2.8 KiB
| isbn | author | title |
|---|---|---|
| 9781544526478 | Marshall, Brian | Manna |
The book is an easy, interesting read. But it's completely fails to describe anything close to reality. Let me explain myself.
The book presents AI, software and robotics in a super advanced state. Let's not question this bit. The failure of the author is not in dreaming the technological development (it's sci-fi after all, he has a wildcard to do whatever he wants). The failure is on understanding economics.
In the Manna world:
- Robots can do any menial, physical job. But nothing related to art, creativity and many other areas where humans can still work. Still, the author proposes that people are doomed to joblessness. If there is an infinite demand for art, creativity and yadayada, how can people be out of jobs? I would understand if the wage for these things would be low, but to go as far as too ignore is just ridiculous.
- The "super-rich" can buy wonderful robots that do all of these productive tasks. Why can't normal people? You would assume that the lowering of material costs because of all the automation would actually democratize the access to these tools, hence lifting everyone up. You can only escape this idea by somehow giving the "super-rich" some crazily insane control over the robotic resources.
In the Australia world:
- You have a budget. But people will inevitably want more than the budget. So picturing zero conflict around this is just wishful thinking.
- I think there is a very optimistic view around people pursuing intelectual and professional endeavors just for the sake of it. I think many professional tasks are enjoyable because of the struggle and because of the pleasure of being better off after the struggle. Like, I enjoy chopping wood and lightning a fire in my fireplaces because I'm freezing my ass and then I'm cozy and warm. If I could already be cozy and warm before doing the work, I wouldn't enjoy chopping the wood and lightning the fire.
- There is no explanation as to how the productive means organize themselves. Central planning is assumed. But, we know from Austrian economics that such planning always fails. How would the robot army overcome this? Who invests in capital? Who anticipates infrastructure? Who decides how much to save and how much to spend? Even worse. Is the central planner a guy with a job? If everyone gets everything for free... why would he take that responsibility anyways?
I could probably think of more stuff. But basically, the author has 0 clue on economics. The books is a fun read, but when I read the post-script where he takes a serious note and asks the reader to do his part so that we reach Australia, I got worried: if intelligent people are so wrong about how the world works as to even picture that this "utopia" is possible, desirable and pursue-able, we are royally screwed.