Agreed, we are indeed centuries away from that (probably), however I am envisioning a post-scarcity world way before that.

We are not too far away from machines being able to do all the most menial work, renewable energy for all is just round the corner. Add to that the fact that we are progressing in society as far as providing for people is concerned (with some notable exceptions).

Today they are more than twice as many people dying from over eating as do from malnutrition, soon there will be nobody dying from starvation, this is the post-scarce world that I speak of (even if we went of for 500 years in the thought experiment :-) )

Cg