"Few people really want a true "classless society". I'd assume that few of the founders on HN plan on donating 100% of all income they earn above the median level."
There's a difference between believing that a classless society is a worthy goal and, noticing that one is not currently in a classless society and that being in an above average class has certain benefits, seeking to achieve an elevated class for the time being.
I would like to think I am a fairly strong believer in a classless post-scarcity utopia, but giving away most of what I own is not going to bring that any closer - all I'd be doing is reducing my own power to act. Better to retain it for now and use it to work towards the long term goal.
Not at all. You can be a happy capitalist with lots of money without being different in a "qualitative" way from your poorer neighbors. At least in principle.
Actually, that's really not true. A classless society refers to a society which lacks any distinctions of wealth, income, education, culture, or social network.
I would certainly not want communism, especially not as it's been classicly implemented. I don't believe a classless society worth living in will be possible before a true end to scarcity; this may or may not be possible with the advent of MNT; some have high hopes.
It's important to note that I refer mainly to material classlessness here; obviously classes of intellect and culture will still exist and you wouldn't want to eradicate them anyway. I would imagine political classes would also exist but hopefully determined by will to participate, not material means.
And why? Well, egalitarianism, basically, and the belief that material means of one's parents should be neither benefit nor hindrance in life.
This is the stuff of essays, not little comments like this, but I hope you get the idea : D
Comments
"Few people really want a true "classless society". I'd assume that few of the founders on HN plan on donating 100% of all income they earn above the median level."
There's a difference between believing that a classless society is a worthy goal and, noticing that one is not currently in a classless society and that being in an above average class has certain benefits, seeking to achieve an elevated class for the time being.
I would like to think I am a fairly strong believer in a classless post-scarcity utopia, but giving away most of what I own is not going to bring that any closer - all I'd be doing is reducing my own power to act. Better to retain it for now and use it to work towards the long term goal.
Sounds self-serving, maybe, but what can you do?
Why would you want a classless society? Isn't that communism?
Not at all. You can be a happy capitalist with lots of money without being different in a "qualitative" way from your poorer neighbors. At least in principle.
Actually, that's really not true. A classless society refers to a society which lacks any distinctions of wealth, income, education, culture, or social network.
I would certainly not want communism, especially not as it's been classicly implemented. I don't believe a classless society worth living in will be possible before a true end to scarcity; this may or may not be possible with the advent of MNT; some have high hopes.
It's important to note that I refer mainly to material classlessness here; obviously classes of intellect and culture will still exist and you wouldn't want to eradicate them anyway. I would imagine political classes would also exist but hopefully determined by will to participate, not material means.
And why? Well, egalitarianism, basically, and the belief that material means of one's parents should be neither benefit nor hindrance in life.
This is the stuff of essays, not little comments like this, but I hope you get the idea : D