Post scarcity has more to do with divorcing labor from production than producing unlimited amounts of widgets. A basic living, often proposed as basic income, is therefore available to all without everyone fully employed. Our work morality that equates labor with godliness will make this morally hard to accept, but I dream someday art can be a labor of its own merit, or even building realms in Minecraft. I don’t frankly see what’s intrinsically superior to laboring at McDonalds or as an accountant for some globo corporation over playing video games all day. But most people believe breaking your soul in a cubicle is somehow morally superior.
> Post scarcity has more to do with divorcing labor from production
For almost everything, we’re there. Especially when it comes to food production. There’s still some employment to be had, but precious little when compared with the number of people who can be fed by that limited labor.
For most of our basic needs, this holds true. Yet, the economy demands our labor, arguably hallucinating jobs into existence to meet those demands.
I agree. Realistically housing, medical care, and a few other basic necessities aren’t there. And farming the way we do is blasting the earth. We still have a way to go. But the nobility of exploitation and a life of pointless toil will likely persist without some serious dislocations in society. It’s possible AI will bring those about. But as a society we don’t let go of our prisons easily.
