Spit-balling post scarcity societies

[paranoid marvin]

No one would have to work. That's the point of post-scarcity.

In a society with an overabundance, or an easy acquirement of commodities, then some sectors of the population wouldn't need to work but others surely would?

 

[Swank]

In a society with an overabundance, or an easy acquirement of commodities, then some sectors of the population wouldn't need to work but others surely would?

Do already wealthy people spend their time on things that are work? Businesses, politics, art, charity?

 

[paranoid marvin]

Do already wealthy people spend their time on things that are work? Businesses, politics, art, charity?

Sorry, not sure what you mean here? Some wealthy people work so that they can make more money, or because they enjoy the work they do, or for the benefit of others. But when you have wealth you have choice. There's obviously a big difference between choosing whether to work or not, and there being no meaningful work for you to do.

Even in a post-scarcity society you will still need vets, doctors, hairdressers, insurance clerks, maintenance workers, farmers, police, firemen etc etc. Given the choice, if there was no incentive to get up for work in a morning, the likelihood is that most people would stay in bed.

 

[Cthulhu.Science]

"Post scarcity" requires a bit more defining. Food - Shelter - Clothing
According to the UN Enough food is produced today to feed everyone on the planet, but hunger is on the rise in some parts of the world, and some 821 million people are considered to be “chronically undernourished”.

We could look into every other commodity if we chose. According to the charity United Way, There are currently 28 vacant homes for every one person experiencing homelessness in the U.S.

Clothing is over-manufactured every season at a staggering rate.

So, as we all sit here at our computers, we are living in a post-scarcity world society. This is what it looks like.

 

[Vince W]

To quote William Gibson: “The future has already arrived. It’s just not evenly distributed yet.”

 

[paranoid marvin]

And less than 1% of the world's population owns more than half the wealth.

It always struck as profound in HHGTTG when the Golgafrinchams decide to choose the leaf as their form of currency, then proceed to burn down all of the forests to ensure that it maintains its value.

 

[Swank]

Sorry, not sure what you mean here? Some wealthy people work so that they can make more money, or because they enjoy the work they do, or for the benefit of others. But when you have wealth you have choice. There's obviously a big difference between choosing whether to work or not, and there being no meaningful work for you to do.

Even in a post-scarcity society you will still need vets, doctors, hairdressers, insurance clerks, maintenance workers, farmers, police, firemen etc etc. Given the choice, if there was no incentive to get up for work in a morning, the likelihood is that most people would stay in bed.

I don't think a society is "post scarcity" is you rely on others for necessary services. A post scarcity technology (nanotech or whatever), implies that things like medicine, maintenance, security and hairdressing can either be performed through technology - or ignored as unnecessary.

You really aren't getting with the concept if you see the need for insurance in a society with no money.

 

[Cthulhu.Science]

What do we do when AI Libels and Slanders people?

I saw this article and draft legal paper and I don't have an answer.

So let us suppose that an AI doing its thing on social media and spits out post after post claiming that a specific person is committing heinous crimes. And the AI program generates fictitious quotes and cite fictitious sources. Perhaps generates completely false photos and videos that are indistinguishable for the real thing.

Are the police equipped, or interesting in finding out whether the crimes claimed by the AI were actually perpetrated?

And if there was a way to prove the AI falsely generated all this, what to do then?

 

[Swank]

What do we do when AI Libels and Slanders people?

I saw this article and draft legal paper and I don't have an answer.

So let us suppose that an AI doing its thing on social media and spits out post after post claiming that a specific person is committing heinous crimes. And the AI program generates fictitious quotes and cite fictitious sources. Perhaps generates completely false photos and videos that are indistinguishable for the real thing.

Are the police equipped, or interesting in finding out whether the crimes claimed by the AI were actually perpetrated?

And if there was a way to prove the AI falsely generated all this, what to do then?

I think you're posting in the wrong thread.

 

[Cthulhu.Science]

I think you're posting in the wrong thread.

Yes. Seems I have. Thank you.

 

[Sorceress 21]

And less than .999% of the world's population owns more than 99.99% the wealth.

It always struck as profound in HHGTTG when the Golgafrinchams decide to choose the leaf as their form of currency, then proceed to burn down all of the forests to ensure that it maintains its value.

Fixed it for ya...The real truth is that about roughly 1200 or so people control, well, basically everything. You should look into Blackrock. They're a supposedly legitimate multi national investment company. They literally have more wealth than that of every nation on the planet combined with the exception of the US and China.

Regarding "virtual lives" and any other postulation towards how might we..*ahem*.."overcome" our very nature to become a truly peaceful and successful species. Well, take away the things that define our very nature and whatever you've got left isn't human. Take away our innate aggression, competitiveness, capacity for violence and need to have purpose, all the good things left over, i.e., art, music, compassion, science, philosophy....well, none of that works anymore.

We are a Yin and Yang species. If we breed out, techno out, genetically engineer out the bad: the good will whittle and die and vice versa. There is no accomplishing these lofty goals of utopianism in teh near term without sacrificing everything that makes us what we are. It's our imperfections and our flaws that define us, in ways even more so than our strengths.

If we manage to survive our technological infancy and become a truly star faring species, we'll need to "organically" evolve into something higher over millions of years to reach our full potential.

 

[Cthulhu.Science]

Here's a post-scarcity society - [or would it be pre-scarcity society]
Pre-contact Hawaii. Actually all of Polynesia prior to Western Contact everyone had all of everything they needed.
There is no evidence of starvation. Everyone had all the clothing they wanted. Nobody died due to lack of housing.

 

[Cthulhu.Science]

Qatar is another example of a post-scarcity society. For the citizens of Qatar.

All of the Citizens of Qatar have everything they want and need.
Non-citizens get nothing, and should be glad for the opportunity.

Perfect model for a fantasy/sci-fi government organization.

 

[Pyan]

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