It's more than just a sense of purpose. There's matter of compensation. Do we pay people to wander through space in virtual reality. That would essentially be welfare creating a far larger welfare state than now exists. Maybe that's inevitable. However, I think a better idea might be the creation of public works projects and job sharing.But wouldn't it be just be pastime?Yes, I suppose you could pay people based on their performance on Sims or Pokemon, but I don't see that is any better than sending them a check every month. People will always find some leisure activity to occupy their time but I really don't think Pokemon or any other computer game is going to give people a sense worth that a job provides.I read a couple reviews and hope to read the book. The end of work has been the goal of humans for centuries but now it appears it maybe within our grasp, the Utopian world of leisure doesn't look so good.
The work ethic is strongly rooted in all societies. The more people in the workforce that become redundant the more social problems were're going to have. I think we're going to have some major changes.
Perhaps the work ethic is something that can be transfered into a computer program and accessed by humans as needed. Work in a virtual reality environment my be just as fulfilling as that in the material world! SOme video game simulations are already approaching that possibility!
The kind of virtual reality I had in mind is far more complex than Pokeman or any other mere video game. I envision a virtual world similar to that depicted in a movie called "The Matrix" or the training simulator aboard the Captain Kirk's Enterprise.. Sure, right now we can shrug it off as science fiction and likely improbable for the near future but I can see it coming. By the time machines are doing everything for us, the effects of Moore's Law will have unleashed technological wonders we can now only dream of!
I see where you're going with this. I agree, a sense of purpose has to be included in a program that would synthesize work ethic.
If everyone could choose a program centered around what they really like to do, I suspect that physical labor would probably be the least desired. Cerebral pursuits would likely be the most popular regardless of cognitive ability. Just think of being able to Captain your own starship and visit myriad worlds just like Kirk. You and a group of friends could go anywhere and do anything you desire and never leave the virtual world right at home. You would, of course, have to return to your own bodies once in a while to bathe and to eat or take care of some other physical needs.
Consider also that in the virtual world you won't age.
Elimination of most jobs could be a Utopia or Hell depending on how society adapts to it.