Stephen Hawking Says We Should Really Be Scared Of Capitalism, Not Robots

[dduncan4163]

Stephen Hawking Says We Should Really Be Scared Of Capitalism, Not Robots

'If machines produce everything we need, the outcome will depend on how things are distributed. Everyone can enjoy a life of luxurious leisure if the machine-produced wealth is shared, or most people can end up miserably poor if the machine-owners successfully lobby against wealth redistribution. So far, the trend seems to be toward the second option, with technology driving ever-increasing inequality.'

 

[FLVOL69]

He was spouting some other bs not too long ago about alien contact resulting in our enslavement or some such shiiite.. He's walking a fine line right there..

 

[Ernest T. Vol]

He must consider himself one of the "deciders" on who gets distributed what.

 

[Mtntrout]

It takes a lot of hubris to ignore the great entrepreneurs and scientists of a time. Usually doesn't work out well.

 

[UTCVol]

It takes a lot of hubris to ignore the great entrepreneurs and scientists of a time. Usually doesn't work out well.

"Intellectual capacity is no guarantee against being dead wrong." - Carl Sagan

 

[davethevol]

I think he's bored and likes to make random statements just for the heck of it.

 

[tumscalcium]

Worthless people should learn a valuable trade instead of lazily sitting back and complaining about not getting their piece of another persons pie.

I'd like to know what some people consider inequality. Because it seems they constantly leave out the whole equal work bit.

 

[gasguy98]

So tired of "intellectuals" telling us how bad we are. I thought this guy was a theoretical physicist? Is he the world expert on markets and economics too?

 

[Obsessed]

Worthless people should learn a valuable trade instead of lazily sitting back and complaining about not getting their piece of another persons pie.

I'd like to know what some people consider inequality. Because it seems they constantly leave out the whole equal work bit.

They will read your post after they sleep till noon.

 

[theFallGuy]

capitalism, doing more for equality and individual rights than any other economic system, but yeah, it's bad mmm'kay

 

[McDad]

He functions and communicates with the world as well as he does due to technology conceived from capitalism.

If he were living 100 years ago, his occupation would be a paper weight.

 

[n_huffhines]

It takes a lot of hubris to ignore the great entrepreneurs and scientists of a time. Usually doesn't work out well.

He should stick to his area of expertise. I won't challenge him there. He's right that we shouldn't be afraid of robots. He should have left it at that.

 

[Danl]

He should stick to his area of expertise. I won't challenge him there. He's right that we shouldn't be afraid of robots. He should have left it at that.

Yep. What the hell was he thinking? Imagine this dude having an opinion about something other than his "area of expertise". If only all of VN would heed your advice!

 

[McDad]

Yep. What the hell was he thinking? Imagine this dude having an opinion about something other than his "area of expertise". If only all of VN would heed your advice!

Not fair.

I rarely see threads about "being awesome", "charm and wit", or other similar opportunities to offer opinions in my area of expertise.

 

[hog88]

He functions and communicates with the world as well as he does due to technology conceived from capitalism.

If he were living 100 years ago, his occupation would be a paper weight.

He'd been dead before 20 a 100 years ago.

 

[Weezy]

His opinion is stupid. Smart people say stupid things all the time.

 

[Septic]

Yeah, it was part of an AMA where he was asked to specifically address a number of questions posed by redditors.

He was asked and he answered. His opinion wasn't offered as an unsolicited political worldview.

A lot of the butt-hurt of the response probably has more to do with huffington post being the reporting entity of the Reddit AMA.

 

[n_huffhines]

Yep. What the hell was he thinking? Imagine this dude having an opinion about something other than his "area of expertise". If only all of VN would heed your advice!

It was a response to somebody using the "appeal to authority" logical fallacy, when the dude is out of his element.

Relax and get some context before you spout off.

 

[AirVol]

Didn't realize Hawking could speak.

 

[Weezy]

Stephen Hawking Says We Should Really Be Scared Of Capitalism, Not Robots

'If machines produce everything we need, the outcome will depend on how things are distributed. Everyone can enjoy a life of luxurious leisure if the machine-produced wealth is shared, or most people can end up miserably poor if the machine-owners successfully lobby against wealth redistribution. So far, the trend seems to be toward the second option, with technology driving ever-increasing inequality.'

He's forgetting quite a few alternate scenarios. For example, judgement day and forced enslavement by droid armies. So no, I don't believe the outcome will be decided on how things are distributed. I also find these two scenarios just as likely as a Utopian society where robots do everything and we are all financial equals.

 

[gasguy98]

Yep. What the hell was he thinking? Imagine this dude having an opinion about something other than his "area of expertise". If only all of VN would heed your advice!

Hawking is one of the great theoretical physicist in the world so people listen to him when he speaks. However, since people consider him one of the most brilliant minds in the world they can come to believe he is right about everything and anything. Therefore it is important that all his comments be put into the context of the subject matter.

I would think guys like him would be more responsible with their comments but unlike some of his peers Hawking does have a bit of an ego.

 

[MG1968]

I read the article referenced by HuffPo and in it Hawking is more concerned about AI than capitalism or robots. So I'm not sure why HuffPo focused on such a minor point.

Then again, it IS HuffPo. A news organization founded by the crazed trophy wife of a billionaire.

 

[gasguy98]

There are some really stupid people out there that think they are really smart. I seriously don't think they even know what free market economics is even all about.
This was a comment from the article:



..

Nelliana Calvert · San Jose Chapter Volunteer Coordinator at The Zeitgeist Movement Global

What is needed here is a change to our global economics. We need to respectfully put Capitalism to rest and begin transitioning to a new economic system that works for a world that doesn't require human labor. Please investigate a Resource Based Economy. The sooner we can begin intentionally transitioning, the more suffering we can avoid.

Have you ever read a more ridiculous "thought" from a so called intellectual?

 

[DC_Vol]

Somebody message me when robots can develop new business ventures, fund them, set up the appropriate infrastructure, and bring new products to market.

Until then, the actual brain power and muscle behind the effort will expect a higher return than the person who was watching Maury Povich when all of the hard work went down.

 

[gasguy98]

I read the article referenced by HuffPo and in it Hawking is more concerned about AI than capitalism or robots. So I'm not sure why HuffPo focused on such a minor point.

Then again, it IS HuffPo. A news organization founded by the crazed trophy wife of a billionaire.

I suspected Hawkings comments was sorta taken out of context. As to why did HuffPost do this?

They have a socialist agenda to advance. The "article" has many references to their agenda.