Pensions in the Transhumanist Era

[Zach4110]

People today demand that governments fund pension programs, as the elderly are physically unable to be productive in the workforce.

But what about when transhumanism and the singularity come into the mainstream?

Is there a point of getting a government to steal trillions from the workers to pay for pensions at that time?

[Nellerin]

People today demand that governments fund pension programs, as the elderly are physically unable to be productive in the workforce.

But what about when transhumanism and the singularity come into the mainstream?

Is there a point of getting a government to steal trillions from the workers to pay for pensions at that time?

You are talking about something that may very well be possible, but any Robot that is given "intelligence" of that sort will never be a Conscious being. There is a big difference between something being able to carry out a conversation and respond to stimuli, and something actually being conscious.

For that reason alone, pensions would not be given to a Robot or some super-intelligent creation.

As far as extending human life which is the other side of the things that you mentioned. The human body can only last for around 140 years before it breaks down. No technology will allow for us to transplant our soul or consciousness to another inorganic body therefore we are not going to be living longer UNLESS we find a way to inhibit or shut off the substances in our body which cause things within us to break down, the chances of that happening, are slim to none.

People like Ray Kurzweil like to think that the Brain = Consciousness therefore you move the Brain and you move the person, modern science has pretty much disproved that idea.

[Zach4110]

You are talking about something that may very well be possible, but any Robot that is given "intelligence" of that sort will never be a Conscious being. There is a big difference between something being able to carry out a conversation and respond to stimuli, and something actually being conscious.

For that reason alone, pensions would not be given to a Robot or some super-intelligent creation.
Of course robots and new creations wouldn't receive pensions.

I'm talking about the classic transhumanist - a human with robot "upgrades" (for lack of a better term). This would give the human a great physical ability to work until death (if there still is, of course) and thus not needing a pension.


As far as extending human life which is the other side of the things that you mentioned. The human body can only last for around 140 years before it breaks down. No technology will allow for us to transplant our soul or consciousness to another inorganic body therefore we are not going to be living longer UNLESS we find a way to inhibit or shut off the substances in our body which cause things within us to break down, the chances of that happening, are slim to none.

The human body doesn't have to break down. We'll eventually find a way to abolish the Hayflick limit. There's already progress actually, with the latest mappings of telomerase.


People like Ray Kurzweil like to think that the Brain = Consciousness therefore you move the Brain and you move the person, modern science has pretty much disproved that idea.
I guess we'll see when we cross that bridge.

[Stronk Serb]

In Serbia, workers who worked for 30 years have their right for a government pension. Another good thing along with free healthcare (I know it is paid from taxes) which left from the Socialist Federal Republic of Yugoslavia.

[tovaris]

Pensions are alredy funded frew the institutions of the republic. And it vorks in part, it could work even better if the sistem would be perfected.

[Zach4110]

In Serbia, workers who worked for 30 years have their right for a government pension. Another good thing along with free healthcare (I know it is paid from taxes) which left from the Socialist Federal Republic of Yugoslavia.

Pensions are alredy funded frew the institutions of the republic. And it vorks in part, it could work even better if the sistem would be perfected.

Sure, governments have pensions, but the question if there will be a "need" (honestly there isn't one even now, but in the future the elderly can be extremely productive) in the future.

[Stronk Serb]

Sure, governments have pensions, but the question if there will be a "need" (honestly there isn't one even now, but in the future the elderly can be extremely productive) in the future.

I think it is useful since they will be paying their taxes longer.