What is Project Lazy?
A research project that explores the meaning and impact of the label ‘lazy’, and that aims to rethink laziness in ways that reduce harm and promote human flourishing.
Based at the Uehiro Oxford Institute, University of Oxford, the project combines philosophical analysis and moral psychological research with insights from other disciplines and the experiences of people affected by laziness judgments.
Why laziness judgments matter
Judgments about laziness are not only common — they are also powerful. Calling someone ‘lazy’ can suggest a personal failure (“you’re wasting your life”) or a moral failure (“you’re not doing your fair share”). Once the label is applied, it can affect how people are treated — and whether they receive recognition, support, or blame. It can also shape how people see themselves.
But what if one of the most powerful words in our language is used without a clear understanding of what it means? And what if some of our judgments about laziness rest on mistaken assumptions?
Have we wrongly assigned blame to ourselves or others? Have we fuelled, without good reason, guilt, burnout, and social division?
Project Lazy explores these questions by examining what we mean by ‘lazy’ and by reflecting on social norms that shape our thinking about laziness.
It is an open and evolving research initiative, and we invite everyone to contribute their insights and experiences as the project develops.
FAQs
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Project Lazy explores how people understand the concept ‘lazy’, how the concept is used, and how this use affects people, and society as a whole.
Project Lazy addresses a critical gap in philosophical work on 'laziness'. Though frequently invoked in academic, public and policy discourse – on topics such as welfare support, stigma, and an AI-driven world – the concept remains undertheorised. This is problematic: laziness attributions contribute to anxiety and burnout, enable discrimination, and disproportionately harm disadvantaged groups including ethnic minorities, people with chronic illness, and unemployed individuals.
We will develop the first comprehensive philosophical account of laziness incorporating cross-cultural moral-psychological research and community engagement with affected groups. This will clarify what laziness is and identify harmful misattributions—foundational work for promoting human flourishing.
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Judgments about laziness are not only common — they are also unusually powerful. Once the label ‘lazy’ is applied, it can shape how people are treated in workplaces, schools, healthcare, and everyday life, influencing whether they receive recognition, support, or blame. There is reason to think that laziness attributions contribute to anxiety and burnout, enable discrimination, and disproportionately harm disadvantaged groups. Project Lazy aims to rethink laziness in ways that reduce such harm and promote human flourishing.
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The project is led by Katrien Devolder, Professor of Applied Ethics at the University of Oxford.
The core team includes researchers working across philosophy, ethics, moral psychology, sociology, psychology, public engagement, and the arts.
We are also building a wider Project Lazy community and welcome anyone interested in these questions to join the conversation.
Our team
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Professor Katrien Devolder
Uehiro Oxford Institute
University of Oxford -
Dr Joanna Demaree-Cotton
Uehiro Oxford Institute
University of Oxford -
Anna Golova
Uehiro Oxford Institute
University of Oxford -
Vara Raturi
Uehiro Oxford Institute
University of Oxford -
Shristi Shakya
Uehiro Oxford Institute
University of Oxford -
Axelle Duquesnoy
Uehiro Oxford Institute
University of Oxford -
Indya Sawyerr
Christchurch College
University of Oxford