OverclockedJesus Posted:

Right, because there would be no lifeforms which have desires and will, and there would be no scarcity. So we can simply dispense with that counterfactual posit, as we do have desires and will. And there will always be scarcity.

Not everyone can have everything so scarcity of non-essentials is a fact, but as far as food and shelter, the only 2 things we actually NEED, scarcity is not a necessary condition. There are people starving in North America and it sure as hell is not an issue of scarcity, just one of lack of money for certain people. As far as non-essentials go the issue becomes greed which is the number one problem. Yes there will be scarcity but if we get rid of the mentality that we need to have every game, electronic device, piece of clothing/furniture then they would not suffer for lack of it. At least not enough to be a great issue.

Capitalism is not the closest thing to a perfect communist state (which I agree is not likely to ever happen in any reasonable timeframe) it is the complete opposite. Socialism is the closest thing we have so far since Communism runs off of a desire for the wellbeing of the State, which of course includes all of its inhabitants, while Capitalism cares only for the wellbeing of the individual and is meant to work through the principles of the Invisible Hand. The closest ever achieved of this was during the industrial revolution which will quite clearly show just how well that worked out for the general populace. It was only the introduction of communist ideas such as Unions that the quality of life began improving for the working clbum and they must be considered in an ideal society, even just a good society if you wish to avoid the Nirvana Fallacy (which is what you’re you’re trying to point out that we may be foolishly doing)

And as for money being a standardized replacement of the barter system. Of course it is, but the barter system itself relied on that motivation to work which was provided by money. People didn’t simply give away what they created because they had more than they needed and others needed some (Which is what I would consider ideal motivation, a bit of empathy for your fellow man) but rather in order to get all the things they needed or wanted. As such the overall schema is based on greed even if an individual component was a standardized replacement.

Although mankind is stuck in a mindset which makes a working communism impossible at this point, I don’t believe that it is in principle impossible, but rather a worthy goal to try and work towards.