VukBZ2005
2nd May 2007, 21:54
Let me start off by saying that we do not know whether or not (definitively speaking) if Molecular manufacturing is possible and if so, to what extent is it possible. We will find out the answer to this as time goes on and as more research is done on the subject by scientists who specialize in nanotechnology research.
Molecular manufacturing is the process of assembling individual molecules by using coordinated nanoscale robots that assemble these molecules according to a specific design. The process of assembling these molecules will continue until they have completed the assembly of those molecules according to that specific design, thus making that completed assembled design a usable product. Such assembly would by done through the use of personal nanofactories which contain these nanoscale assembling robots.
The implications that this would have in my opinion, if it is completely possible, would be catastrophic for the existence of Capitalism (not that we can achieve such results already with our existing technology). The reason why it would be catastrophic for its existence is because it would essentially put an end to the scarcity of products.
If it puts an end to the scarcity of products, it would essentially mean that overproduction will almost always occur because everyone, in a way (theoretically-speaking), would have indirect control over the means of production and because of that indirect control, would constantly produce the products that they demand, even if there was some way to use Capital to mitigate the availability of those designs (which would probably be available through the use of a computer network that allows PN's replicate the product that has been designed), due to the fact that people will find some way to illegally subvert such a computer network and thus, will allow both the illegal free usage of designs and the development of a black market that enables people to obtain such designs at cheap prices.
Another reason why it would be catastrophic for the existence of Capitalism is that it would drive the entire working class into the services sector (if there are little table factories doing the manufacturing work for us, why should there be any physical manufacturing left?) and increase unemployment levels for those workers who are not qualified to work in those service industries.
Since "post-industrial" Capitalism is just the exploitation of the working class through the use of non-valued providence, thus making the wealth that they produce from their exploitation in the service industries a part of a false wealth that is literally composed of all the dead and living labor of all the generations of an industrialized society's proletariat, this would mean that the amount of hours that a person is working would be intensified (molecular manufacturing would make service industries more efficient for the Capitalists), the amount of wages would probably decrease to levels that existed before the era of reform and many of the things that were available to the working class during the era of reform would cease being available to them again, more or less like times during the 19th century.
In such a situation, the working class would have no choice but to defeat Capitalism because there is no way out for them and they way in which they can do this is through complete appropriation of such a computer network and a strategy that would destroy the remaining strength of our society.
However, the costs that would come from the introduction of Molecular manufacturing into the world economy (especially in industrialized capitalist economies) would cost the entire working class and the real communist movement dearly, in that such an introduction would mean the loss any strength gathered during periods of reaction, which then translate into explosions of class struggle in periods of revolution.
You may or may not be saying now, "what exactly do you mean? We all know that the introduction of this technology, if it is truly possible, will bring about profound changes to our society. But I am of the thinking that this would not rob the working class of its strength. On the contrary, it would give it more strength."
{to be completed...........}
Molecular manufacturing is the process of assembling individual molecules by using coordinated nanoscale robots that assemble these molecules according to a specific design. The process of assembling these molecules will continue until they have completed the assembly of those molecules according to that specific design, thus making that completed assembled design a usable product. Such assembly would by done through the use of personal nanofactories which contain these nanoscale assembling robots.
The implications that this would have in my opinion, if it is completely possible, would be catastrophic for the existence of Capitalism (not that we can achieve such results already with our existing technology). The reason why it would be catastrophic for its existence is because it would essentially put an end to the scarcity of products.
If it puts an end to the scarcity of products, it would essentially mean that overproduction will almost always occur because everyone, in a way (theoretically-speaking), would have indirect control over the means of production and because of that indirect control, would constantly produce the products that they demand, even if there was some way to use Capital to mitigate the availability of those designs (which would probably be available through the use of a computer network that allows PN's replicate the product that has been designed), due to the fact that people will find some way to illegally subvert such a computer network and thus, will allow both the illegal free usage of designs and the development of a black market that enables people to obtain such designs at cheap prices.
Another reason why it would be catastrophic for the existence of Capitalism is that it would drive the entire working class into the services sector (if there are little table factories doing the manufacturing work for us, why should there be any physical manufacturing left?) and increase unemployment levels for those workers who are not qualified to work in those service industries.
Since "post-industrial" Capitalism is just the exploitation of the working class through the use of non-valued providence, thus making the wealth that they produce from their exploitation in the service industries a part of a false wealth that is literally composed of all the dead and living labor of all the generations of an industrialized society's proletariat, this would mean that the amount of hours that a person is working would be intensified (molecular manufacturing would make service industries more efficient for the Capitalists), the amount of wages would probably decrease to levels that existed before the era of reform and many of the things that were available to the working class during the era of reform would cease being available to them again, more or less like times during the 19th century.
In such a situation, the working class would have no choice but to defeat Capitalism because there is no way out for them and they way in which they can do this is through complete appropriation of such a computer network and a strategy that would destroy the remaining strength of our society.
However, the costs that would come from the introduction of Molecular manufacturing into the world economy (especially in industrialized capitalist economies) would cost the entire working class and the real communist movement dearly, in that such an introduction would mean the loss any strength gathered during periods of reaction, which then translate into explosions of class struggle in periods of revolution.
You may or may not be saying now, "what exactly do you mean? We all know that the introduction of this technology, if it is truly possible, will bring about profound changes to our society. But I am of the thinking that this would not rob the working class of its strength. On the contrary, it would give it more strength."
{to be completed...........}