaphor for the meaning of life. We believe our findings of spiritual transcendence will resonate among people living with HIV/AIDS throughout both Western and non-Western cultures.

The Unitary World View and an Exploration of a New View of Leisure

The Unitary World View and an Exploration of a New View of Leisure

A New View of Leisure

The purpose of this paper is two-fold : first an attempt is mode to define work and leisure in operational terms. Second, using the new definitions of work and leisure, several problems in economies are re-examined and an attempt is mode to illustrate how the new definition may give us new insights into old and current problems.

Downshifting: Regaining the Essence of Leisure

(2000). Downshifting: Regaining the Essence of Leisure. Journal of Leisure Research: Vol. 32, No. 1, pp. 69-73.

A View of Leisure and Patterns of Family Life in the Late 1990s

This study investigated the place of leisure and role responsibilities of working parents in the establishment period of the family life cycle in the late 1990s. One focus of this study was to see how much had changed in the patterns of family life and leisure as documented in the studies of the mid 1980s and early 1990s compared with today. Personal interviews were conducted with a purposive sample of sixteen working mothers and fathers. A constant comparison, grounded theory approach was used throughout the interviews and data analysis. Three themes related to leisure in the lives of working parents emerged from the data: (i) freedom of choice as a central condition of leisure; (ii) conflicts between work, leisure, and family; and (iii) resisting and negotiating the superwoman and typical male ideal. The themes were interpreted within a feminist post-structuralist perspective drawing upon a Foucauldian power analysis.

Aristotelian view of leisure: an outdoor recreation perspective

In recent years interpretations of the classical view of leisure have furnished additional insight for developing an effective modern philosophy of leisure. In many instances, however, Aristotelian conceptions of leisure are poorly understood or misinterpreted, and clearly not utilized in the philosophies of most leisure service delivery organizations. This paper attempts to reveal the potential for practical application of the Aristotelian view of leisure through five key elements of the classical leisure approach. Outdoor recreation is offered as one area which has initiated opportunities for solitude, moderation and reflection superseding the provision of mass recreation. Aristotelian view results in leisure as an activity of the highest order, recreation professionals become social reformers who redesign the delivery system and re-educate the public in order to upgrade the quality of leisure. Society is organized in a way that even when we have some leisure time, we don't know how to use it to get bac...

The Aristotelian View of Leisure

The Aristotelian View of Leisure

Did Marx have a theory of leisure?

Marxist approaches are exerting a growing influence in the field of leisure study, yet the basis for these ventures in Marx's own writings is not always made clear. This paper examines Marx's work and submits that it does contain a theory of leisure. Marx's view of leisure in capitalist society derives from his examination of the class struggle, damaged sociability, commodity fetishism and reification. It also includes a provisional outline of leisure relations under communism. In this paper, Marx's writings on leisure in capitalist and communist societies are compared and the critical tensions between them elucidated.

LEISURE AND LEGITIMATION

ABSTRACT In this essay we argue that the historical redefinition of leisure in the United States roughly corresponds to the extension of commodity relations in U.S. society. We show how the negative view of leisure, traditionnally associated with the Puritan ethic, was deeply reinforced by the requirements of wage labor during the early stages of capital accumulation. By the end of the nineteenth century, however, the maturation of a distinctively capitalist mode of consumption based on commodity relations in conjunction with the shifting requirements of the accumulation system had the effect of making leisure more individuated and consumable. The meaning of leisure was thus enhanced, and this enhanced meaning of leisure began to emerge as a means of legitimating first, the conditions of work, and later the operation of the U.S. political and economic system. In the present era appeals to freedom, individuality and well-being, once grounded in the supposed virtues of the free market and the public sphere,...