The Hedonistic Pitfall of Abundance

“It has become appallingly obvious that our technology has exceeded our humanity.” - Albert Einstein

Nature places its own limits on what we can do.

The reason people slow down on getting blackout drunk in their older years isn’t only because they don’t find partying fun, or they have more responsibilities.

Their bodies just can’t take it anymore. They get tired early. They no longer feel like cleaning up unnecessary messes.

In essence, consequences are a limiting factor for some of our least-beneficial behavior.

But what does reality look like if we solve the drawbacks technologically?

What if a tic-tac could instantly cure a hangover?

What if a humanoid robot could have the house spotless before you woke up the morning after a party?

What if you could have as much energy as you did in youth?

There’s a lot to be wary of here. As automation and advancement make their way into our world, people will be tempted to only fulfill very base desires with their time.

Once each person has these technological luxuries, obviously everyone will be free to spend their time however they like. But the danger is we will be allowed to do completely empty activities for short-term pleasure without consequence.

Is this actually bad, if there’s nothing better to do?

I cannot say. But it seems likely to lead to a crisis of meaning for those that go this route.

Even infinite pleasure in infinite paradise will get old eventually, so one is better off finding other ways to spend their time sooner, rather than later.