Thread: Post-scarcity

I think it would be a pretty empty existence for humans. Nothing to work for or earn through hard work.

What if such technology is already easily within our grasp? How would you feel that the 'hard work' you are doing is a pointless activity only designed to distract yourself. What are you distracting yourself from, exactly?

Originally Posted by Xei

What if such technology is already easily within our grasp? How would you feel that the 'hard work' you are doing is a pointless activity only designed to distract yourself. What are you distracting yourself from, exactly?

A post scarcity world can never actually come about due to human desire. To be in a post scarcity world suggests that all of our wants are satisfied and nothing can be worked towards.

...yes. The definition of a post scarcity society is one in which human desire is provided for. How is that contrary to human desire..?

Of course there would be a number of hypothetical exceptions such as desiring to commit immoral actions. But these things are already excluded by our legal systems anyway.

Every reasonable physical want you have is provided, and every unreasonable want (unsustainable, damaging, etc.) is, naturally, prohibited.

I think this is the DVD you're looking for

http://www.amazon.com/Future-Design-.../dp/1427608415

Quite interesting stuff. He's 80-something years old and still inventing.

If I didn't have to work for a living to sustain myself, I would spend all my time working out in the gym, meeting people, reading books, writing books, learning to wolf whistle, learning to play the guitar, take up a sport.

The sky is the limit. Have some imagination.

Originally Posted by Xei

...yes. The definition of a post scarcity society is one in which human desire is provided for. How is that contrary to human desire..?

Because human desire can never be satiated. I wouldn't really consider that a negative though.

Somehow I doubt one day waking up and going to work to find a replicator sitting at my desk. This idea will be carried out in reality slowly, and the human desire will grow proportionally in a direction we probably can't imagine right now, due to our scarcity issues.