Slavery through Artificial Survival (and Why We Aren’t Free Because of the Way We Work)
Thinking Sisyphus. Copyright © Toblin 2022. All rights reserved.Survival is the key to freedom.
In the forest, we have no obligations beyond our health — once we’ve done what’s necessary, we can relax and do what we want. As such, survival is the ultimate tax collector: we must hand over some of our time, or be too weak to do something useful. Despite this, we, as a society, force ourselves to survive artificially: we force ourselves to work more than necessary to get what we need.
And the price we pay is our freedom.
Imagine an automated society.
In Robotopia, no one has to lift a finger to produce what they need. Robots do everything, including food, water, housing, heating, and health care.
Despite this, the robotopians must work to survive. Their society is built on currency, and the inhabitants must acquire it to buy what they need. Many must work 40 hours per week, but even that is not enough for some. Although the situation is artificial — caused by man-made rules and systems — for the robotopians it is very real. They will suffer greatly if they don’t show up for work and do what they’re told.
Unlike chattel slavery, there are no masters holding the whip. The government isn’t forcing them, nor are the employers; they can always quit and choose who they work for. But, in actuality, few can afford to work less, let alone quit — and those who can afford it are likely not permitted to work less by their employers.
As a consequence, although they are technically free, large numbers of robotopians are de facto slaves. They should have an abundance of leisure but must instead do whatever their economic system demands.
And here’s the real issue: the only difference between us and them is the amount of work that is necessary.
They must do none; we must do some.
But for neither is this relevant.
For we must both work more than necessary.
