We have the surplus the philosophers theorized, but not the humanism to make beneficial use of it. When was the last time you went to the store to buy a shirt and they were out of shirts? The same applies for microchips and cars-- there is an unlimited quantity of these goods as far as the individual is concerned. The next major (albeit likely very gradual) revolution in human society will be of more equitable resource distribution which embraces (rather than grudgingly admits) the prospect of universal high standard of living.<p>The philosophers never realized that largely it is the inertia of a society that determines its prospects and outcomes in spite of technological advancements which might threaten to change the way of things.