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To beat an old drum: the highest good of human life isn't to work like a slave until you die. Fiction used to write about how robots would lift the yoke of lab

To beat an old drum: the highest good of human life isn't to work like a slave until you die. Fiction used to write about how robots would lift the yoke of labor from our shoulders, so we could all live our better lives. Now that it's happening, all folks can think of is how to make sure everybody is still slaving away somehow. Because the alternative - most of us don't have to do that - is unthinkable to the older generation.

anonymouskimmer 4y ago
Ennui has been a historical problem for the wealthy (and the retired). If we make it so no one has to work to earn a living we still need to address the problem of ennui. What I prefer, and what I think most people prefer, is a meaningful job that we enjoy doing. Sure, there will be times when the job sucks, but dealing with suckitude and adversity, if it isn't the majority of what you're doing, adds some positive feelings to life when after you've successfully dealt with it. If we can all do this with hobbies that don't add to the common good, then okay, UBI FTW. I don't know that I could do this with the low income of a UBI though (biology is expensive, and needs others to implement parts of it).
- JoeAltmaier 4y ago
  Used to be you did three things: your vocation (made a living). Your avocation (what you'd rather be doing). And hobbies (not very good but dabble). There's a long, long western tradition of doing things. Today we've forgotten there's more to life, than work and slacking. It'll be good if we could change that, to something more satisfying.
qualudeheart 4y ago
I don’t think that’s the highest good in life. I think it’s important that humans have access to well paying jobs because that gives them more agency. Money gives you options. In a perfect world nobody would have to work.
erik_seaberg 4y ago
> most of us don't have to do that The big questions are who still does, and how do we persuade them?
- JoeAltmaier 4y ago
  By paying them. This is an empty objection that keeps coming up. People work for money, and will continue to do so.

anonymouskimmer 4y ago

Ennui has been a historical problem for the wealthy (and the retired). If we make it so no one has to work to earn a living we still need to address the problem of ennui. What I prefer, and what I think most people prefer, is a meaningful job that we enjoy doing. Sure, there will be times when the job sucks, but dealing with suckitude and adversity, if it isn't the majority of what you're doing, adds some positive feelings to life when after you've successfully dealt with it. If we can all do this with hobbies that don't add to the common good, then okay, UBI FTW. I don't know that I could do this with the low income of a UBI though (biology is expensive, and needs others to implement parts of it).

JoeAltmaier 4y ago
Used to be you did three things: your vocation (made a living). Your avocation (what you'd rather be doing). And hobbies (not very good but dabble). There's a long, long western tradition of doing things. Today we've forgotten there's more to life, than work and slacking. It'll be good if we could change that, to something more satisfying.

qualudeheart 4y ago

I don’t think that’s the highest good in life. I think it’s important that humans have access to well paying jobs because that gives them more agency. Money gives you options. In a perfect world nobody would have to work.

erik_seaberg 4y ago

> most of us don't have to do that The big questions are who still does, and how do we persuade them?

JoeAltmaier 4y ago
By paying them. This is an empty objection that keeps coming up. People work for money, and will continue to do so.