philosophical-retreat
The historical tradition of withdrawing from society to seek tranquility and happiness, as illustrated by Epicurus’s garden school.
1 chapter across 1 book
How to Do Nothing: Resisting the Attention Economy (2019)Jenny Odell
Chapter 2 explores the complexities and limitations of retreating from society and technology as a form of resistance to the attention economy. Through personal anecdote and the example of Levi Felix's digital detox camp, the chapter critiques the commercialization and corporatization of digital detox practices, while situating these efforts within a longer historical tradition of seeking refuge from societal pressures, exemplified by Epicurus's garden school. The chapter ultimately argues that permanent withdrawal is largely unfeasible and that meaningful resistance requires engagement with the world rather than escape.