is this what the left wants?

Summary

The video explores themes from 'The Three-Body Problem,' highlighting the character Ye Wenjie's disillusionment with humanity and her hope that contacting advanced extraterrestrial life might save us from ourselves. It delves into the idea of 'automated luxury gay space communism,' suggesting that technological advancements could create a post-scarcity economy. However, it questions whether humans can achieve this due to resource constraints and inherent competition. The video also references historical and fictional perspectives on utopian societies and the potential role of aliens, ultimately emphasizing the challenges and risks of seeking external solutions to human problems.

Takeaways

• 🚀 In 'The Three-Body Problem,' the character Ye Wenjie is horrified by the atrocities of Mao's Cultural Revolution and worries about ecological collapse caused by humanity.
• 🌌 Ye Wenjie holds a cynical view of humanity and looks to space for salvation, questioning if contacting an advanced civilization could help save us.
• 🤔 The text explores the criticism that communism is utopian idealism and questions if humans are too selfish and primitive to live under a system not based on competition and self-interest.
• 🛰️ 'Automated luxury gay space communism' is a term that envisions a world where technological advancement leads to a post-scarcity economy, allowing everyone to live in luxury.
• 💭 The term suggests that post-scarcity would lead to a sexually liberated society, but critics argue that it overlooks the environmental impact of universal luxury.
• 🌍 The space element in 'automated luxury gay space communism' suggests that relying on extraterrestrial aid could help humanity achieve a utopia.
• 👽 Some communists, like Juan Posadas, believed that contact with technologically advanced aliens could solve Earth's problems and lead to socialism.
• 🛸 Posadas argued that UFOs indicate advanced societies that must be post-capitalist, advocating for making contact with aliens to address human issues.
• 🔒 The 'Dark Forest Theory' in 'The Three-Body Problem' suggests that interplanetary relations operate under a scarcity mentality, leading to potential conflict.
• 🌠 The story warns that seeking technological or extraterrestrial shortcuts might not save humanity and could even exacerbate problems, emphasizing the need for responsible progress.

Q & A

Who is the character in 'The Three-Body Problem' that is horrified by the Cultural Revolution and worries about ecological collapse?

The character is Ye Wenjie.

What is the main concern of Ye Wenjie in 'The Three-Body Problem'?

Ye Wenjie is concerned about the atrocities of the Cultural Revolution and the ecological collapse caused by humanity.

What does Ye Wenjie believe could help humanity progress?

Ye Wenjie believes that contacting an advanced form of life might help save humanity from itself.

What is the criticism often directed at communism as mentioned in the script?

The criticism is that communism is utopian idealism and humans are too selfish and primitive to function in a system not based on competition and self-interest.

What does the term 'automated luxury gay space communism' refer to?

It refers to a hypothetical world based on Aaron Bastani's idea of fully automated luxury communism, where technological advancements lead to a post-scarcity economy with luxury living for all and sexual liberation.

What is Aaron Bastani's argument about capitalism and communism?

Bastani argues that capitalism is organized under a logic of scarcity and should be dismantled in favor of communism, which is more suitable for a post-scarcity economy.

What is the environmental critique of the fully automated luxury gay space communism idea?

Critics argue that the environmental impact of everyone living a life of luxury would be unsustainable due to the limited resources available.

How does the 'space' part of 'automated luxury gay space communism' fit into the concept?

The space part suggests that humanity might rely on something outside of Earth, such as aliens, to aid in achieving a utopian society.

What was Juan Posadas' unique view regarding aliens and nuclear war?

Juan Posadas believed that contacting technologically advanced aliens could solve Earth's problems and supported nuclear war as a means to collapse capitalism and rise socialism.

What is the 'Dark Forest Theory' proposed in 'The Three-Body Problem'?

The Dark Forest Theory suggests that civilizations compete for limited resources, leading to potential conflicts. Any communication risks being seen as a threat, resulting in strategies of annihilation or isolation.