Sean Carroll's Mindscape: Science, Society, Philosophy, Culture, Arts, and Ideas

97 | John Danaher on Our Coming Automated Utopia

May 18, 2020
John Danaher, a Senior Lecturer in Law at NUI Galway, shares his insights on automation and its potential to create a society where work is optional. He explores the implications of a future where human creativity flourishes without the constraints of obligatory employment. Topics such as universal basic income, the evolving landscape of work amidst automation, and the philosophical perspectives on meaningful engagement in life are examined. Danaher argues for a thoughtful approach to embracing technology while ensuring autonomy and purpose in this new world.
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INSIGHT

Human Dominance

  • Humans and their livestock dominate Earth's vertebrate biomass.
  • This rapid change suggests an unpredictable future, unlike the past.
INSIGHT

Automation's Impact on Work

  • Historically, technology changed tasks within jobs, not eliminating jobs entirely.
  • This is called the complementarity effect: humans perform tasks alongside machines.
ANECDOTE

NYSE Trading Floor

  • The New York Stock Exchange trading floor, once bustling, is now a backdrop for cameras.
  • Automated algorithms execute most trades, illustrating automation's impact.
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