4 ms·

What about the fact that pursuit of wealth can drive innovation that benefits the whole world. The creation of mobile phones has allowed many parts of the world

What about the fact that pursuit of wealth can drive innovation that benefits the whole world. The creation of mobile phones has allowed many parts of the world access to information and opportunities they didn't have before. The motivation to work hard and create new product is lessened if you know that all your money over $250K will be taken by force. Innovation would still take place but likely at a much slower pace.

CuriouslyC 10y ago
The purpose of innovation is to create happiness. We need to weigh the happiness innovation creates with the unhappiness that the system promoting innovation creates. This calculus is complicated. More equitable distributions of goods and services create more happiness than less equitable ones due to strong diminishing returns on happiness from external things. Furthermore, a lot of unhappiness is caused by wanting that results from comparing yourself to others, so equitable distributions also directly reduce unhappiness. On the other hand, feeling in control also causes happiness, and having your income taxed heavily does cause some perceived loss of control. Ultimately I think that a slower pace of innovation resulting from a more humane system with a more equitable distribution of wealth would make people happier. We don't know for sure though, so it is worth experimenting to find out. That being said, the Nordic countries have done this experiment and they are rated as the happiest nations on earth despite having a horrible climate, so there is some evidence for my position.
Y_Y 10y ago
Do you think that inventors will ransom their genius? And if they can't get super rich then they'll just sit on their hands?
- mmcconnell1618 10y ago
  No, but I think there is a difference between having the great idea and putting in the work it takes to bring it to market on a global scale. Fantastic ideas won't go away, just the motivation to put in the hard work of turning an idea into a product.

CuriouslyC 10y ago

The purpose of innovation is to create happiness. We need to weigh the happiness innovation creates with the unhappiness that the system promoting innovation creates. This calculus is complicated. More equitable distributions of goods and services create more happiness than less equitable ones due to strong diminishing returns on happiness from external things. Furthermore, a lot of unhappiness is caused by wanting that results from comparing yourself to others, so equitable distributions also directly reduce unhappiness. On the other hand, feeling in control also causes happiness, and having your income taxed heavily does cause some perceived loss of control. Ultimately I think that a slower pace of innovation resulting from a more humane system with a more equitable distribution of wealth would make people happier. We don't know for sure though, so it is worth experimenting to find out. That being said, the Nordic countries have done this experiment and they are rated as the happiest nations on earth despite having a horrible climate, so there is some evidence for my position.

Y_Y 10y ago

Do you think that inventors will ransom their genius? And if they can't get super rich then they'll just sit on their hands?

mmcconnell1618 10y ago
No, but I think there is a difference between having the great idea and putting in the work it takes to bring it to market on a global scale. Fantastic ideas won't go away, just the motivation to put in the hard work of turning an idea into a product.