Paul Lafargue's 19th-Century 'Right to Be Lazy' Resonates in Contemporary AI Anxiety

Born in Cuba in 1842 to parents of mixed race, Paul Lafargue, who was married to Laura, the daughter of Karl Marx, championed the idea of shorter working hours in his 1883 pamphlet, 'Le Droit à la paresse' (The Right to Be Lazy). Composed during his imprisonment in Paris and translated by Alex Andriesse, Lafargue contended that industrial technology should free people from the burdens of excessive work. He criticized leftist movements for advocating shorter workdays rather than opposing work altogether, imagining a future where idleness leads to social harmony. In 1911, Lafargue and Laura took their own lives, as he wished to escape the hardships of old age. Today, his thoughts resonate amid fears of AI, with 64% of Americans worried about job losses, while only 17% believe AI will enhance their futures.