In Capital Volume III, Karl Marx suggested that “the realm of freedom actually begins only where labour which is determined by necessity and mundane considerations ceases”. The true realm of freedom, Marx argued, “can blossom forth only with this realm of necessity as its basis. The shortening of the working-day is its basic prerequisite.” This observation is about more than just the length of the workday. We can’t kick loose the realm of necessity if we’re worrying about paying the bills, if that smartphone is burning a hole in our pocket, telling us to check that email, open the Deliveroo rider app to complete one more delivery. To truly have free time, we must be free enough of material concerns to let go of those mundane considerations for a while.
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