Fully automated luxury communism : a manifesto

Bastani, Aaron

Fully automated luxury communism : a manifesto / Aaron Bastani. - London ; New York : Verso, 2019. - x, 278 pages ; 22 cm.

Includes bibliographical references (pages 245-267) and index.

Introduction : Six characters in search of a future — I. Chaos under heaven. The great disorder ; The three disruptions ; What is fully automated luxury communism? — II. New travellers. Full automation : post-scarcity in labour ; Limitless power : post-scarcity in energy ; Mining the sky : post-scarcity in resources ; Editing destiny : age and post-scarcity in health ; Food without animals : post-scarcity in sustenance — III. Paradise found. Popular support : luxury populism ; Fundamental principles : the break with neoliberalism ; Reforging the capitalist state ; FALC : a new beginning.

In the twenty-first century, new technologies should liberate us from work. Automation, rather than undermining an economy built on full employment, is instead the path to a world of liberty, luxury and happiness--for everyone. Technological advance will reduce the value of commodities--food, healthcare and housing--towards zero. Improvements in renewable energies will make fossil fuels a thing of the past. Asteroids will be mined for essential minerals. Genetic editing and synthetic biology will prolong life, virtually eliminate disease and provide meat without animals. New horizons beckon. In [this book] Aaron Bastani conjures a vision of extraordinary hope, showing how we move to energy abundance, feed a world of 9 billion, overcome work, transcend the limits of biology, and establish meaningful freedom for everyone. Rather than a final destination, such a society merely heralds the real beginning of history.

9781786632630


Economic development
Technological innovations --Economic aspects
Energy security
Civilization, Modern

HD82 / .B3237 2019

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