Main content

Laziness

Being called lazy is an insult so why do we look down on laziness? Has sloth always been considered a sin? Don鈥檛 good things sometimes come out of trying to take it easy?

Laziness, slothfulness, idleness and apathy are used as criticisms and insults against individuals, groups and sometimes whole countries. But why? The Greeks saw laziness as a virtue and something to be sought after whereas today we look down on being unproductive. Should we keep ourselves constantly busy or is laziness something we should feel less guilty about? Isn鈥檛 a little bit of downtime good for the soul? After all, do good things not come out of taking it easy?

(Photo: Legs extended on a hammock. Credit: Shutterstock)

Available now

23 minutes

Last on

Sun 25 Mar 2018 00:32GMT
大象传媒 World Service except News Internet

More episodes

Previous

Why are some places still men only?

Next

Machines and Morals

See all episodes from The Why Factor

Clip

Broadcasts

  • Mon 19 Mar 2018 13:32GMT
    大象传媒 World Service except News Internet
  • Mon 19 Mar 2018 20:06GMT
    大象传媒 World Service Online, Americas and the Caribbean, UK DAB/Freeview & Europe and the Middle East only
  • Mon 19 Mar 2018 21:06GMT
    大象传媒 World Service East and Southern Africa, Australasia, South Asia, West and Central Africa & East Asia only
  • Tue 20 Mar 2018 02:32GMT
    大象传媒 World Service except News Internet
  • Sun 25 Mar 2018 00:32GMT
    大象传媒 World Service except News Internet

Get the podcast

Subscribe or download individual episodes for free

Why do we look the way we do?

Tattoos, trainers, jeans, hair, ties ... why?

Podcast

  • The Why Factor

    The extraordinary and hidden histories behind everyday objects and actions