Difference between revisions of "Post-scarcity"
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The '''post-scarcity age''' is an anticipated period where due to advancing technology and efficient use of natural resources there will be a great abundance of the material items, goods and services that people require, achieved with a minimal impact to the environment. It will not matter where you live. | The '''post-scarcity age''' is an anticipated period where due to advancing technology and efficient use of natural resources there will be a great abundance of the material items, goods and services that people require, achieved with a minimal impact to the environment. It will not matter where you live. | ||
| − | + | Many visions of post scarcity in fiction involve as yet undeveloped technologies and unproven theories but it is interesting to note that material abundance for mankind's requirements can be produced with existing technologies. Food is one example, where there is more than enough for everyone on the planet, but it is logistics, politics and economics that prevents a more egalitarian distribution. There exists far more energy, raw material and biological resources on Earth than humanity requires, it is a matter of developing systems that use them more efficiently. | |
| − | The simplest analogy is that of a vast jungle | + | [[Image:Fundamental materials.jpg|right|200px|Material resources]] |
| + | When civilization reaches the point of true post scarcity, everything from basics like clean water, nutritious food, medicine and suitable housing to increasingly essential material goods like vehicles, computers, mobile phones and all the way up to purely luxury items, will be freely available to anyone that requires them. | ||
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| + | The simplest analogy is that of a vast jungle providing fruit in abundance for anyone to eat. But in this scenario the jungle is highly autonomous distributed machinery that has been openly designed. | ||
== Abundance of the fundamental resources == | == Abundance of the fundamental resources == | ||
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;Do we really have the resources for this kind of society? | ;Do we really have the resources for this kind of society? | ||
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:See the [[open design]] and [[Advanced closed-loop automation|closed-loop automation]] pages. | :See the [[open design]] and [[Advanced closed-loop automation|closed-loop automation]] pages. | ||
{{clean break}} | {{clean break}} | ||
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Revision as of 21:12, 19 February 2006
The post-scarcity age is an anticipated period where due to advancing technology and efficient use of natural resources there will be a great abundance of the material items, goods and services that people require, achieved with a minimal impact to the environment. It will not matter where you live.
Many visions of post scarcity in fiction involve as yet undeveloped technologies and unproven theories but it is interesting to note that material abundance for mankind's requirements can be produced with existing technologies. Food is one example, where there is more than enough for everyone on the planet, but it is logistics, politics and economics that prevents a more egalitarian distribution. There exists far more energy, raw material and biological resources on Earth than humanity requires, it is a matter of developing systems that use them more efficiently.
When civilization reaches the point of true post scarcity, everything from basics like clean water, nutritious food, medicine and suitable housing to increasingly essential material goods like vehicles, computers, mobile phones and all the way up to purely luxury items, will be freely available to anyone that requires them.
The simplest analogy is that of a vast jungle providing fruit in abundance for anyone to eat. But in this scenario the jungle is highly autonomous distributed machinery that has been openly designed.
Abundance of the fundamental resources
- Do we really have the resources for this kind of society?
- Civilization boils down to four fundementals: material, energy, information and intelligence – none of which are in short supply. It is the current inefficient methods of use (and re-use) and perceived economic restrictions that make it appear that there are significant limitations to these resources.
- See the fundamental resources page for more information on resource availability.
- How do we design machinery advanced enough to give us all of this?
- See the open design and closed-loop automation pages.
