What is Work?

Note: Do order a drink, tea, coffee or food when attending this event in support of Royal Oak for letting us use the Roxy Room. Please arrive at 6:45pm to order your drinks/food so that we can start the event at 7pm to minimum interruption. And attend only if you are on the "to go" list.

Work is a central part of human life, but what does it truly mean? Is it just a way to earn a living, or does it serve a deeper purpose in shaping our identity and fulfillment? As technology evolves and societal values shift, our relationship with work continues to change. To explore this, we will consider three scenarios that challenge us to reflect on the necessity, future, and meaning of work.
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Scenario 1: Free Money—As Long as You Don’t Work
Imagine that you are celebrating your 20th birthday today. A gift drops from the sky, offering you a choice: you will receive $3 million annually for the rest of your life. However, there is one strict condition—you must never engage in professional work from the moment you accept this offer.
Would your 20-year-old self make that choice?
Now, imagine being asked the same question at different points in your life—on your 30th, 40th, 50th, and 60th birthdays. Would your decision change as you grow older? If you had enough money to stop working at any stage, when would you choose to do so and why?
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Scenario 2: The Work of a Machine vs. the Work of a Human
You wake up one morning to find that AI and robots have advanced to the point where nearly all jobs are replaced by machines. Everything humanity needs, including food, shelter, medical care, education, entertainment, is provided effortlessly by machines. No one is required to work to sustain society.
Now, imagine that a group of people in this world still insist on working, arguing that certain jobs cannot be replaced by machines. What might be examples of these irreplaceable jobs, and why are they considered essential for humans – not machines – to continue doing?
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Scenario 3: The Purpose Behind Work
Two people have the same job—they work as nurses in a hospital. One views their role as simply following medical protocols, administering medications, and fulfilling daily responsibilities to earn a paycheck. The other views their work as a calling—dedicated to comforting patients, supporting their recovery, and making a profound difference in people’s lives during moments of vulnerability.
If the work is identical, why do they perceive it so differently? What does this tell us about motivation, meaning, and purpose in work?
Now, reflect on your own work or past jobs. Have you ever found meaning in work beyond the paycheck? What made the difference?
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These scenarios challenge us to think about what motivates us to work, the types of jobs that may never be replaced by machines, and how we find meaning in what we do. If possible, please read the scenarios in advance before joining the discussion and take some time to reflect on them. I look forward to exploring these questions with you!