Feed on
Posts
Comments

It is thought that if only artificial intelligence proceeds apace, and computing power increases apace, that the knowledge and information demands imposed by the economic problem could conceivably be dealt with, and then socialist central planning could succeed.

It is thought that if only men were angels, then we could run an economy without having to rely on the self-interest of the butcher and the baker.

We could argue for years about whether in fact that is true.

But …

… IF we had amazing computing power and AI, and IF we had men act as angels … we would not need socialism or central planning in the first place.

 

9 Responses to “Technology, Clay and Socialism”

  1. Jose Fernandez says:

    Suppose that supercomputers and AI could solve the computation problem. (A paper only a few years old estimates that it would take computers some 10 quintillion years to distribute consumer goods to 6 billon consumers, so I doubt that this problem will ever be solved.) Even if a computer could come up with the correct calculations, it would be virtually impossible to gather the relevant information for the calculations. Consumers would have to somehow convey their preferences. We would then have to somehow calculate prices. Ignore the fact that rapid change quickly renders centralized plans obsolete almost immediately and assume that the world is static. We would have to somehow gather all of the information about the demand for and quantity of consumer goods (to calculate prices). Even if the only problem was gathering that information (assuming that inputting the data into the supercomputers would immediately create a new centralized plan), it would take forever to collect it all. Just think of how complicated a census is. This problem would make the census look like addition.

    • wintercow20 says:

      But think about advances in the “internet of things” and in algorithms. Soon we are all going to be walking microchips, beaming data endlessly (with no carbon emissions of course, just never mind those server farms in Iowa that no one ever visits) to all manner of supercomputers about all kinds of things we are doing and even thinking – we are not going to need prices at all, indeed the algorithm will know what we need and want before it even enters our own conscious mind! What say you then anti-planner?

  2. Thanks for sharing. I read many of your blog posts, cool, your blog is very good.

  3. 434335 633227What others have stated and in some uncommon cases, suicide may well occur. 663328

  4. rca77 says:

    970980 44885Aw, this was a quite good post. In concept I wish to put in writing like this moreover ?taking time and precise effort to make an exceptional write-up?but what can I say?I procrastinate alot and undoubtedly not appear to get one thing done. 357885

  5. 557827 569896To know wisdom and instruction, to perceive the words of understanding 554861

  6. 245363 352211Ive writers block that comes and goes and I need to find a method to get rid of my writers block. It can occasionally be so bad I can barley make sentences. Any tips? 283068

  7. BACU2025 says:

    441424 365033youre in point of fact a excellent webmaster. The web site loading velocity is remarkable. It seems that you are performing any distinctive trick. In addition, The contents are masterpiece. youve done a great activity on this subject! 857515

  8. pgslot says:

    622169 989966This internet site is normally a walk-through its the data you wished concerning this and didnt know who ought to. Glimpse here, and you will surely discover it. 874497

Leave a Reply