Isaac Asimov also pictured a world run by computers, but he saw this done for our benefit: with computers and robots doing all the hard work, we'll be free to focus on self-growth and creativity.
As attractive as that sounds, I fear Vonnegut's depiction of a mechanized future is more accurate. As the value of human labor is reduced, so is the power of the workers...and the tyranny of those who own the machines.
sc said: Isaac Asimov also pictured a world run by computers...
Indeed he did. I enjoyed his robot novels.
sc said: That is, the tyranny increases as the value of human labor decreases.
We put too much meaning into our profession or our job. A world without the necessity of employment would, if handled correctly, be something like a utopia - or at least have that potential.
By value, I mean economic value: skilled labors (miners, welders) can stand up for themselves in a way that unskilled laborers (light industrial workers, say) cannot. My concern is that as machines continue to reduce the amount of skilled labor necessary, workers will have less and less say.
6 comments:
Isaac Asimov also pictured a world run by computers, but he saw this done for our benefit: with computers and robots doing all the hard work, we'll be free to focus on self-growth and creativity.
As attractive as that sounds, I fear Vonnegut's depiction of a mechanized future is more accurate. As the value of human labor is reduced, so is the power of the workers...and the tyranny of those who own the machines.
(That is, the tyranny increases as the value of human labor decreases.)
Hey, I did that post.
:)
~Sadie
sc said: Isaac Asimov also pictured a world run by computers...
Indeed he did. I enjoyed his robot novels.
sc said: That is, the tyranny increases as the value of human labor decreases.
We put too much meaning into our profession or our job. A world without the necessity of employment would, if handled correctly, be something like a utopia - or at least have that potential.
By value, I mean economic value: skilled labors (miners, welders) can stand up for themselves in a way that unskilled laborers (light industrial workers, say) cannot. My concern is that as machines continue to reduce the amount of skilled labor necessary, workers will have less and less say.
sc said: My concern is that as machines continue to reduce the amount of skilled labor necessary, workers will have less and less say.
Hopefully we'll get to a point in the future where people don't *have* to work. Difficult to make a profit in that kind of world though! [grin]
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