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- This was a decent attempt at trying to explain the economics around startrek if your interested. https://www.amazon.co.uk/Trekonomics-Economics-Star-Manu-Saa...
A nice change from all the dystopian reading!
- Reminds me of Economic Possibilities for our Grandchildren (1930) by Keynes Definitely worth a read. I also finished Trekonomics by Manu Saadia which was a good attempt at trying to explain the economics behind star trek, essentially a society where the economic problem (scarcity of resources) had been solved and people live to pursue personal goals rather than income.
- I have been reading a lot in all kinds of places about what the future might hold for us a species, how we could go about becoming sustainable, do less harm to nature, fix the environment, help the poor, etc.
I understand that the fix is not something that can be applied to certain areas but rather a chain fix
For this post (one of many to come) i would like to know has anyone had the chance to:
-Read about Jacque Fresco and his work -https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jacque Fresco
-https://www.thevenusproject.com/the-venus-project/jacque-fresco/
-Check out the Venus Project -https://www.thevenusproject.com/
-Watch his interview with Larry King 1974 -https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lBIdk-fgCeQ
-What are your thoughts on Jacque
-Are you familiar with any similar projects or anything related with the same topic (please share resources)
-Do you think we could achieve the Venus Project or Star Trek economics: -https://www.amazon.com/Trekonomics-Economics-Star-Manu-Saadia/dp/1941758754
-Feel free to add anything that might be of value to the discussion
I am aware that there is so much in this web of life that we can’t just simple switch to a new way of life, or maybe even thinking about it is hard or not?
would you say that perhaps the way for a better tomorrow would start with a new way of education system? one which transcends borders, nationalities or anything else that might, how should say, in way cripple the logical and what is right thinking.
I understand it’s a bit broader topic, but it’s my first try so feel free to share constructive feedback on both the question and how to improve this and future questions to get the most out of it.
Thank you all!
- Trekonomics is a nice non-fiction book about the utopian ideas presented in Star Trek and especially TNG. It talks about Gene Roddenberry's ideals for a better future once post-scarcity (symbolized by the replicator) has been reached. In the Federation, there is no poverty and no one spends their life hoarding wealth other than the Ferengi.
The show presents a clear answer to a popular criticism to UBI: what is to prevent everyone from staying home to play video games and leeching off society?
The optimistic answer is that once society can produce enough goods for everyone, the traditional value system of society (material wealth => proxy for contributions to society => virtue) loses meaning and will be overtaken by new ones (contributing to society => virtue). Of course in the Star Trek universe, they only got there after nuclear apocalypse (WW3) and rebuilding society, but the value system is appealing and IMO something we ought to strive for.
- Trekonomics is a nice non-fiction book about the utopian ideas presented in Star Trek and especially TNG. There, they treat the replicator as more of a metaphor for post-scarcity rather than recipe (i.e. Star Trek technology is sufficient but not necessary).
I would say I'm more optimistic than you about post-scarcity. Bertrand Russell makes a case for the insanity of modern society by noting that during WWI half of British populace was sufficient to produce enough for all of Britain. Even if we allow for some margin of error in his statement, since that time productivity in the US has increased 4.5x since then.
To me the show is increasingly relevant. For example, it presents a clear answer to a popular criticism to UBI: what is to prevent everyone from staying home to play video games and leeching off society?
The optimistic answer is that once society can produce enough goods for everyone, the traditional value system of society (material wealth => proxy for contributions to society => virtue) loses meaning and will be overtaken by new ones (contributing to society => virtue).
I agree with most of your summary except the end. What if the problems in the US and around the developed world are more due to how society is organized rather than technological? I think the Star Trek value system is appealing and IMO something we ought to strive for.
- Manu Saadia's Trekonomics: The Economics of Star Trek is kinda the reverse: it's an examination of Star Trek's post-scarcity economy, how matter replicators change everything, and what people do with their free time when they don't have to work.
There's a big hole in Star Trek canon of how Earth transitioned from ST:TOS to the post-scarcity economy of ST:TNG. I would love to see Star Trek delve explore that era instead of rebooting and rehashing so many prequals.
Here is a transcript from an NPR interview with Paul Krugman about Saadia's book:
https://www.marketplace.org/2016/09/07/world/economist-paul-...
