That’s a good way to think of it. I think it’s degrading every aspect of life. We’re so obsessed with metrics and efficiency that we don’t know how to live any more.
Yeah, modern society (essentially neoliberal capitalism) does not prioritize quality of life. The apotheosis is maximum output (shareholder profits), even if that means if the vast majority of people are miserable and unhappy (because the low quality of their work-life is not compensated by the products and services they're given access to).
Agreed. And the interesting thing is that now, with smartphones and an endless stream of captivating entertainment (basically Soma), people won't even be able to think long enough to realize they're miserable and unhappy.
If you can impose a new way of living on one single generation---an existence directed toward endless free (for now) entertainment---it is enough to change all subsequent generations.
I'm not that pessimistic. If humans are in charge, there'll always change, but it may be in the far future.
Though AGI might change that, because I can see one important application being the creation of ever-present minds to continuously watch and control each person who remains, on behalf of some totalitarian entity. Basically 1984 telescreens, but real and far cheaper.
