In a sense, this is peak "degrowth". People having very enjoyable and productive lives while using very few physical resources.

In a sense, this is peak "degrowth". People having very enjoyable and productive lives while using very few physical resources.

https://twitter.com/haig98/status/1753839916948009316

The Great Filter theory, specifically what is called the Upper Income Trap -- once a civilization reaches a certain standard of living, approximately that of present day upper-middle-class Westerners, it stops reproducing and then dies out.

Almost a solution to the Fermi Paradox, except it’s the Virtual Reality Trap

Almost a solution to the Fermi Paradox, except it’s the Virtual Reality Trap

https://warpcast.com/pmarca/0x9422843d

Skeptical optimist, prediction market enjoyer

Both are unlikely in practice imo, because they make an N-of-N assumption.

If even one culture can keep fertility rates high while others go low, it will end up dominating population-wise.

If even one culture can continue to focus on the physical world while others go virtual, it will end up dominating militarily.

Arguably some PRC elites believe that their strategy is already exactly this:

Arguably some PRC elites believe that their strategy is already exactly this:

https://www.strategictranslation.org/articles/a-study-of-the-industrial-party-and-the-sentimental-party

similar vibe to the techno-authoritarian thing and people like Curtis Yarvin

For sure, I’m not convinced either of these lead to fertility rates zeroing out, but more so that progress in physical space stagnates to where these cultures never become multi-planetary. They opt to meet all but the most basic needs in the more energy-efficient virtual space, hence we don’t “see the aliens”