The future according to Star Trek.

[strawdog65]

The Future according to star Trek.....

Not so seriously.....

[strawdog65]

Since we are on the subject of Star Trek, anyone have

thoughts on what type of society that the Star Trek

civilization would be considered?

 

I've seen different Ideas, everything from communism to technocracy.

 

Also, in a society where there is no use for money, or fundamentalist

religion, what would be the goal structure of this type of society?

If it is motivated by the betterment of mankind(all of mankind), and there

was the technology to create abundance, what do you think that would

be like?

 

Personally, I have great hope for mankind to muddle it's way through

and reach a star faring stage of development, and time-line wise

the Star Trek model is maybe not so far off. They are in the 23rd

century, so maybe we will be there by the time we get there?

 

Of course the singularity will arrive before that stage though,

so it's hard to say what will happen when the machines become

our caretakers.

 

 

 

Thoughts? Comments?

 

 

Peace!

[ralis]

Since we are on the subject of Star Trek, anyone have

thoughts on what type of society that the Star Trek

civilization would be considered?

 

I've seen different Ideas, everything from communism to technocracy.

 

Also, in a society where there is no use for money, or fundamentalist

religion, what would be the goal structure of this type of society?

If it is motivated by the betterment of mankind(all of mankind), and there

was the technology to create abundance, what do you think that would

be like?

 

Personally, I have great hope for mankind to muddle it's way through

and reach a star faring stage of development, and time-line wise

the Star Trek model is maybe not so far off. They are in the 23rd

century, so maybe we will be there by the time we get there?

 

Of course the singularity will arrive before that stage though,

so it's hard to say what will happen when the machines become

our caretakers.

 

 

 

Thoughts? Comments?

 

 

Peace!

 

 

I have felt to along time that humans are not ready for this type of advanced civilization. The message in "First Contact" is profound. "Too primitive!"

[strawdog65]

Hi Ralis, you have a good point!

[ralis]

In order to get to that kind of civilization, certain realities must be faced and solved. We are most likely seeing the collapse of civilization as we know it and how humans address these issues will greatly determine the future.

 

Several problems are immediate:

 

1. The world economy is a ponzi scheme based on unlimited credit which will never be paid back.

 

2. The present world food supply and population growth since the early 20th century are based on fossil fuels. Fossil fuels were used to manufacture fertilizers and thus increased crop yields encouraged larger families. Population growth will continue until fossil fuels are past their peak and are depleting. Then we will see starvation on a massive scale. Standard farming practices without the use of fossil fuels will not support present population levels.

 

3. The depletion of fresh water, which only about 20% is viable for drinking.

 

4. Climate change.

 

5. A new viable energy source must be found.

Edited January 6, 2011 by ralis

[Sloppy Zhang]

I don't consider myself a Star Trek expert, but to my knowledge, in the Star Trek universe, the big change came about after the human race was discovered to by warp speed capable.

 

In fact, in the movie in which the borg go back in time to take over the planet and prevent the first warp engine test, some crew members actually meet the guy who invented the first warp drive, and he was really mad because they envisioned him as some sort of hero, pulling mankind out of the modern dark ages, and ushering in a new era. And he was like, "I just built this thing to make a boatload of money!" Only to find out that in the new civilization, there was no money, or use for it!!!

 

But see the impetus for the change was contact with an alien race. Humans realized we weren't the only ones in space. Attention was shifted from down on the ground (and each other), to the stars. People were unified as "the human race."

 

So if you want to get to a Star Trek world, there would have to be some means of people identifying themselves as "THE united human race."

 

Otherwise we'll wind up going down some other dark path to dystopia, some other barren, post apocalyptic world, or have some genius come up with a new power source which we can base society off of, have them become the runners of the new (world) government, and then put of mass societal collapse for another couple hundred years.

 

In my unprofessional opinion

Edited January 6, 2011 by Sloppy Zhang

[Sunya]

I don't consider myself a Star Trek expert, but to my knowledge, in the Star Trek universe, the big change came about after the human race was discovered to by warp speed capable.

 

In fact, in the movie in which the borg go back in time to take over the planet and prevent the first warp engine test, some crew members actually meet the guy who invented the first warp drive, and he was really mad because they envisioned him as some sort of hero, pulling mankind out of the modern dark ages, and ushering in a new era. And he was like, "I just built this thing to make a boatload of money!" Only to find out that in the new civilization, there was no money, or use for it!!!

 

But see the impetus for the change was contact with an alien race. Humans realized we weren't the only ones in space. Attention was shifted from down on the ground (and each other), to the stars. People were unified as "the human race."

 

Yes that is correct, and I totally dig that idea. Contact with an alien race would definitely unite us together and give is a bigger picture of humanity and its relationship to the universe.

 

Also keep in mind that prior to that first contact in Star Trek, there was a nuclear war so humanity was just a bunch of tribes. There were no governments let alone nations. I think that sort of condition makes it a lot easier to embrace radical change, where as today there would be too much to lose.

[strawdog65]

In order to get to that kind of civilization, certain realities must be faced and solved. We are most likely seeing the collapse of civilization as we know it and how humans address these issues will greatly determine the future.

 

Several problems are immediate:

 

1. The world economy is a ponzi scheme based on unlimited credit which will never be paid back.

 

2. The present world food supply and population growth since the early 20th century are based on fossil fuels. Fossil fuels were used to manufacture fertilizers and thus increased crop yields encouraged larger families. Population growth will continue until fossil fuels are past their peak and are depleting. Then we will see starvation on a massive scale. Standard farming practices without the use of fossil fuels will not support present population levels.

 

3. The depletion of fresh water, which only about 20% is viable for drinking.

 

4. Climate change.

 

5. A new viable energy source must be found.

 

 

Hi Ralis!

 

I agree with you on all the points raised.

The monetary/credit/debit/false value system that our world relies

on as a means of trade and distribution of goods and services is

the most precarious thing in this world. Any more band-aids to keep it

together and it will still never meet the needs of a world society,

nevermind any country government.

 

Production of food and the processes that are entirely dependent

upon the oil resources is something few people think about.

Many scientists say we have already hit "peak oil" and we are

now on the downward slope to using up what remains. Without

drastic changes within the business sphere and new ways of

powering food production, collapse is certain.

 

Desalinization technology may be the only hope of a future

earth society. There some plants already in operation, but

the technology is not being pushed hard enough.

 

Climate change is real. Whether caused by man or not.

Cyclic in nature or not, it is now present and hoping it

will go away doesn't seem to work, so technology may

be the only way to address it. Unfortunately hard to address

when the oil that powers much of our present technology

is also running out!

 

As to the new viable energy source, many big dollars are being

spent on the technology. Fusion, an unrequited love of

physicists world wide may finally save the world, if it can

be produced in the needed amounts. The LHC is currently

up and running again, maybe the research going on there will

bring the necessary breakthroughs needed in those fields.

Even so, we are talking about 10-20 years before the science

is fully understood to implement any of it. There is hope though.

 

The real question is..... will we as the Humanrace out race our own

possible destruction?

 

And how much time do we really have?

 

 

Peace!

[strawdog65]

 

So if you want to get to a Star Trek world, there would have to be some means of people identifying themselves as "THE united human race."

 

Otherwise we'll wind up going down some other dark path to dystopia, some other barren, post apocalyptic world, or have some genius come up with a new power source which we can base society off of, have them become the runners of the new (world) government, and then put of mass societal collapse for another couple hundred years.

 

In my unprofessional opinion

 

 

Hi Sloppy!

 

I think that this may be the catalyst of future change.

 

I do wish I could honestly say that we as a race will

willingly take on the chore of making a "real" united nations,

but because of the monetary structure of all governments,

I just can't see it happening.

 

In the Star Trek universe, Earth did have the final world war.

And it was this horror and the resulting aftermath that became

the background onto which change was able to come to fruition.

 

Of course some pointy eared entirely logical aliens helped as well.

 

 

Peace!

[strawdog65]

Yes that is correct, and I totally dig that idea. Contact with an alien race would definitely unite us together and give is a bigger picture of humanity and its relationship to the universe.

 

Also keep in mind that prior to that first contact in Star Trek, there was a nuclear war so humanity was just a bunch of tribes. There were no governments let alone nations. I think that sort of condition makes it a lot easier to embrace radical change, where as today there would be too much to lose.

 

Hi Sunya!

 

It makes one wish that we would be visited by aliens

in a way that can not be denied. Maybe that would

push us to the edge we need to be at.

 

The religious institutions of the world would be

in total upheaval. We as a race need to be shaken up

to effect real changes. Sad but true!

 

Where are those blasted aliens?

They are a whole epoch late!

 

 

Peace!