Pigs On Trial

Pigs on Trial looks at the natural behaviour of pigs and dispels the notion of laziness but it probes even deeper to the Middle Ages when some pigs were put on trial in a court of law for harming or killing children. They had their own defense lawyers who argued on their behalf and tried to deny culpability. But some pigs were still hung for their presumed acts of murder and in one case in France the sow was even dressed in a man's jacket and trousers before going to the gallows. The story also looks at laziness from the perspective of the deadly sin of sloth and indeed at the animal called a sloth as well - known for its laid back movements and seemingly permanent smile on its face. The piece looks at the part the Christian religion has played in creating what became known as the Protestant Work Ethic and the modern notions of work and what is still available and will be available once Artificial Intelligence overtakes many human jobs. The story looks at the future of work and that a certain aptitude for leisurely pursuits may benefit humans who are displaced from their traditional work roles. It is part humorous but also based on animal behaviours and sociological observations.