A sociological thought experiment
Humans are animals. We have physical needs. We are conscious beings, so we have psychological needs. And society is our environment, our habitat. It provides the common means by which we satisfy our physical and psychological needs. With that in mind, I ask this question.
What if the corporations win?
Suppose production and service efficiencies reach their theoretical maximum. It is no longer possible to reduce the cost of production. We've automated everything from mining to recycling, fast food service to garbage collection and minimized its dependance on human labor. That's the goal, right?
Suppose everything our economy needs to produce can be produced by, say, 25% of the current work force.
What social conditions could support this without major pathologies? Is there more that one type of society where this condition could obtain and provide for our physical and psychological needs? Given our current beliefs, are any of these societies reachable?
