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For this to happen, we need the replicators from Star Trek. At that point, it WILL change everything
by nolite 15y ago
For this to happen, we need the replicators from Star Trek. At that point, it WILL change everything
- wladimir 15y agoScarcity will end when both these Star Trek ideas come true: 1) Every trinket can be produced en masse with a precious mingling of magic, unicorns and nanotechnology 2) Consumerism ends. One could argue there are enough resources and means of production on the world for everyone. It's just that the "haves" want more and more, and then throw it away and want even more. Otherwise -- A Star Trek replicator would just speed up the treadmill of consumerism. You can have any toy you want instantly. In our current society, this would probably mean that fashions change every three minutes, and the rich part of the population will use so much energy that the have-nots will still be deprived of even basic living conditions.
- tomjen3 15y agoIt would speed up the consumerism but only for a short time until people find a new way to signal their social standing.
- wladimir 15y agoYou might be right. But, looking at history, I'm always more conservative about predictions as to changes in human nature than in level of technology. On the other hand, consumerism as we know it really only exists for about 100 years. It might be a passing fad.