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Humans will work first to obtain their basic needs, such as food and shelter. Some may complain that there are people on welfare, who have these basic needs pro

Humans will work first to obtain their basic needs, such as food and shelter. Some may complain that there are people on welfare, who have these basic needs provided, so that they no longer need to make an effort for these things. But for these people, how would they provide for their basic needs, if they were forced to? They can't just go out and grow food, because they don't own any land. They can't build a house, because they don't own land or have access to building materials, skills, or the right government permits. Their only option would be to go out and get a job, but what if they don't have the right background, training, experience, and nobody wants to employ them? In any case, once humans have satisfied their basic needs, one way or another, they can then do what they want. Some will want luxuries, like expensive and visible possessions or travel and fancy meals. Others will accumulate wealth to try to obtain power and control over others, or at least financial independence for themselves so they can opt out of employment. Some will just relax and play games all day, or follow other hobbies or sports as they prefer. The latter are what you are classifying as "surrogate activity", but I don't know if there's really any harm in it.

amasad 6y ago
No that's not what's meant by "surrogate activity," not in the way OP quoting Ted Kaczynski meant to mean. They define anything other than the most basic, like hunting and gathering, as a surrogate activity. So anything that we call a career today where you can work, make progress, and maybe even enjoy is, in their opinion, a "surrogate activity." I suggest reading TK, it's a very cynical worldview, but there is some truth to some of the arguments, and definitely something worth taking seriously.
- incompatible 6y ago
  Human populations are too large today to rely on hunting and gathering, but perhaps you could replace it with subsistence agriculture. But in the modern economy, it shouldn't really require anybody to work more than 10 or 15 hours a week to satisfy basic needs such as food and accommodation: otherwise, they are likely being swindled. So it leaves the problem of what to do for the rest of the time. Of course there are movements that say science, technology, industrialisation are things to be avoided, such as the Amish or primitivist anarchists.

amasad 6y ago

No that's not what's meant by "surrogate activity," not in the way OP quoting Ted Kaczynski meant to mean. They define anything other than the most basic, like hunting and gathering, as a surrogate activity. So anything that we call a career today where you can work, make progress, and maybe even enjoy is, in their opinion, a "surrogate activity." I suggest reading TK, it's a very cynical worldview, but there is some truth to some of the arguments, and definitely something worth taking seriously.

incompatible 6y ago
Human populations are too large today to rely on hunting and gathering, but perhaps you could replace it with subsistence agriculture. But in the modern economy, it shouldn't really require anybody to work more than 10 or 15 hours a week to satisfy basic needs such as food and accommodation: otherwise, they are likely being swindled. So it leaves the problem of what to do for the rest of the time. Of course there are movements that say science, technology, industrialisation are things to be avoided, such as the Amish or primitivist anarchists.