[marcus_holmes]

> But if you imagine a sci-fi world where machines can build and do everything humans can do, the concept of a human-centric economy would be pointless.

In Iain Banks' The Culture novels, the machines provide the How, humans provide the Why.

[Loughla]

I mean, there is a read of the culture that is pretty dystopian. If Minds are able to, essentially, predict the future, what is the purpose of the humans, other than as a sort of abstract pet acting out the Minds' great plans.

Something something Bora Horza Gobuchul was right all along.

[GeoAtreides]

No, that's a read from people who equate suffering and toiling with meaning. The Culture is a true utopia, Iain says it explicitly.

[akomtu]

Minds keep humans as pets.

[arethuza]

I can see why you might think that - but people and machines and groups are free to leave if they want - at least one of the Culture stories is based on this: e.g. "A Gift from the Culture".

[lambdaone]

Free-to-roam pets are still pets. The Minds are benevolent dictators, and generally seek not to be seen as such by humans.

[TheOtherHobbes]

What would the Minds do if all humans wanted to leave?

[arethuza]

Probably sublime... who knows!