Thought experiment #2
I often hear about the need to create jobs. OR, worse still, that such and such store is laying off X number of employees. As if this is a bad thing. Think about this: What would be the ultimate form of society? Could it take a form whereby no one has to have a job and all people are afforded the luxury to pursue any interests they may have? That they could possess whatever it is they would like? Suppose robots were able to perform all duties humans are presently required to do?
Is this a good thing?
When the supermarket replaces cashiers with self-service item scanners, isn't this preferable? Through technology we are able to replace a human with a machine allowing that human to go off and do something that is productive - thus making society more productive and more prosperous.
What should that person do?
Shouldn't it be something that is of value to society? If so, then it can only be uncovered through a capitalistic market driven economy where that person is able to be of benefit to society or offer a service that is desired.
Only someone cynical would think it better to keep the human in the mundane task of scanning items - as if this was their total worth to society. AND, if it is, doesn't that suggest that something is wrong with such a society? Example: The poorly functioning state-run public education system? I mean, if a person can attend a State run school for nearly two decades and ONLY acquire the skills to scan an item across a screen, well, that's a damning indictment of public education.
Something to think about when next you do your grocery shopping and walk past the meat of an abused animal.....
I often hear about the need to create jobs. OR, worse still, that such and such store is laying off X number of employees. As if this is a bad thing. Think about this: What would be the ultimate form of society? Could it take a form whereby no one has to have a job and all people are afforded the luxury to pursue any interests they may have? That they could possess whatever it is they would like? Suppose robots were able to perform all duties humans are presently required to do?
Is this a good thing?
When the supermarket replaces cashiers with self-service item scanners, isn't this preferable? Through technology we are able to replace a human with a machine allowing that human to go off and do something that is productive - thus making society more productive and more prosperous.
What should that person do?
Shouldn't it be something that is of value to society? If so, then it can only be uncovered through a capitalistic market driven economy where that person is able to be of benefit to society or offer a service that is desired.
Only someone cynical would think it better to keep the human in the mundane task of scanning items - as if this was their total worth to society. AND, if it is, doesn't that suggest that something is wrong with such a society? Example: The poorly functioning state-run public education system? I mean, if a person can attend a State run school for nearly two decades and ONLY acquire the skills to scan an item across a screen, well, that's a damning indictment of public education.
Something to think about when next you do your grocery shopping and walk past the meat of an abused animal.....
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