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I heard that back in the days, people used to just go when their work was done on the farms and there was no concept of 9-5 (these days seem 24 hours work). There used to be a lot of holidays. Is that true? If it is, then given the abundance in technology, why our work hours increased and why do we have such weird lives that we live to work?

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[–] blackn1ght@feddit.uk -2 points 23 hours ago (2 children)

Are there any other systems, or point in history, where a country's population could live without working?

[–] Vanth@reddthat.com 11 points 23 hours ago (1 children)

I don't know whether to assume this question is in good faith or not. Can you restate what you think the OP is asking? It's not about whether there was ever a time when no work was needed.

I'm not interested in ~~wasting my time against a sealion~~ debating capitalism.

[–] blackn1ght@feddit.uk 7 points 22 hours ago (2 children)

I'm not coming from a defence of capitalism. I'm just pointing out that people have had to work in some capacity to live all throughout history. People would still need to work to live under any system.

[–] vapordays@leminal.space 7 points 17 hours ago

I’m just pointing out that people have had to work in some capacity to live all throughout history. People would still need to work to live under any system.

Nobody said otherwise.

.... the title in OP asked, "why do we live to work, rather than work to live?"

The response was "capitalism."

So: precisely under (not-capitalism)... we could "work to live," rather than "live to work."

[–] valar@lemmy.ca 14 points 22 hours ago* (last edited 22 hours ago)

That's true, but the point is in the current system we're working a lot harder than necessary in order to benefit a few people at the top

[–] the_q@piefed.social 1 points 22 hours ago

Working in what context? There are native peoples all over the globe that work to live and not to enrich a single sociopath.