When asked whether we should create a world where people no longer need to work, many say no, arguing that work gives people meaning. But this conflates two very different kinds of work.
Yes, people pursuing their passions—artists, researchers, builders creating what they love—find deep satisfaction in their labor. But this isn’t most work. Most work is just a job: a means to put food on the table.
The factory worker on a manufacturing line isn’t discovering meaning in repetitive tasks. The office worker generating reports or managing projects isn’t experiencing the profound sense of purpose a philosopher might find in grappling with fundamental questions. Most people tolerate their jobs precisely so they can afford the free time to pursue what actually matters to them.
The meaning, for most, comes despite work—not because of it.
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