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" It is erroneous to assume that the primacy of contemplation is responsible for the reduction of the vita activa to labour. Rather, we must assume that human action is reduced to mere activity and labour precisely by losing all of its contemplative aspects. Arendt mistakenly represents contemplation as an arresting of all movement and action, as a passive rest which makes any form of vita activa appear as restlessness. "

Byung-Chul Han , The Scent of Time: A Philosophical Essay on the Art of Lingering


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Byung-Chul Han quote : It is erroneous to assume that the primacy of contemplation is responsible for the reduction of the vita activa to labour. Rather, we must assume that human action is reduced to mere activity and labour precisely by losing all of its contemplative aspects. Arendt mistakenly represents contemplation as an arresting of all movement and action, as a passive rest which makes any form of vita activa appear as restlessness.