To work or to work? That is the question.

3 Philosophical Workshops

Organized by PhiloMa.org
Facilitated by Luisa da Paula & Laurent Ledoux

Alphabet Formation, Topos building, Rue Abbé Cuypers 3, Bruxelles 

On Saturdays from 10:30 to 12:00 on November 25th; December 2nd and December 16th. 

Can one fall ill or even die because of work? Yes. In Belgium, the costs of work-related illnesses far exceed those of unemployment. Each year in Europe, over 2 million people suffer work-related accidents or illnesses, with over 3000 fatalities. So, yes: today in Europe becoming sick and die in the workplace is not only possible but even more common than ever before. Gone are the days of mine explosions like in Marcinelle, now in distant lands out of sight and mind. Here, workplace accidents, illnesses, and discomfort take on subtler forms, less visible but still on the rise. 

Managers aren’t spared from this carnage. Perhaps the essence of a manager’s work in Brussels isn’t so different from that of historical leaders and spiritual chiefs in distant places and times. However, the way ruling classes perceive and conceive work is a product of a specific historical era, and not something ontologically natural or necessary.

To think work, Western civilization draws from two seemingly opposing traditions. According to the school of Aristotle, Nietzsche, and Arendt, the necessity of work reveals the fragility and weakness of humanity, its enslavement, and dependence on an indifferent nature. On the other hand, for Hegel, Marx, and Weil, work itself is an intrinsic need of human nature, transcending the blind play of contingency to construct continuity and meaning.

Can we heal ourselves and our humanity wounded by work? This is the question we will explore in this series of workshops, focusing on managerial responsibility for well-being at work, both for oneself and for others.

WORKSHOP STRUCTURE

Our workshops will encourage us to reconsider our approach to work and acquaint ourselves with concepts underpinning modern Western thinking. They will be organized into three 1.5-hour sessions. Each session will involve both an introduction to philosophical concepts and theories, as well as philosophical inquiry.

The workshops will be limited to 12 participants.

They will take place in Brussels, in the European quarter : Alphabet Formation, Topos building, Rue Abbé Cuypers 3.

On Saturdays from 10:30 to 12:00 on November 25th; December 2nd and December 16th. 

The price will be €20 per workshop or €50 for the entire series.

To register, please send an email to Luisa and Laurent (ledoux.laurent@gmail.com; lu.de.paula0880@gmail.com).