The Thomistic Institute Beyond Work and Play: Aristotle on Friendship, Contemplation, and The Value of Human Activity – Prof. Marshall Bierson
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Mar 19, 2026 Marshall Bierson, assistant professor of philosophy focused on ethics and Thomistic-informed psychological questions. He explores Aristotle’s distinction between work, play, and deeper energetic activities. He highlights why friendship and contemplation uniquely allow us to “rest” in what is truly good. He also shows how Aquinas radicalizes this by making friendship with God central to human fulfillment.
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Work Versus Play Framing Of Meaninglessness
- Modern nihilism can be framed by classifying human actions as work or play, each aimed at making or enjoying a difference.
- Bierson uses this dilemma to probe why work or play alone fail to explain meaningful human life.
Woodworking Example Of Work Plus Play
- Bierson gives a woodworking example where his sister makes cutting boards instead of buying them to enjoy the activity.
- This shows many real activities mix work and play but can be analytically decomposed into kinesis or energeia.
Work's Paradoxical Goal
- Work aims at its own elimination because solving its target problem removes the need for the work.
- Bierson argues this makes work a poor candidate for life's ultimate meaning since its success erases the activity that gave it value.