Cultural Dimensions of the New Leisure - by W. Norris Clarke, S.J. - Preparing for the Future

Sep 21, 2026

Essay on the ethical and social implications of automation and the resulting acceleration of modern life. It argues that machines only operate through human ethical choices, while long-term automation may bring shorter work weeks, higher wages, and better conditions. It raises concerns about job displacement, union jurisdiction, and how economies will support older workers and depressed regions. The text then frames “the new leisure” as a historical shift: leisure will increasingly dominate over work for most people.

LanguageEnglish

CategoryLiterature

FormatPDF

Pages8

Reading Time12 min

AccessFree to download

Cultural Dimensions of the New Leisure

Preparing for the Future

Leisure for the Masses

10C # Cultural Dimensions of the New Leisure by W.Norris Clarke,S.J.Professor of Philosophy,Fordham University Graduate School Condensed from chapter_16 of the book THEETHICAL AFTERMATH OF AUTOMATION,edited by Francis X.Quinn,S.J.,The NewmanPress,Westminster,Md.,1962;270 pages,$4.25.Saubtitles added. President Kennedy said at a recent press con-ference:"I regard automation as the major do-mestic challenge of the 60s.”THE ETHICALAFTERMATH OF AUTOMATION is the resultof discussions held at Woodstock College,Wood-stock,Md.,where twenty-seven experts on auto-mation from government,industry,education,labor and management addressed their observa-tions on this important modern topic to Jesuitseminarians. With automation comes change,and withchange comes prosperity to some and hardships The whole burden of this paper is,frankly,to speculate about the future.And I am wellaware that such an undertaking needs somedefense.Philosophers have frequently been ac-cused of sterile crystal ball gazing,and it mightseem that speculation about the future is thetype of an idle pastime for intellectuals,par-ticularly the philosophical breed.Possible inthe past this was true to a large extent.I donot think that it is any longer the case. ## Preparing for the Future The reason for the new situation is this:a to others.Machines are only machines;it is upto men to decide how to use them ethically.Inthe long run automation is the key to a shorterwork week,higher wages and better working con-ditions,but automation is feared today becauseit is rolling into high gear at a time when oureconomy is generating new jobs at a slower ratethan the growth of our labor force.By changingthe ratio between blue and white collar workers,automation affects the character of the workforce and the jurisdiction of labor unions.Canour economy absorb the displaced workers with-out great delay?Will we provide for older work-ers and for depressed areas?What is the role ofcollective bargaining?Is the concept of propertyevolving to meet a new climate of civilization?The new leisure:how zwill it be used? rapid tempo of change has now become one ofthe characteristic notes of modern society.Ithas been forced upon us partly by technologicalprogress,but also partly by the deliberate plan-ning of industrial society which now systemati-cally stimulates it.All around us today,in allthe main fields,there is constant planning forthe future and deliberate provoking of changefor the future.In business,for example,it is be-coming common in the big corporations to setaside a second team of executives whose mainjob is to plan for the future ten or twenty years.It is too much for one team both to run the en- | Page
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Cultural Dimensions of the New Leisure.… …W.Norris Clarke,S.J.
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Greetings to the "Papal Volunteers“.- Most Rev.Angelo Rossi 6
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1962 Labor Day Statemen...National Catholic Welfare Conference 7 | | --- | terprise in the present and also to look aheadinto the future.Frequently the work of such asecond team is not simply to adapt to the futureforced upon them,but positively to provokechange,partly for reasons of greater profit,partly for reasons of competitive survival.Busi-nessmen are doing it.So are scientists.The mili-tary must obviously do it.Statesmen,educators,leaders in all fields are more and more beingforced to do it in order to survive. Such planning is imperative in a world ofconstant and rapid change for two reasons:first,because without it you will not be able tocope with the dangers which change suddenlythrusts upon you,and secondly because you willnot be able to take advantage of the construc-tive possibilities of the changes which do occur.It has,therefore,now become an essential partof the responsibilities of leaders in any fieldsystematically to scan and prepare for the fu-ture.And I do not mean simply for next year;I mean for ten,twenty,thirty years ahead. So far,this deliberate planning seems

FAQs

Why does the author focus on the future in this paper?

The author states that the main burden of the paper is to speculate about the future and provides reasons for why such speculation is necessary rather than idle.

How does automation change society according to the text?

Automation is presented as producing change that can bring prosperity to some and hardships to others, including effects on the workforce and the jurisdiction of labor unions.

What historical change does the author expect regarding leisure?

The author predicts that, for the first time in history, leisure will predominate over work for the majority, making leisure a broader social reality rather than a privilege of the wealthy.

Sep 21, 2026

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