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Energy and the future

The world today is a in a bad shape. The resources that humans have relied on are not unlimited. We are basically destroying the planet in the name of progress and advancement. If this continues soon there will be no fish in the oceans, most of the animal species will be extinct due to destruction of their habitat, we will use up all the oil, and basically it will be all doom and gloom. In effect, our existence is actually sort of a giant Ponzi scheme. We are using up everything without replenishing. Until there is nothing left and then it will all come crashing done. Or most likely it will come crashing down much before that - when we realize just how limited these resources are. The peak oil theory is for real. Unless..

Unless, we find a cheaper energy source before that peak hits. In fact, there is just so much energy out there. There is actually an unlimited amount of energy out there. We just don't know how to harness it. Matter itself is energy. So in effect, I feel like if we can find a way to harness energy to the point where energy is practically free - that will be the solution to all our problems. Nuclear fusion might be the best bet as of now. With free unlimited energy it just becomes a problem of execution (which itself is not a small problem). However done rightly I can envision a world where everyone is happy, healthy, rich. An utopia of sorts. With unlimited energy and advancement in other fields perhaps lab grown meat will also be cheap and this will end the needless suffering of all the farm animals. (which I believe is as important as ending human suffering.)

But if we do achieve this - a world where everyone has everything they need - will that be the best outcome. You might ask will we be happy? Sure we will be, because if we were not I am sure science will have advanced to a level where there will be a simple cure for unhappiness. In such a world everyone will be super happy, good looking, healthy, rich etc. etc. Basically we would have left nature, evolution etc. behind light years. We might become a new kind of being - not defined by natural laws. However if it is all so good, so perfect , so constant, so equal - isn't it the same thing as death? I mean what will separate our existence from our death. If being conscious is the same experience all throughout, for every person, then how is that different from being unconscious i.e. dead? So by being perfect we actually will get closer to not being at all. Ironic, but perhaps true?


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