The meaning of life in a world without work

[AdrianC]

Interesting article by Sapiens author Yuval Noah Harari (good book):

As technology renders jobs obsolete, what will keep us busy?
https://www.theguardian.com/technology/2017/may/08/virtual-reality-religion-robots-sapiens-book

[AZryan]

"-What is a religion if not a big virtual reality game played by millions of people together?-" (some crap from that article).

Well, it definitely isn't that. Religion is a control system, a plug-in set of (random and/or fictional) answers to things people didn't understand about morality, science, death and the meaning of life (because there inherently isn't one except 'eat and breed').

By no reasonable definition is that a virtual reality game.

Religion also quickly fades where scientific understanding, health and resources flourish, and that's hopefully the world that will emerge from having robotics and AI do largely all the work needed for humans to get done.

As for an actual answer to what we do post-work... yes, I'm sure religion will remain seeing as nearly everyone is indoctrinated into some version or other at birth by their own family. But the main thing that people will do, IMO, an expansion of hobbies -since that's already what people do when they have actual free time and when they retire and choose to stop working jobs for money.

And that is essentially 'Arts and Recreation'.

I hope we'll see a transformation of our generic, cracked cement-covered, strip-malled, ugly cities become unique expressions of architecture and style (think the sort of buildings tourists travel to Europe and Japan just to look at).

Music and Games will expand. I just can't imagine how 'religion' would be considered one of those games, much-less one that becomes more popular than it is now.

People will move in and out of virtual and augmented reality at will. And, I think eventually when VR does become indistinguishable from 'true' reality, we will probably upload ourselves to a Matrix-like 'SimLife' existence -escaping all forms of danger and sickness we have to face right now (and the bounds of natural physics).

You could have a full customization life in a VR world. If processing speed increases, you could live a life of 'apparently' real time, but it could be vastly sped-up -allowing you to live hundreds or thousands of years in days or months.

I suggest people read 'The Singularity is Near'.

[J Boogie]

I have a few thoughts on this topic.

First, I think religion doesn't seem to be all that relevant of a topic to attack.  I found it a little odd that the article would go after it.  I'm not religious myself (I could be considered a Deist) but I think religion itself can get a bad rap from intellectuals.  Yes, it has its shortcomings, but it is very valuable to followers as it lays out a very clear way to live life.  You can say they're racking up make believe points, and there is plenty of that, but you can't mention all the arbitrary/bizarre things religions do without mentioning the altruistic side as well.  Tons of Jews, Christians, and Muslims pool their resources to help those in need because their creed calls for it.  You can't argue these people are living in fantasy land.
 Living you life to benefit others is where the real meaning is found, and tons of religious people do exactly that.

The other thought is related - when we no longer have to provide for ourselves, we hopefully will look outward.  We will find meaning not in seeking our own stimulation and entertainment, but in benefiting others.  That is, after all, the key to happiness right?  However it's possible many will prioritize indulgence over happiness, as is currently evidenced by consumer culture in general.

[Cranky]

I think people will mostly eat doritos and watch tv in a post-work world.

[SnackDog]

I think people will mostly eat doritos and watch tv in a post-work world.