Four Futures
Life After Capitalism
by Peter Frase · first published 2016
71% recommend29% neutral
Why HN recommends it
A short, speculative look at four possible futures for society, framed around economics and technology. Readers cite it for sparking thinking about alternatives like Rentism. Suits fans of political economy.
Summarised by Claude from recommending comments
It is easier to imagine the end of the world,' the theorist Fredric Jameson has remarked, 'than to imagine the end of capitalism.' 'Jacobin' Editor Peter Frase argues that technological advancements and environmental threats will inevitably push our society beyond capitalism, and 'Four Futures' imagines just how this might look. Extrapolating possible futures from current changes the world is now experiencing, and drawing upon speculative fictions to illustrate how these futures might be realized, 'Four Futures' examines communism, rentism, socialism, and exterminism-or in other words, the soc
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…only hope that museum's curated by our children, and not whatever species finds our remains. For a good, hard look at why I believe this, read Naomi Klein's "This Changes Everything," and Peter Frase's "Four Futures." If you're daring enough, you can follow those with Nancy Isenberg's "White Trash," and Barbara Ehrenreich's "Dancing in the Streets" and "Witches, Midwives, & Nurses" for a deep look at how and how…
on “Carbon Removal Technologies” ↗Brings to mind a good book by Peter Frase called “Four Futures”. It’s a quick read. But sums up very well something we seem to have real trouble with - imagining the possible futures we could have. And importantly what we seem incapable of doing these days, based…
on “Terraforming Ourselves: What sort of world do we want to live in?” ↗There's a book that discussions Player Piano and extends upon its ideas, called Four Futures by Peter Frase. I strongly recommend Four Futures.
on “Humans vs. Machines: When to Hire and When to Automate” ↗…political parties are against these programs. The US government is already seeing that people not only stay uncomfortable, but you have to pay for the privilege too. If you haven't heard of the book "Four Futures" by Peter Frase I'd check it out. There is one future that is extremely prescient is the "Exterminism" future. It's exactly what you think, a group of elites decide that "Hey! Maybe we are better off…
on “The Dead Economy Theory” ↗You should check out "Four Futures" by Peter Frase. This would be the "extermination" future and like you I think it's the most likely one without extreme counteraction.
on “The Dead Economy Theory” ↗This reminds me of a book called Four Futures, that explores different economic futures that humanity might face, and it just so happens that one of those futures is Rentism, similar to what is described in this piece.
on “UN Study Warns: Growing Economic Concentration Leads to “Rentier Capitalism”” ↗> More of this! Then you'll want to read "Four Futures."[1] It isn't by a programmer, but it has sci-fi references and the author talks about 3d printing. It's so brilliant I can never recommend it enough. [1]: http://jacobinmag.com/2011/12/four-futures/
on “Confessions of A Job Destroyer” ↗For a fun, fairly thorough look at four possible answers to this question, check out this book on Goodreads: "Four Futures: Life After Capitalism" https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/22551901-four-futures
on “Technology Change Not the Culprit in Wages Falling Behind US Productivity Gains” ↗…because no one had any alternative vision for a different kind of society, they just accepted this sense of total fakeness as normal.” I don’t think there is a lack of vision out there, see the book Four Futures for example. In the case of the Soviet Union speaking out about things not working was a good way to get punished. Most of us have experienced the same thing in corporate america. Everyone around the…
on “An interview with the documentary filmmaker Adam Curtis” ↗…murder into chaotic war with dangerous risks to even the richest. That's why I don't put much weight on the "rich exterminate the unneeded poor" scenario, as outlined in Peter Frase's "B" scenario from Four Futures.
on “Just own the damn robots” ↗No, what do you think about the book Four Futures?
on “No country for mediocre mathematicians” ↗