While I have not read Jacek Dukaj (I’ll add to my list), I wonder if it’s less of not supposed to work vs had the option of indulging in less lucrative pursuits than even todays elite. Historically, wealth was largely land-driven and the elites did not work that land themselves. The historical “job” for the elites was war, which came in waves and left a lot of time for other things like poetry, philosophy and science. Todays upper middle classes are all wage workers with often longer and longer workweeks. Ideas like FIRE (financial independence retire early) are picking up steam, but are far from mainstream. This business of the parents combined with lack of tutoring or other one on one education has to be taking a negative effect on the quality of education.