Work, Sloth, and the Active and Contemplative Lives in Medieval Philosophy

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ID: 314467
2026
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Abstract
Abstract There was little direct theorizing about work in the Christian Middle Ages, and scant interest in work as something praiseworthy in its own right. In this chapter, therefore, the authors come at the medieval understanding of the value of work indirectly, examining two contexts in which reflection on work plays an essential role. First, they look at acedia (“sloth”) as one of the seven capital vices. Acedia, which may manifest itself in either laziness or defensive hyperactivity, is a malady in which one’s love for spiritual goods has grown cold. Second, they look at debates over which kind of life is better: the active, the contemplative, or some mix of the two. Though one might expect medieval Christian authors to show an emphatic preference for the contemplative life, most writers insisted that there must be action even within the life of contemplation, and both kinds of lives have their own kinds of work.
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openalex_W7161970949 Use this key to autocite in the manuscript while using SciMatic Manuscript Manager or Thesis Manager
Authors Benjamin Prisk, Thomas Williams
Journal Oxford University Press eBooks
Year 2026
DOI
10.1093/oxfordhb/9780197693643.013.0023
URL
https://doi.org/10.1093/oxfordhb/9780197693643.013.0023
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