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> But if you imagine a sci-fi world where machines can build and do everything humans can do, the concept of a human-centric economy would be pointless. In Iai
by marcus_holmes 4mo ago
> But if you imagine a sci-fi world where machines can build and do everything humans can do, the concept of a human-centric economy would be pointless.
In Iain Banks' The Culture novels, the machines provide the How, humans provide the Why.
- Loughla 4mo agoI mean, there is a read of the culture that is pretty dystopian. If Minds are able to, essentially, predict the future, what is the purpose of the humans, other than as a sort of abstract pet acting out the Minds' great plans. Something something Bora Horza Gobuchul was right all along.
- akomtu 4mo agoMinds keep humans as pets.
- arethuza 4mo agoI can see why you might think that - but people and machines and groups are free to leave if they want - at least one of the Culture stories is based on this: e.g. "A Gift from the Culture".
- lambdaone 4mo agoFree-to-roam pets are still pets. The Minds are benevolent dictators, and generally seek not to be seen as such by humans.
- TheOtherHobbes 4mo agoWhat would the Minds do if all humans wanted to leave?
- arethuza 4mo agoProbably sublime... who knows!
- GeoAtreides 4mo agoNo, that's a read from people who equate suffering and toiling with meaning. The Culture is a true utopia, Iain says it explicitly.