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The other fundamental flaw is that post-scarcity is impossible, in that scarcity itself is paradoxically in huge demand. And human nature will create scarcity o
by beerandt 5y ago
The other fundamental flaw is that post-scarcity is impossible, in that scarcity itself is paradoxically in huge demand. And human nature will create scarcity out of thin air where none naturally exists.
NFTs, original art, first editions, exclusive neighborhoods, trendy fashion.
Even judgmental aspects of society and things like activism & wokeness are basically examples of post-scarcity markets: social acceptance and personal status becomes a market of artificial scarcity in supporting the trendy causes, of which there's no limits on supply, since it's basically the abstract support of an idea. Once everyone's on board with the old-new cause, a new-new cause becomes unique and trendy, and early "possession" of the new cause is the new status symbol, as long as the artificial scarcity holds.
These cycles endlessly repeat precisely because there's no scarcity in trendy ideas, just a lag time. But there are always people who want to judge and be judged based on the trendy possessions, even if those possessions are intangible ideas and values/virtues.
- wmf 5y agoPost-scarcity is generally understood with regard to material necessities, not everything. A future where coolness is the only scarcity would be a massive success.
- beerandt 5y agoI'm not so sure- look at how important social connections, status symbols, and power become in places that are already universally wealthy. Value starts to be put in things that by definition require scarcity: exclusive neighborhoods, fancy restaurants with hard to get reservations, concierge doctors, private vacation spots, vip type shopping where the store is only open for you, private club memberships, social-political connections Even most nimby-ism is a form of this. Plus anywhere people are willing to pay higher prices specifically because of who can't afford them. From fancy grocery stores to 1st class airplane seats to golf courses to "VIP status" of clubs to fast-passes/extended-hours at theme parks. It's a lot more than "coolness".
- imtringued 5y agoThe point is that we introduce artificial scarcity in everything because we like it that way. Inequality is in fashion.