What would you do in a post-scarcity world?

[Lorizael]

There is no such thing.

Locally - that is, in a particular place, and for a finite amount of time - there can be.

[Aeson]

Or if all sentience is eliminated, but then we wouldn't be doing much of anything.

[onodera]

Who would you teach? In a post-scarcity world we would have unlimited android teachers better than any human teacher.

If we can build an android teacher better than a human one, humans are obsolete.

[Lorizael]

Why don't you ask about a pre-scarcity world? Because that's where we're headed.

I'm trying and failing to find a way in which this makes a lick of sense.

[Elok]

I'm trying and failing to find a way in which this makes a lick of sense.

I think that's just another way of saying "there's no such thing as post-scarcity, and there won't ever be," combined with a general idea of impending shortages like the depletion of oil reserves, a rise in food prices perhaps accompanied by a loss of arable land due to unsustainable agriculture practices, etc.

[DaShi]

I would treat post-scarcity as a personal challenge.

[Cort Haus]

The only thing that could come out of this is constant and unfulfilling hedonism

Rather than constant and unfulfilled attempts to join the marines.

If you eventually join the marines I will, of course, take this back.

[Zoetstofzoetje]

to exist is to differ

[Kuciwalker]

I think that's just another way of saying "there's no such thing as post-scarcity, and there won't ever be," combined with a general idea of impending shortages like the depletion of oil reserves, a rise in food prices perhaps accompanied by a loss of arable land due to unsustainable agriculture practices, etc.

That's not 'pre-scarcity'. Pre-scarcity implies a time before there was scarcity, i.e. before wants exceeded supply, i.e. before humans existed.

[Lorizael]

Depending on how broadly you're arguing, before any life as well.

[Kuciwalker]

Regardless, MOBIUS' statement was entirely cogent.

[Al B. Sure!]

Regardless, MOBIUS' statement was entirely cogent.

Yeah but not how he intended it. Elok hit the nail on the head as to what Mobius most certainly meant.

[Darius871]

That's not 'pre-scarcity'. Pre-scarcity implies a time before there was scarcity, i.e. before wants exceeded supply, i.e. before humans existed.

****, you really oughta be a lawyer.

[Lorizael]

Regardless, MOBIUS' statement was entirely cogent.

Certainly. My response to him may have employed a bit of hyperbole. But either way, the idea that we'll soon be entering a pre-scarcity world seems a pretty silly one.

(Which is not to say the idea that we'll soon be entering a post-scarcity world is any less silly. I'm really just interested in seeing what sorts of things people would try to do if no longer influenced by the economics of scarcity.)

[Al B. Sure!]

Wow really? Elok, do you see this? Do you see this, Mobius?

Way to have obvious intention fly over everyone's head in favor of mis-spoken literalism