Humans As Ants

[MojoMan]

If cities started functioning just like an ant colony, everyone working together for survival, many people agree it would be better. but what if humans could simply not stand this life with no excitement or differentiation between today and yesterday. Would the human race simply give up from boredom? Because unlike ants, we are sentient, and seek more from life than survival.

 

[BFDD]

You mean like communism? Because that doesn't work very well.

Or do you mean, we stop worrying about anything not related needs. We give up all wants, and just focus on food, water, shelter, etc. In that case I do think boredom would get the better of us. Animals of intelligence, such as parrots, if left in a cage with nothing to do eventually start going crazy and can literally die from boredom.

Modern technology makes survival for the average person very simple, all needs can be met in a very short amount of time. That leaves lots of downtime, especially if everyone in a non need business started to work on needs, the needs for everyone in the city would easily be met very quickly. Not to mention the fact that it would be hard to get everyone to cooperate and do their fair share.
We would have to break up into smaller communities and start living like the Amish.

 

[marthanoob]

There is a little something in human nature that's called desire.

 

[mzink*]

Humans naturally have an individualistic way of thinking. Instinct tells us to focus on ourselves and to strive to continually better ourselves. Like Marthanoob said, without our natural desire to go further and further and gain more and climb higher, we probably would be living like ants. Humans would not be satisfied living the way you propose if there was the option of doing otherwise.

 

[tissue]

Ants have a form of desire as well. In fact, I would argue that something resembling desire is fundamental to any sentient organism, else that organism would perish in lethargy.

To make a city like an ant colony would be a little silly.

1) If you portion out the town into sections (this is the industrial section, this is the living section, this is the food section), crime will skyrocket. It is important for a town to have parts of it that are always alive with people facing the streets. These eyes are what protect people, and are why rundown sections of Boston go without a crime for years while built-up, high-end suburban areas are vulnerable, if poorly planned.

2) Such an allocation seems to imply a forced "job" for each person, and that simply would not go over well. Americans consider it a point of personal liberty to pursue whatever job they wish.

I recommend reading "The Death and Life of Great American Cities" by Jane Jacobs, a masterpiece and primary source of urban planning.

 

[marthanoob]

Ants have a form of desire as well. In fact, I would argue that something resembling desire is fundamental to any sentient organism, else that organism would perish in lethargy.

That, I believe is called instinct.