Quote:
Originally Posted by InfiniteNow
An interesting proposition, but I think you carry it too far.
|
Trying not to fail you!
Quote:
|
Originally Posted by InfiniteCreativity
While "need is the mother of all invention," need is not the mother of creativity, and those creativity genes have long ago become an integral part of our genetic make-up.
|
I agree! But at the same time, not everyone "is creative." Have you ever read
Player Piano? What to do with all those folks that the machines make superfluous but aren't smart enough or creative enough to be very useful? Just keep em busy I guess.
Quote:
|
Originally Posted by InfiniteAbundance
However, isn't the whole backbone of Boerseun's thread the availability of abundant energy to all? In other words, at what point in his proposal would scarcity come into play?
|
There's two issues here:
- "Available to all?" How's that happen? Most things get invented by folks with money. Not to sound too much like Mike C here, but likely a few folks will hold the keys to the infinite source of energy, at least until the revolution comes and they're all lined up against the wall...The devil is in the details on this one, and human nature being what it is (that's what the "guns" line is all about, right?), somebody's gonna want to keep it from being given to everyone for free.
- Scarcity of other stuff: In Star Trek land as I pointed out, even "limitless matter-antimatter energy" was limited by necessary precursors, but indeed lets leave that aside as "solved" as in B's scenario. Would there indeed be no other scarcities? Would we really find a way to "manufacture" oil to feed the Hummers that Pyro dreams of, let alone the steel to make them? Would there be enough beach front property for all of us? Materials to build those dream homes? Would all guys look like Matthew Fox, put the toilet seat down and remember my birthday?
To really be Utopia, we need more than Energy (that's equitably distributed!) of course: there's lots of stuff left that can be scarce to leave us with all the same conflicts we have today... just one less thing or two...
Quote:
|
Originally Posted by InfiniteCardio
Lastly, we're already couch potatoes. Let's get real. 
Time to set the alarm so I can go jogging in the morning.  |
Yah, 'cept you n' me, right? I seem to recall that in Logan's Run, everyone was not only beautiful, but they had abs of steel because they worked out all the time (which made it easier to Run, of course!). So given we all got Hummers and can afford to drive them a half-block to the store, are we all gonna be spending 3 hours a day on the progressive machine, perfecting our martial arts skills and scaling The Nose on El Capitan with our bare hands?
But thou, contracted to thine own bright eyes, feed'st thy light'st flame with self-substantial fuel, making a famine where abundance lies, thyself thy foe, to thy sweet self too cruel,
Buffy
