Is scarcity fundamental to the human condition, or can we overcome it?

Question

By "scarcity" I'm referring to the most basic assumption underlying the study of economics, wherein society's wants are infinite while resources are finite, such that wants will always exceed resources. This leads to scarcity, requiring certain choices to be made, and economics is the study of these choices.

Answer 1

There is no scarcity. Over 20 years ago the World Health Organization estimated that with today's technology and resources we couold feed a planet 12 times the size of the earth. Of course, we don't need to feed a planet 12 times our size, we only need to feed one 1/12 of that...the one we have. Capitalism doles out necessities not based on what humans need but what they can afford. If you don;t have money, you don't get what you need. We need a new way of living. One where everyone is entitled to food, clothing, medical care and education not based on their ability to buy it but by virtue of their humanity.

Answer 2

There will always be scarcity of items. Take a look at the new game systems that come out, initially the prices go a lot higher than taper off during full production, finally dropping to rock bottom prices as the newest system comes out. I believe that there are some items like jewelry that could be cheaper if humans banned together and fought for it.

Answer 3

I don't believe that scarcity has to be part 'n' parcel to the human condition... it is sometimes that way because we allow it to be. Of course, I speak of the basic, non-luxury items. Human hunger, homelessness, lack of adequate, & warm clothing should be things of the past. There are reasons, but NO excuses for these conditions to be part of the human predicament. We are totally capable of the "supply-side" economics that would assure an end to these stains on our humanity. We will one day, hopefully sooner than later, get all this into the proper perspective. We're going to all benefit if we can have love spread like a wildfire around this globe. Time will tell. If we let the "Malthusian thinkers" continue to call the shots, we lose, period.

Answer 4

if you assume that desires are infinite then it follows that anything except infinite resources would be scarcity - but bodies are finite and desire for pleasure is finite - if you try to want infinite pleasure, you only stress yourself

lions rest and slap their tails in the dust when they have eaten and had sex

the scarcity we have is artificial, there is enough world income for every family to have US$75,000 a year for working average hard, if it wasnt that 1% take 90% of world income - US$70 trillion out of world income US$75 trillion - superplenty for all

and the super injustice then necessitates huge war expenditure, which wastes huge amounts of everything

limiting fortunes to US$2 million - the most one person can earn by their work, ie create wealth by making goods and services - will prevent super underpay and most violence - it will also prevent tyrants - money is power

work is spread, so money and power should be spread, or else you have violence escalating as it has done for 1000s of years

justice is the nonnegotiable price of survival and happiness - you cant steal most money from most people and not impair your quality of life

Answer 5

"The human condition" is a vague term. Scarcity is simply a term that refers to the limited availability of something - anything. We can't overcome the natural limitations on the availability of some resources, such as metal ores, water, oxygen or land, but it is theoretically possible to overcome scarcities such as the availability of education and knowledge.

Answer 6

Yes, it is fundamental to the human condition. We naturally live for less than 100 years on this planet. So we each get about 28,000 days to live out our lives. Time is one of our scarcest resources. Until we can figure out how to become immortal, scarcity is likely to be present.

Answer 7

All I know about is the Christian faith and what it requires. “Nation will rise against nation and kingdom against kingdom” (Matt. 24:7) War has marred life on the earth for thousands of years. International wars and wars within nations have been fought. But beginning in 1914 the first world war was fought. This was not merely a conflict between two armies on the battlefield. For the first time, all the major powers were at war. Entire nations—including civilian populations—were mobilized to support the war effort. It is estimated that by the end of the war 93 percent of the population of the world was involved. (Regarding the historical significance of 1914, see pages 239, 240.) As foretold at Revelation 6:4, ‘peace was taken away from the earth.’ Thus the world has continued to be in a state of upheaval ever since 1914. World War II was fought from 1939 to 1945. According to retired Admiral Gene La Rocque, as of 1982 there had been another 270 wars since 1945. Upwards of 100 million persons have been slaughtered in warfare during this century. Also, according to the 1982 edition of World Military and Social Expenditures, there were in that year 100 million people engaged directly or indirectly in military activities. Is more required in order to fulfill this aspect of the prophecy? There are tens of thousands of nuclear weapons deployed for immediate use. Leading scientists have said that if the nations were to use even a fraction of their nuclear arsenals, civilization and possibly the entire human species would be destroyed. But that is not the outcome to which Bible prophecy points. “There will be food shortages . . . in one place after another” (Matt. 24:7) There have been many famines in human history. To what extent has the 20th century been afflicted by them? World war led to widespread starvation in Europe and Asia. Africa has been stricken by drought, resulting in extensive food shortages. Late in 1980 the Food and Agriculture Organization estimated that 450 million people were hungry to the point of starvation, and up to a billion did not have enough to eat. Of these, some 40 million a year actually die—in some years as many as 50 million—because of the shortage of food. Is anything different about these food shortages? Revelation 6:6 indicated that a small quantity of such staples as wheat or barley would be selling for a day’s wage (a denarius; see Matthew 20:2) but that supplies of such items as olive oil and wine used by people who are well-to-do would not be harmed. So apparently many would suffer shortage while others could still get what they wanted. This situation is no longer local, but global. In 1981 The New York Times reported: “The improvement in living standards and the growing demand for food around the world have put pressure on food prices, making it harder for the poorest countries to import their food needs.” In many lands the production of food, even with the aid of modern science, has not been able to keep pace with the increase in total population. Modern food experts see no real solution to the problem. “There will be great earthquakes” (Luke 21:11)

Answer 8

Wow,I 'm not sure of what you meant by "scarcity".Did you mean the quality or state of being scarce?To b frighetened is part of our human nature.Panic is a natural way of coping with something that needs to kick us into "high gear" or retreat,very natural in the "animal kingdom".Also in our crazy human world to compete and delete.Just remember to be kind to the lions, the lambs will find theyr'e way.

Answer 9

hi

Answer 10

We can't overcome it. Avoiding poverty and gaining wealth is a key driving force for workers.

Why do you think communism fell? It's idealistic, but no one wants to share.