Leisure and morality: A qualitative research in terms of experimental philosophy

Once considered the foundation of philosophy and the possibility for the development of civilization, leisure has been a relevant concept throughout the history of humanity, always intertwined with moral conditions. The ambiguity surrounding this concept, which manifests itself in different meanings and forms, and its examination through a single expression, have led to conceptual and historical confusion, resulting in a deficiency in the philosophical value attributed to it. As a philosophical concept, leisure was first addressed in Aristotle's works and has taken on different dimensions in the Middle Ages and the Modern Era within changing paradigms. In order to resolve this confusion, this study focuses on conceptual analysis to determine which expression can better explain the phenomenon. Consequently, the philosophical concept of leisure is distinguished from the concept of free time, which is considered more appropriate for other disciplines, and a new framework is outlined through the concepts of virtue time, duty time, and teleological time, based on similarities with ethical theories. By highlighting both content and historical distinctions, the aim is to contribute to the resolution of existing issues. Furthermore, the intuition of the relationship between leisure and morality is assumed in all pre-industrial periods, and its adaptation to the modern concept of leisure, necessitates the consideration of this study within the scope of experimental philosophy. Therefore, the second section demonstrates the content and areas of discussion within experimental philosophy. Through the adaptation of the methods derived from this field, the qualitative research conducted in this study examines the outcomes of the ongoing debate in terms of their practical implications. The interpretive phenomenological research method is employed to understand individuals' views and everyday practices regarding leisure and morality. The aim here is to determine the basis and appearance of the relationship between individuals and leisure within various paradigms of leisure and ethical approaches. Thus, the objective is to contribute to the resolution of the contemporary problem of leisure time. Finally, the findings of the conducted research are analyzed, and it is concluded that the intuition regarding the relationship between leisure and morality can provide the possibility for philosophical leisure time. Keywords: Leisure, Experimental Philosophy, Ethics, Phenomenological Research, Free Time