Brian Merchant’s article “Fully Automated Luxury Communism” (FALC)
speaks on a notion that has become increasingly popular. The FALC activists believe
that instead of being fearful of technology replacing our jobs, we should let
it. Once we cut out human labor eventually the hierarchy will be eliminated and
everyone will be able to experience the luxuries of life. While I do understand
this way of thinking, because of our natural human ways, I do not think it
could ever be accomplished nor do I believe it is a good idea to pursue. The
essay states that because the machines will be providing the services, there
will be minimal human work like “quality control” but who would be willing to
do even the most minimal amount of work without a profit? The skills needed to
program and build the machines would take hard labor and possibly educational
training; and if there is no personal benefit from putting in the energy, no
one would want to do it. I do believe that the hierarchies of the world bring
more harm than anything else but I do not believe they will ever be solved. I
feel it is in our nature to strive to be better than someone else; no one wants
to be exactly like the next person, we want power. While being able to live a
life where everyone will have full equality would be nice, it could never
happen. Another problem with this idea is that having robots which do
everything for us would just make it that much easier for someone to take
advantage of the system and use them for oppression. Not to mention how lazy and
useless it would make us. Yes, the technologies we have created have made life
so much easier than it once was but there is definitely a line we shouldn’t cross.
While I see the necessity of doubting human capacity for true equality, I do not feel that we are lost to the notion. Because this idea of “Fully Automated Luxury Communism” is such a radical departure from the current economy and social standing, it must be taken gradually. While it is true, if there’s a profit to be made, someone will want to make it, but what if there was no profit? In the true nature of communism, those who worked towards quality control of the machines would do so for the good of the whole. Or perhaps machine upkeep would be the only job to have if everything else is automated, eliminating the need for higher than average payment. If everyone in a society had the same job, it would make it rather difficult to create corruption within the system. That being said, it would definitely be a hard transition. It would be long and tedious and no doubt occasions of corruption clinging to the hierarchy would arise. However, I would not put it past humanity to make this change, I would only doubt their desire to. Despite this, with the fast advancing speed of technological development, humanity may one day not have a choice in the matter.
ReplyDeleteThe idea behind "Fully Automated Luxury Communism" in many ways comes off as being very appealing. Who knows what the future holds? However, when Brian Merchant talks about the idea being strongly based on politics, I disagree with him. What exactly does communism or any form of government have to do with robots and future technology? I mean yes, your society may be based strictly on robots, but I feel as if so will any other country during that point in time. For example, in 50 years, it's pretty likely that our whole world will be running off of technology, not just communist countries. Let's be real, every form of government claims that if you obey by their rules, you will live comfortably; however, we all know that statement is not very reliable. Technology advances over time and with resources, it has nothing to do with politics.
ReplyDelete