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What I referred to as high school economics are sentimental rhetoric like: > Who is automation for? All of us Your arguments have largely been innocent either
by themistocle 9y ago
What I referred to as high school economics are sentimental rhetoric like:
> Who is automation for? All of us
Your arguments have largely been innocent either by design or accident from the terrifying reality of daily life under our glorious economic system. I meant no personal insult to you of course. Your words reflect a broader notion that questions like automation are problems to be solved – a fine mindset from a technical perspective. But these are not just technical questions, they are grave conflicts where millions of lives hang in the balance. Slate Star Codex has a better exposition of this difference[0].
> Think of where we would be if Tesla, Edison and Westinghouse refused to work on electricity, lightbulbs, and electric motors because it would put the people that stoke fires for a living out of a job.
This is nearly identical to the plot from Ayn Rand's book "Anthem"[1].
[0]: http://slatestarcodex.com/2018/01/24/conflict-vs-mistake/ http://slatestarcodex.com/2018/01/24/conflict-vs-mistake/
[1]: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Anthem_(novella) https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Anthem_(novella)
> The next day he presents his work to the World Council of Scholars. Horrified that he has done unauthorized research, they assail him as a "wretch" and a "gutter cleaner" and say he must be punished. They want to destroy his discovery so it will not disrupt the plans of the World Council and the Department of Candles.