Will Automation lead to the disappearance of the working class?

[spartan]

Will Automation lead to the disappearance of workers as a seperate distinct class?

Would this also lead to the withering away of Capitalism, and the emergence of Socialistic planned economies, in a peaceful manner?

Or would a small elite (Bourgeoisie) still hold onto power via privatisation and ownership of the machines?

The only human "workers" (Well more like Technocratic Bureaucrats or managers) that i think would be needed in a completely automated society is educated experts who direct the machines on what to do.

People always agrue that there will still be workers needed to build the machines though what if we build machines that can then build and repair other machines themselves?

Also i just thought that humans might not be needed to manage the machines after all as computers could take over that role.

[Q]

Will Automation lead to the disappearance of workers as a seperate distinct class?

Would this also lead to the withering away of Capitalism, and the emergence of Socialistic planned economies, in a peaceful manner?

Or would a small elite (Bourgeoisie) still hold onto power via privatisation and ownership of the machines?

The only human "workers" (Well more like Technocratic Bureaucrats or managers) that i think would be needed in a completely automated society is educated experts who direct the machines on what to do.
Technology in capitalism has always been used to fire abundant workers instead of lowering the working load. I once read somewhere that modern workers are about 1500 times more productive then workers in 1800 were. This is mainly thanks to technology. I think this is proof enough to point out that the working class won't disappear under capitalism.

Also, capitalism is based on making a profit, if it produces too much it can't sell its products anymore and will go in crisis. So no, a peaceful or "natural" transition to socialism is out of the question. As long as the private property over the means of production exists, there will be a small bourgeois elite.

What you describe as technocracy is only possible under a socialist planned economy, where the workload is equally divided amongst all and where the economy is democratically based on providing in the needs for all.

[Dros]

Perhaps under a Communist form of social orginization labour itself can be eliminated but not under a capitalist one. Historically, technology has always been used to enrich and enfranchise the Bourgeoisie instead of aiding the workers.

[Luís Henrique]

If all commodities are made by automated machines, with no human labour involved - to whom will the capitalists sell those commodities?

Luís Henrique

[spartan]

So would you all agree that true Automation of society can only exist when there is a Socialist mode of production or planned economy?

[Schrödinger's Cat]

So would you all agree that true Automation of society can only exist when there is a Socialist mode of production or planned economy?

Certainly without a workforce capitalism cannot manage to establish its own base support. Human labor acts as a commodity. Employees must be bought on the market. If not, the employees go without a steady source of income and the capitalists have no demand. Most children born to the proletariat and the petite-bourgeoisie would be out of luck.

If the capitalists collectively chose to continue the price system, we would end up doing trivial jobs like George Jetson just to prevent communism.

[Red_or_Dead]

People always agrue that there will still be workers needed to build the machines though what if we build machines that can then build and repair other machines themselves?

Also i just thought that humans might not be needed to manage the machines after all as computers could take over that role.

Thats a bit Sci-fi. If that would happen, would humans be neccesary?

[BIG BROTHER]

Quote:
People always agrue that there will still be workers needed to build the machines though what if we build machines that can then build and repair other machines themselves?

Also i just thought that humans might not be needed to manage the machines after all as computers could take over that role.

Thats a bit Sci-fi. If that would happen, would humans be neccesary?

I can already see it, Robot manifiesto: Abolition of all humans

[Everyday Anarchy]

The working class will never "disappear" under capitalism. As mentioned above, the capitalist class must have a working class that has enough money to buy goods. It's why we have a minimum wage. Capitalists exist within a paradox-- lower salaries means high profit, but it also means less consumers.


We shouldn't make the mistake of past workers though. Automation and technology should not be feared or prevented. It should be embraced! It would be hypocritical of us to fight against wage-slavery while also fighting against machines that could one day be the very reason wage-slavery is abolished.

[Schrödinger's Cat]

Capitalism only concerns itself with growth to begin with, even if this growth is through debt accumulation. From the progressive era up through today, the average hours one works hasn't gone down. Indeed in many parts of the world it's increased. The average worker can now expect to toil for 45 hours a week in the United States.

Heavy industry has managed to sidestep the heavy investment necessary for automation with neo-liberalism. Instead of building superior machines, corporations have instead invested in cheap labor. Nike laborers demand only a few pennies, but the company sells their shoes at the same price they would if made by American hands.

But once cheap labor markets shrink up, industries will have to concern themselves with large automation projects. It's practically inevitable. One firm will introduce the technology in order to outperform its competitors, and the whole market will be dragged forward to personal extinction.

[Psy]

I can't believe you people forgot the most important problem with automation in capitalism. That is the capitalists can't exploit machinery, the capitalists has to pay for its value upfront and can't roll back capital that goes into operation of machineries without a drop in productivity and paying more out when they break.

Basically machines make lousy slaves, as when abused they eventually won't work anymore till repaired which can become costly. Lets not forget workers sabotage production by abusing the machinary till they break.