Recent developments indicate that Americans are spending the majority of their time in “technology advancement,” while neglecting social and cultural progress. We create too many gizmos and not enough new cultural forms and institutions to improve humanity.

In order to achieve a better social product — society — we need two things: creativity and the leisure time in which to develop or exercise it. Behind the situation are some paradoxes regarding work, productivity and leisure.

Is the typical American overworked? One side argues that the average workweek has steadily increased for both white- and blue-collar workers. They say Americans take fewer days off per year than workers in any other industrial country, and that this situation is forced upon the American worker.

The other side presents labor statistics to show that the average workweek has remained fairly constant over the last 40 years. And, where the workweek has increased for certain individuals, it has been by choice: the typical American worker wants more hours because it means more pay or career advancement.

Ironically, in the workplace we are increasingly productive and innovative. The U.S. government tracks worker productivity, which has hit record levels recently, according to the Labor Department. With greater productivity, one might think that there is more leisure time, but there isn’t.

The importance of creative leisure time was made abundantly clear by the ancient Greeks. They astounded their world with creations that are the very foundation of our Western Civilization. From their surplus of leisure came totally new forms and concepts: democracy, philosophy, naturalistic art and literature.

What do we do with our leisure?

According to a 2002 Harris Preference Poll, Americans have about 20 hours per week to pursue leisure activities, an amount largely unchanged since 1989. American adults indicated reading (26 percent) as one of their top two or three leisure time activities (respondents could name up to three activities). Other top activities were watching TV (15 percent), spending time with family (11 percent), fishing (8 percent), gardening (8 percent), playing team sports (7 percent), going to the movies (6 percent), and swimming and golf (5 percent each). Painting and writing were 2 percent and 1 percent each, respectively.

What conclusions can be drawn from this survey? Reading is an encouraging sign, depending of course on what is being read! Otherwise, the poll shows that Americans are involved in mentally passive leisure.

Americans are spending their leisure time mostly entertaining themselves. Very few are creating or discussing ideas, are thinking about society and the future, or are coming into contact with others who should be doing the same thing. What to do?

Of course, recreation is important. People will never be able to function at their mental peak if they are in poor physical health. Everyone needs to have some time to kick up his or her feet or go swimming. The Greeks knew this. But they still allotted time enough for reflection and pondering the meaning and improvement of life.

These uses of time do not seem to exist for today’s Americans. Lack of constructive leisure time is much to our disadvantage as the world’s leading power.

So what needs to be done? Americans must realize the need for social advancement as well as technical and scientific advancement. In the years to come, our technology will continue to be superior, but if we are unable to make progress as a society, interacting with one another, the greatest technologies will be wasted in narrow applications.

Leonardo da Vinci said, “Iron rusts from disuse, stagnant water loses its purity and in cold weather becomes frozen; even so does inaction sap the vigors of the mind.” Let us, as Americans, not have our collective brainpower waste away by overlooking or ignoring social concerns. We need to realize value of those issues and strive for more quality leisure time.

Silvio Laccetti is a professor of humanities at Stevens Institute of Technology, Castle Point on Hudson, Hoboken, N.J. 07030. Scott Molski is a student at Stevens.