If one had developed lets say Quantum Computing to new heights, then how would one not consider biological systems developed as drones? A human race evolved to one subservient to the goals and applications of Capitalistic intent? A society held in debt, owing, for their life's existence. As machines, would we know any better, and as drones, we already do some "bodies bidding?"
I think that capitalism is but one way way to organize society. And it's a system of economy which increasingly ignores several innate human characteristics in order to focus on one aspect of us, which is self-interest. It's a system of economy that rewards self-interest and greed above all other traits. What it produces, increasingly, are one-dimensional people capable of little more than being consumers and purchasers of goods and services. It distorts not only human nature but the results as well. Socialists have said it's not a very scientific assessment of humans. Capitalism results in unnatural competition and works on the basis of fear. Fear appeals to primitive parts of the brain and over-develops those parts of us which are probably going to be the end of us according to Frank Drake et al. If we continue fooling with nuclear power and weaponry, we increase the risk that we will use them on ourselves and destroy our own habitat over time or perhaps all at once. Capitalism consumes itself in more ways than just a few as is especially evident today.
I think that advanced civilizations out there will have developed better ways to organize and conduct themselves. Capitalism does not work when billionaire investors and "the market" are optimisitic about every part of the world. There has to be some kind of dog-eat-dog competition happening and only some of us rewarded for it. An advanced civilization will have learned to utilize everyone's capabilities and creativity for the best possible outcome. Kind of like buying many lottery tickets as opposed to investing in only a few. There are ways of increasing odds for success, and capitalism is probably not the way of the intergalactic community.
So should we adjust a view of the energy scale to include our own populations as already exceeding a one classification?
I think we will continue to be a type zero civilization for some time to come, maybe another 100 years or so. Only primitive societies will have been short-sighted as to continue relying on dead plants as an energy source. We will have to learn to harness the energy of the sun for all our needs. If we can expand our economies at merely one percent per year for the next couple of millenia, we should attain type II technological capabilities. Maybe only a few thousand more years to type III after that. But it's still a relatively tiny slice of time in the larger scheme of things. I think there will be people out there who represent indestructible species. I don't know if they will want to colonize the galaxy either. I think that line of thinking about the future would be like asking a child what he wants to be when he grows up. The kid might say, I want to live on a tropical island, drive a Rolls Royce everywhere and eat chocolate all the time.
Perhaps advanced species will have better things to do than copy-cat planet earth's imperialists of old. Perhaps there really are better things to do with their immortality and advanced technological capabilities. And perhaps they've sent probes piloted by highly intelligent drones to help us through our own technological adolescence. If they can help us avoid destroying ourselves by capitalism run amok or resource wars, then maybe we can live on and evolve into something better and more worthwhile than type 0. Maybe we are considered a precious "resource", too, I don't know. Perhaps we are destined for bigger and better things in the future...
