I’ve seen this argument stated many times but it’s incomplete. If the majority of the population is made redundant and unable to earn any income then what happens to consumer spending? It drops to zero and it takes the likes of Amazon, Walmart, and countless other retailers as well as manufacturers with it.
Are they going to just let that happen?
Feudalism worked because the knights and lords needed people to work their land and provide a product: food. If machines can do that instead then there won’t be any farm workers, so it won’t really be feudalism. But then there won’t be any jobs in the city either, so no one will be able to afford food and all of that farmland will be worthless as well.
The loyal samurai-innovators aren’t enough to consume all that food and consumer goods. The whole economy will collapse in this scenario.
Are they going to just let that happen?
Feudalism worked because the knights and lords needed people to work their land and provide a product: food. If machines can do that instead then there won’t be any farm workers, so it won’t really be feudalism. But then there won’t be any jobs in the city either, so no one will be able to afford food and all of that farmland will be worthless as well.
The loyal samurai-innovators aren’t enough to consume all that food and consumer goods. The whole economy will collapse in this scenario.