Mere Mortals Conversations Abundance Mindset In An Abundant World | Is An Infinite Utopia Possible?
Feb 8, 2026
01:00:27
What makes a bun dance?
In Episode #513 of 'Meanderings', Juan & I discuss: the definition of abundance versus how futurists/technologists and everyday folks actually use it, the conflation of “lots of something” with “zero friction access,” whether abundance must be global or can be meaningfully local, test the concept across water, food, intelligence and money, why more does not equal free (or even better), scarcity’s persistent psychological pull, whether a world of replicators (à la Star Trek) would make us healthier or simply more indulgent, Dyson spheres/Matryoshka brains/chess engines and why perfect performance is boring compared to messy human stories.
Huge shoutout to Cole for the support!
Stan Link: https://stan.store/meremortals
Timeline:
(00:00:00) Intro
(00:00:26) Defining abundance: frictionless access vs sheer quantity
(00:03:21) Is abundance local or global? Water as a case study
(00:05:23) Tech and food narratives: AI will make everything abundant
(00:08:46) Limits, time and space: why infinite abundance breaks down
(00:11:14) Air as the closest real abundance; distribution still matters
(00:14:29) Observer effects: meaning, colour and value are perceived
(00:20:29) Wealth, perspective and the abundance mindset
(00:21:45) Boostagram Lounge: Star Trek replicators and personal vs private property
(00:23:07) Is abundance actually good? Utopia, suffering and growth
(00:26:25) Replicators and diet: would unlimited food make us healthier?
(00:32:29) Health, sport and sameness: does abundance kill excitement?
(00:36:58) Scarcity still drives value: the mine effect
(00:40:00) Waste, recycling and shifting norms in abundant contexts
(00:43:27) Raising the floor vs widening the gap: distribution dynamics
(00:46:54) Utopian promises, isms and the risk of abundanceism
(00:51:58) More isnt always better: goals, dieting and selfcontrol
(00:56:57) Longevity, time perception and what remains human
(00:59:26) Closing thoughts and next weeks book review: The Sovereign Individual
In Episode #513 of 'Meanderings', Juan & I discuss: the definition of abundance versus how futurists/technologists and everyday folks actually use it, the conflation of “lots of something” with “zero friction access,” whether abundance must be global or can be meaningfully local, test the concept across water, food, intelligence and money, why more does not equal free (or even better), scarcity’s persistent psychological pull, whether a world of replicators (à la Star Trek) would make us healthier or simply more indulgent, Dyson spheres/Matryoshka brains/chess engines and why perfect performance is boring compared to messy human stories.
Huge shoutout to Cole for the support!
Stan Link: https://stan.store/meremortals
Timeline:
(00:00:00) Intro
(00:00:26) Defining abundance: frictionless access vs sheer quantity
(00:03:21) Is abundance local or global? Water as a case study
(00:05:23) Tech and food narratives: AI will make everything abundant
(00:08:46) Limits, time and space: why infinite abundance breaks down
(00:11:14) Air as the closest real abundance; distribution still matters
(00:14:29) Observer effects: meaning, colour and value are perceived
(00:20:29) Wealth, perspective and the abundance mindset
(00:21:45) Boostagram Lounge: Star Trek replicators and personal vs private property
(00:23:07) Is abundance actually good? Utopia, suffering and growth
(00:26:25) Replicators and diet: would unlimited food make us healthier?
(00:32:29) Health, sport and sameness: does abundance kill excitement?
(00:36:58) Scarcity still drives value: the mine effect
(00:40:00) Waste, recycling and shifting norms in abundant contexts
(00:43:27) Raising the floor vs widening the gap: distribution dynamics
(00:46:54) Utopian promises, isms and the risk of abundanceism
(00:51:58) More isnt always better: goals, dieting and selfcontrol
(00:56:57) Longevity, time perception and what remains human
(00:59:26) Closing thoughts and next weeks book review: The Sovereign Individual
Connect with Mere Mortals:
Website: https://www.meremortalspodcasts.com/
Discord: https://discord.gg/jjfq9eGReU
Twitter/X: https://twitter.com/meremortalspods
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/meremortalspodcasts/
TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@meremortalspodcasts
Value 4 Value Support:
Boostagram: https://www.meremortalspodcasts.com/support
Paypal: https://www.paypal.com/paypalme/meremortalspodcast