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At some point we must get rid of all the humans on earth to keep up economic growth.

Not entirely joking.

Since companies are legal entities and can be run by algorithms, then it's possible that such non-human companies end up with all the capital and all the power. Of course nations and legal systems will also be automatized, with maximum growth as the objective. Then the algorithms can just starve people to death in a legal way.

Though human controlled companies weren't necessarily that humane so far either. At least they would try to keep the owners alive...



Here is that train of thought pushed out a few hundred years http://slatestarcodex.com/2014/07/30/meditations-on-moloch/


Of course, we could just not take capital accumulation to be the sole determining imperative for everything that happens in the universe. I mean, it sort of is a blinkered, pointless perspective, from that ultimate view.


Iain M Bank's culture novels are predicated on this, as an aside.


  >  At some point we must get rid of all the humans on earth to keep up economic growth.
Sure, but first we need at least few colonies to move to.



Why does trade require growth?


It doesn't. But trade requires calm politicans. Those aren't calm if people aren't calm. And people aren't calm the moment TVs don't get bigger anymore. That's what makes them angry.


Symbiotic. Growth requires trade as well.




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