Re: Happiness and Productivity (Dan Brown)

So, the video in question is old by internet standards, but I felt very compelled to express my thoughts on this.

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[fizzingwhizbeee]

(2) Free-market brings about technology that allows people to be closer to their talos because the basic needs become met. Consider the current worry of the middle-class usually isn't how to get food on table as it would've been 200 years ago, but which type of cheese to put on our enchaladas. That's my rant. I'm sure your sick of me by now.

[RipleyisBA]

@fizzingwhizbeee I didn't mean that job automation was the destruction of the possibility of one achieving their telos, I just meant it ultimately in the sense of creating unemployment, as what actually constitutes work and what one would like to do for work are totally different.

[RipleyisBA]

@fizzingwhizbeee

I thought it was interesting that you brought up structural unemployment, as it is one of the longest-term types of unemployment. Our society is rapidly shifting towards automation, as part of the appeal is eliminating the need for labor. I mean, I am a radical socialist, but I totally think those self-check out stations at the grocery store is just a corporate plan to eventually no longer need grocery clerks.

[RipleyisBA]

@fizzingwhizbeee Think about all the jobs out there that could, given enough time, be eventually replaced by machines. I mean, sure, new markets and technologies create new jobs, but is it enough to offset the ridiculous number of unemployed in this country that we have? Hopefully. But, this video isn't supposed to be geared towards criticizing advancing technology, as that would totally be against the central idea.

And I have not grown sick of you in the slightest. You make me think!

[LOQUACIOUSMADISON]

I like your hat. And I was surprised to see that you responded to my comment on the Athesist video.

[woodlandfox2112]

I seem to remember my father working 364 days a year on the railroad. the unions (at that time) fought for a six day work week, and a dollar an hour, with the support of the Catholic church [Rerum Novarum, 1891]. productivity without balance is tyranny.

[fizzingwhizbeee]

@RipleyisBA there would be no money left for the lowly artisan who's just following her dream. Work and what one would like to do are not the same for many many people. However, the cheaper it is to meet basic needs the more wealth people can afford to spend on those who's ventures aren't inherently profitable. Also, the less money will be required to make a living so it is not a death sentence to choose the less profitable, more enjoyable path like I have.

[fizzingwhizbeee]

@RipleyisBA Self check out: Perhaps. But is a grocery clerk really meeting their full potential in their telos? I think many a grocery clerk would be happier with a different job. As an artist (truely very close to my full potential) I recognize that luxuries like art and unique jewelry are only required by people who's basic needs are already met. If everyone had to hire a house-keeper instead of a swiffer, a horse-whipper instead of a car, a scribe instead of a kindle, (2)

[fizzingwhizbeee]

*telos

[fizzingwhizbeee]

3:30 he. he. Marxist. Job losses due to technology are only temporary. See structural unemployment. We no longer need or clothes to be hand-knit, but there are still jobs in the clothing industry: designing, tailoring, modelling factory work... the result is not fewer jobs, the result is we now require more and more clothing. Specifically with the clothing example, a designer may be closer to her talos when designing the perfect blouse than she ever could be if she had to hand-weave it. (2)