Perhaps, the most fatal consequence of classic liberalism is it reduces us down to the economic. Our value is seen only in our productivity. This merges unhelpfully with the so-called Protestant work ethic where the meaning of life is to be found in industriousness. Idle handles are the devil's workshop, therefore leisure and joy are frowned upon. Our churches uses to be Cathedrals and clapboard meeting houses, today, factories and office buildings take their place. Today's totalitarians make their decisions from the boardroom rather than the rectory. So happiness can only be seen in hedonic terms - we must be participate in the creating and consuming of stuff or the unthinkable will happen - our economy will stagnate and even die. Rather, we should consider eudaimonia as the standard for creating a healthy lifestyle.
The Plotinus Love Machine
