motion
In physics, motion is when an object changes its position with respect to a reference point in a given time. Motion is mathematically described in terms of displacement, distance, velocity, acceleration, speed, and frame of reference to an o ...
or
energy
Energy () is the physical quantity, quantitative physical property, property that is transferred to a physical body, body or to a physical system, recognizable in the performance of Work (thermodynamics), work and in the form of heat and l ...
. In describing a person, ''idle'' suggests having no
labor
Labour or labor may refer to:
* Childbirth, the delivery of a baby
* Labour (human activity), or work
** Manual labour, physical work
** Wage labour, a socioeconomic relationship between a worker and an employer
** Organized labour and the labour ...
: "idly passing the day".
In physics, an idle machine exerts no transfer of energy. When a vehicle is not in motion, an idling engine does no useful
thermodynamic work
Thermodynamic work is one of the principal kinds of process by which a thermodynamic system can interact with and transfer energy to its surroundings. This results in externally measurable macroscopic forces on the system's surroundings, which c ...
program
Program (American English; also Commonwealth English in terms of computer programming and related activities) or programme (Commonwealth English in all other meanings), programmer, or programming may refer to:
Business and management
* Program m ...
, application, or message.
Cultural norms
Typically, when one describes a machine as idle, it is an objective statement regarding its current state. However, when used to describe a person, idle typically carries a negative
connotation
A connotation is a commonly understood cultural or emotional association that any given word or phrase carries, in addition to its explicit or literal meaning, which is its denotation.
A connotation is frequently described as either positive or ...
, with the assumption that the person is wasting their time by doing nothing of value.
Such a view is reflected in the
proverb
A proverb (from ) or an adage is a simple, traditional saying that expresses a perceived truth based on common sense or experience. Proverbs are often metaphorical and are an example of formulaic speech, formulaic language. A proverbial phrase ...
"an idle mind is the devil's workshop". Also, the popular phrase " killing time" refers to idleness and can be defined as spending time doing nothing in particular in order that time seems to pass more quickly. These interpretations of idleness are not universal – they are more typically associated with Western cultures. Idleness was considered a disorderly offence in England punishable as a
summary offense
A summary offence or petty offence is a violation in some common law jurisdictions that can be proceeded against summarily, without the right to a jury trial and/or indictment (required for an indictable offence).
Canada
In Canada, summary offe ...
.
Involuntary enforced idleness is the punishment used for lazy or slacking workers in
zero-hour contract
A zero-hour contract is a type of employment contract in United Kingdom labour law, between an employer and an employee whereby the employer is not obliged to provide any minimum number of working hours to the employee.
In 2015, employers in the ...
s. Paid time off, which was introduced in the 20th century as a trade unionist reform, is now absent from an increasing number of job arrangements both as a money-saving mechanism and so that only work pays and thus reinforcing the stigma against idleness and enabling nature's punishment of idleness in the form of destitution and starvation.
Analysis and interpretation
Philosopher
Bertrand Russell
Bertrand Arthur William Russell, 3rd Earl Russell, (18 May 1872 – 2 February 1970) was a British philosopher, logician, mathematician, and public intellectual. He had influence on mathematics, logic, set theory, and various areas of analytic ...
Tom Hodgkinson
Tom Hodgkinson (born 1968) is a British writer and the editor of '' The Idler'' magazine, which he established in 1993 with his friend Gavin Pretor-Pinney. His philosophy, in his published books and articles, is of a relaxed approach to life, ...
, the magazine ''The Idler'' is devoted to promoting the ethos of "idle living". Hodgkinson published ''How to Be Idle'' in 2005 (subsequently subtitled ''A Loafer's Manifesto'' in 2007), also aimed to improve the public perception of idling.
'' The Importance of Being Idle: A Little Book of Lazy Inspiration'' is a humorous self-help book published in August 2000. The book inspired the title of the 2005 chart-topping single by English rock band
Oasis
In ecology, an oasis (; : oases ) is a fertile area of a desert or semi-desert environmentMark Slouka published the essay "Quitting the Paint Factory: The Virtues of Idleness", hinting at a
post-scarcity
Post-scarcity is a theoretical economic situation in which most goods can be produced in great abundance with minimal human labor, so that they become available to all very cheaply or even freely.
Post-scarcity does not mean that scarcity ...
economy and linking conscious busyness with anti-democratic and
fascist
Fascism ( ) is a far-right, authoritarian, and ultranationalist political ideology and movement. It is characterized by a dictatorial leader, centralized autocracy, militarism, forcible suppression of opposition, belief in a natural soci ...
tendencies.
''Idleness: A Philosophical Essay'' is a 2018 publication contending the idle state is one of true freedom.Brian, O'Connor (2018 Idleness: A Philosophical Essay
Princeton University Press
Laziness
Laziness (also known as indolence or sloth) is emotional disinclination to activity or exertion despite having the ability to act or to
exert oneself. It is often used as a pejorative; terms for a person seen to be lazy
include " couch potato" ...
*
Leisure
Leisure (, ) has often been defined as a quality of experience or as free time. Free time is time spent away from business, Employment, work, job hunting, Housekeeping, domestic chores, and education, as well as necessary activities such as ...
*
Loitering
Loitering is the act of standing or waiting around idly without apparent purpose in some public places.
While the laws regarding loitering have been challenged and changed over time, loitering of suspect people can be illegal in some jurisdict ...
*
Refusal of work
Refusal of work is behavior in which a person refuses regular employment."Refusal of work means quite simply: I don't want to go to work because I prefer to sleep. But this laziness is the source of intelligence, of technology, of progress. Autono ...
Slow movement (culture)
The slow movement is a cultural initiative that advocates for a reduction in the pace of modern life, encouraging individuals to embrace a more thoughtful and deliberate approach to their daily activities.
It was an offshoot of the slow food m ...
*
Work (disambiguation)
Work may refer to:
* Work (human activity), intentional activity people perform to support themselves, others, or the community
** Manual labour, physical work done by humans
** House work, housework, or homemaking
** Working animal, an anim ...