Introduction
This article analyzes the paradox of the utopia of abundance, where technological progress solves material problems while simultaneously giving rise to an existential crisis of meaning. Drawing on the concepts of Nick Bostrom and Thaddeus Metz, we examine how humans can find a purpose for existence in a post-scarcity world where labor and effort become redundant. Readers will learn how to redefine the meaning of life when machines take over our current responsibilities.
Simple vs. Deep Utopia: Bostrom's Ontological Leap
Nick Bostrom distinguishes between simple utopia—a vision of miraculous abundance—and deep utopia, which concerns the structure of human motivation. The key challenge is the transition from shallow redundancy (the loss of gainful employment) to deep redundancy. In this latter state, any instrumental effort in science, sports, or even parenting becomes unnecessary, as external systems achieve these goals better and faster.
This ontological leap means that what was once a means to an end ceases to be a reason for action. In a post-instrumental world, human activity becomes secondary, forcing a search for new foundations for a sense of agency.
Metz's Theory and the Three Conditions of Transcendental Purpose
In his theory of fundamentality, Thaddeus Metz defines meaning as directing reason toward goodness, truth, and beauty. However, in a utopia, these values may become institutionalized and automated, stripping humans of their role as creators. Bostrom’s response is the concept of ETP (all-encompassing transcendental purpose), which must meet three conditions: it must be the gravitational center of life, be based on objective reason, and transcend immediate desires.
Bostrom introduces a crucial dichotomy: subjective meaning (a purpose adopted through willpower) and objective meaning (possessing external reasons for being). This distinction is essential to avoid the trap of "flat moralism" and the pursuit of goals that are only subjectively engaging but objectively mediocre.
Five Circles of Defending Meaning in a Post-Instrumental World
Defending meaning in an era of prosperity rests on five pillars. The first is hedonic value—the authentic quality of experience as the biological foundation of utopia. The second is the texture of experience; increasing cognitive and aesthetic depth effectively eliminates objective boredom. The third pillar is autotelic activity (e.g., games), which requires a conscious self-limitation of one's own capabilities so that effort retains real stakes.
The fourth circle consists of artificial goals—tasks adopted through agreement or relationships that organize life after natural needs vanish. The final barrier to automation is socio-cultural entanglement. There are domains, such as caregiving or manual craftsmanship, where we value the presence of another human being not for their efficiency, but for the symbolic and relational value of the gesture.
The Structure of the Cosmos and the Enchantment of the World
Even in the most advanced utopia, the structure of the cosmos and the speed of light set hard limits on our potential. Different cultural spheres respond to this differently: East Asia emphasizes the self-discipline of form, Africa focuses on communal ubuntu, America on heroic individualism, and Europe on institutional legitimacy.
The ultimate solution to the problem of purpose is the enchantment of the world. This is a new architecture of meaning in which everyday gestures gain symbolic and ritual resonance. Utopia does not have to be an era of idleness; it can become a space for the wise management of abundance, weaving a web of meaning that transcends the material cost of actions.
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