I think a change in human nature will occur as the Singularity and Methuselarity approach. This will totally change how we value things. The economy is all about valuing things.
Wow Pseudolus, that is a great first post! Thanks. Oh, and welcome to ImmInst!
Thanks Niner. Been lurking for awhile. I am a network admin for a large school district. I am also a high tech tinkerer. I built and programmed my own computer controlled laser machining center. It is basically a computer controlled stepper motors moving a 25 watt CO2 laser. It cut/marks/engraves beautifully on wood, corian, glass, etc. I am not doing anything commercial with it, but I do have the coolest inlaid countertops in town. I mentiion that only as I am very interested in tech and tech developments and I am brave/stupid enough to jump head first into new things. I can't imagine anything more exciting or rewarding than the Methuselarity/Singularity.
Back to the topic: Unless we humans are merged/modified in some way, I really do believe we will be left in the dust. Consciousness MUST SHORTLY ABANDON IRRATIONALITY. Information, proper formation of percepts and their associations must lead to abandoning our silly or damaging mental constructs. We must begin to see things as they really are, but more importantly, NOT SEEING things that really aren't there.
I think it will be interesting when AI arrives, when machines are 10X smarter than us. What will the religious say, when the machines don't subscribe to their silliness? They don't have souls?? How do you look at something/one that is way smarter, faster, better looking, etc and consider yourself superior? It is interesting to see that we NOW have the tech to scrape skin cells and turn them into eggs/sperm. Lesbian could shortly be able to have children together. It would be the FIRST child w/o a father. Does she have a soul? Could she be baptised? What about the person with genetic modifications. 99% human. Do they have a soul? How about 90% human, 10% synthetic? 99%male 1% female? The permutations are delicious in exposing their silliness.
We are at the greatest crossroads mankind has ever seen. We are contemplating questions that were unthinkable a few years ago. My former CULT says that THEIR prophets are always there to guide humanity-- especiallly at great inflection points like the first man, the flood, the Exodus, repopulating America with people and animals, etc. Well, here we are. BIG INFLECTION POINT HERE. If EVER there was a need for a supposed "prophet", this is it. The genie is out of the bottle. We have walked through the door. We can/are beginning to rewrite and replace the creations of "god's" 7 day creative period. God, is it OK if we replace/rewrite all your plants and animals?
The web is taking a heavy toll on Mormonism, Jehovah's Witnesses, Scientologists, Muslims etc. Especially in the high control groups. ESPECIALLY in first world nations. I have been to their recovery sites. the stories are so similar. The cultic mind manipulation techniques are so similar. Cult leaders are scared.
So studying mind control techniques is another hobby of mine. It is interesting to see how IRRATIONALITY, and practicing turning off the mind is a required feature of my former religion. It's how they cover their asses when things just don't make sense to their "customer". I also see how the need for emotional attachments, belonging, etc can blind people politically as well. ALL political parties have their silly constructs that make perfect sense, if you are within their cult or sphere of manipulation. To those outside, the construct appears ludicrous. Goes for ALL parties, I think.
I am just saying that I think the days of irrationality are numbered, or it's sphere of influence is on the decline. There is a line between here and now connected to a more rational world, where perceptions/associations are grounded in simple rules of logic. Consciousness WILL find this rational place. This rational place is free from the irrational fears/constructs we now suffer from. This rational place will RADICALLY change how and what we value. Changing what we value directly affects how our economy runs. It will be a RADICAL change affecting how we see ownership, profits, authenticity, etc. I hope mankind can be included in this transition. It will be both a sad and joyous realization/awakening.