Difference between revisions of "Post-scarcity/The means for a post-scarcity society"
From AdCiv
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Civilisation boils down to four fundamentals: [[Fundamental_resources#Material|material]], [[Fundamental_resources#Energy|energy]], [[Fundamental_resources#Information|information]] and [[Fundamental_resources#Machine intelligence|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. | Civilisation boils down to four fundamentals: [[Fundamental_resources#Material|material]], [[Fundamental_resources#Energy|energy]], [[Fundamental_resources#Information|information]] and [[Fundamental_resources#Machine intelligence|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. | ||
| − | + | Specifically, using currently existing technology... | |
| + | * We can provide abundant clean [[Water|water]] for everyone on Earth. | ||
| + | * We can produce enough [[Food|food]] to feed at least 80 billion people without harming the environment | ||
| + | * We can meet our [[Energy|energy]] needs at least ten times over using clean, renewable energy | ||
| + | * We can build cheap, high-quality houses in a day or two, providing shelter for the billion people currently living in slums | ||
| + | * We can build technology of any complexity from free [[List of open-source hardware|open-source designs]] and [[Virtual designs into physical objects|digitally fabricate]] them for the price of [[Fundamental_resources#Material|raw materials]]. ( And these raw materials are abundant.) With every year that goes by, the methods of fabrication become more decentralized (see: [[Virtual designs into physical objects/Fab Labs|Fab Labs]]) and the open-source designs become better, making this a more attractive option. | ||
| + | * We can spread cheap, mobile [[Internet access]] to everyone on Earth, allowing them to connect to the world's informational and educational resources. | ||
| + | * We can make free [[Education|educational materials]] available on the Internet, providing free education of unprecedented quality to everyone on Earth | ||
| + | * We can organize the World's [[Medicine|medical knowledge]], so that people have access to the highest-quality medical information and advice at all times. | ||
How do we create an infrastructure advanced enough to provide all of this? See the [[open collaborative design]] and [[advanced automation]] pages. | How do we create an infrastructure advanced enough to provide all of this? See the [[open collaborative design]] and [[advanced automation]] pages. | ||
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Revision as of 20:33, 24 July 2010
- Do we really have the resources for this kind of society?
Civilisation boils down to four fundamentals: 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.
Specifically, using currently existing technology...
- We can provide abundant clean water for everyone on Earth.
- We can produce enough food to feed at least 80 billion people without harming the environment
- We can meet our energy needs at least ten times over using clean, renewable energy
- We can build cheap, high-quality houses in a day or two, providing shelter for the billion people currently living in slums
- We can build technology of any complexity from free open-source designs and digitally fabricate them for the price of raw materials. ( And these raw materials are abundant.) With every year that goes by, the methods of fabrication become more decentralized (see: Fab Labs) and the open-source designs become better, making this a more attractive option.
- We can spread cheap, mobile Internet access to everyone on Earth, allowing them to connect to the world's informational and educational resources.
- We can make free educational materials available on the Internet, providing free education of unprecedented quality to everyone on Earth
- We can organize the World's medical knowledge, so that people have access to the highest-quality medical information and advice at all times.
How do we create an infrastructure advanced enough to provide all of this? See the open collaborative design and advanced automation pages.
