This session details the meticulous process of creating a syllabus for a six-week, one-credit online course titled “Philosophy of Work and Leisure” at Smarties University. The course, structured with a weekly one-hour lecture and two hours of independent work, aims to delve into the history of ideas surrounding work, labor, and activity, exploring how current work structures are failing many. Key goals include understanding the Protestant work ethic and its connection to capitalism, challenging the assumption that work is foundational to identity, exploring alternatives in work-life design, and ultimately producing an annotated literature review. Assignments range from weekly "write-ups" of notes and Substack posts to a final essay or creative project, with readings primarily focusing on Kathi Weeks' The Problem With Work and Elizabeth Anderson's Hijacked, augmented by other texts.

00:00 Introduction and Course Overview

00:55 Defining the Course Topic: Work and Leisure

01:31 Creating the Syllabus

04:59 Course Description and Goals

07:56 Literature Review Process

15:25 Assignments and Write-ups

19:16 Reading List and Calendar Setup

32:29 Chapter Breakdown and Reading Plan

33:20 Mapping the Calendar

37:17 Exploring Additional Books

40:11 Detailed Weekly Reading Schedule

48:26 Assignments and Evaluation

01:03:45 Final Adjustments and Conclusion

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Here is the syllabus we completed:

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