Transitioning to a Post Scarcity World

Netflix. Wikipedia. 3D Printers. What do these things share in common? They're harbingers of a post-scarcity economy: a civilization in which most goods can be produced in abundance with minimal human labor needed, so that they become available to all very cheaply, for rent, or even freely. A ubiquitious example of this is Spotify. For $10/month, it's possible to stream unlimited music. Just twenty years ago, one couldn't buy a CD at that price. Where will the next 20 years take us? How might a post-scarcity economy alter the fabric of society? What about our attachment to work, the need for something to DO in order to feel useful? Are we rushing headlong into a crisis of meaning that could result from dramatically shorter work-weeks or optional employment? What steps can we take today to facilitate this potential future? Can you even imagine a world in which goods are freely available? Wake up, turn on printer, request... breakfast and new toothbrush? Our group met at Berlin's popular Klunkerkranich venue to speculate among the evening bustle. People, Places, Things mentioned: Car2Go - car sharing service Pierre Bourdieu - French sociologist Star Trek Altered Carbon - TV series "Bullshit Jobs, A Theory" - book by David Graeber Craigslist Berlin BVG metrolines Universal Basic Income Peter Singer - Australian philosopher Effective Altruism