-- The true nature of the act of "work" as seen by Plato and Aristotle
What is work?
For a living?
For evaluation purposes?
For the sake of society?
Is it for self-realization?
Many people try to answer “one or the other.”
But 2,500 years ago,
Plato and Aristotle
looked at work from a much deeper perspective.
When we look at their perspectives,
we see that the essence of work is not “making money” or “expression,”
but rather how we connect with the world.
1. The Platonic View of Work
The meaning is “above” the work
In Plato’s worldview, value and meaning lie outside of this physical world.
good
justice
beauty
mission
These things do not exist directly in the results or numbers.
From this perspective,
work is
“Why are you doing it?”
“Is it for good?”
This becomes an act that is constantly questioned.
In the Platonic view of work,
Even if you earn a high income, if it’s meaningless it’s empty. Even if you’re efficient, if it’s not righteous it’s wrong. Even if you’re highly rated, if it damages your soul it’s defeat.
This becomes:
This idea is based on a career with a strong sense of mission, a religious view of work, and a life that values purpose.
gave birth to.
On the other hand, it also has weaknesses.
The moment you lose sight of the meaning,
the work itself becomes unbearable.
2. Aristotelian view of work
Meaning develops “in” the workplace
Aristotle did not look for meaning outside himself.
For him, work is
Use your abilities, hone your skills, and help others
The repetition itself has value.
In his ethics, a good person is someone who “repeatedly performs good deeds.”
In other words, work is
Don’t slack off today, fulfill your role today, and get a little better today
This is a modest and ongoing activity.
This perspective is
Craftsmanship, Profession, Organized Labor, Professionalism
has supported this.
But there’s a catch here too.
When work goes too smoothly,
you forget why you’re doing it.
3. Two moments when work breaks down
Work breaks down when it becomes too focused on either of the following:
When you only seek meaning, when you only try to control reality
Those who seek only meaning,
You keep searching for fulfillment, refuse work that doesn’t satisfy you, and as a result, nothing accumulates.
Those who only revolve around reality,
You keep producing results, you keep getting recognition, and before you know it, you no longer know who you are.
This is the work of Plato alone,
and the work of Aristotle alone.
Everyone has their own limits.
4. Mature work is a "reciprocating movement"
A mature worker
goes back and forth between the top and the bottom.
Look up at the meaning and return to reality
Question your ideals and get your hands moving
Confirm your intentions and accept the numbers.
As long as this exchange occurs,
work will not destroy people.
Meaning becomes a reason to endure reality,
Reality becomes the weight that keeps meaning from becoming an illusion.
5. Only work that requires responsibility builds character.
The value of work is determined by what you take on, not what you do.
When you fail, when someone gets hurt, when you make a mistake
But don’t run away and choose your next move.
At this moment, work becomes more than just labor; it becomes a place for character development.
A job that doesn’t involve taking responsibility,
no matter how glamorous,
doesn’t develop people.
6. Work is a response to the world
Work is a response to questions from the world.
This problem, this situation, this imperfection
How to handle it?
In Platonic terms,
it is an “attitude toward good.”
In Aristotelian terms,
it is the “quality of the action.”
Neither one is enough.
Conclusion
Work is not a place to prove your worth.
Moreover, it is not a stage for gaining approval.
Work is an act that stands between meaning and reality,
and shows the world how you interact with it.
Look up, don’t hesitate, walk down, don’t run away.
Only those who continue to go back and forth quietly become stronger through their work.