We do have some examples of post-scarcity people. Bill and Melinda Gates can afford almost anything in this world they want including, if they like, a ride out of it. The larger worry for them is how they and their kids can live productive lives in spite of the money.

Their friend Warren Buffet has advised that they should set aside enough money for the kids to do anything, but not so much that they can do nothing. That’s great advice for the kids, but Bill and Melinda have to exercise discipline to avoid the trap of doing nothing themselves.

And they should be commended. They’ve donated billions to the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation and they now spend a sizable chunk of their time administering that foundation.

According to a 2004 Forbes magazine article, Gates gave away over $29 billion to charities from 2000 onwards. These donations are usually cited as sparking a substantial change in attitudes towards philanthropy among the very rich, with philanthropy becoming the norm. Buffett, who was the world's second richest person, announced on June 25, 2006 that he has pledged to give the foundation 10 million Berkshire Hathaway Class B shares, spread over multiple years through annual contributions.

Gates announced on May 6, 2008 that he would move to a part-time role within Microsoft, leaving day-to-day operations management in July 2008 to begin a full-time career in philanthropy, but would remain as chairman and advisor. Gates credited Buffett with influencing his decision to commit himself to charitable causes. Days later, Buffett announced that he would begin matching Gates' contributions to the Gates Foundation of up to $1.5 billion per year in stock.

This example is very encouraging for the future as a whole. If part of the world overcomes scarcity then that part will likely spend much time in fun and leisure. But, when playtime is over, the newly affluent will likely come together - like Gates and Buffet have - to help the rest of the world.

This won’t end conflict. Different people will have different ideas about what the world should be or how best to help. The Gates Foundation has been criticized, for example, for only giving scholarships to nonwhites. The Foundation says that it’s addressing past inequities. The critics say that colorblind scholarships would do more to advance race relations.

So there’s not likely to be one huge foundation that rides to the rescue of the entire world. They'll be many foundations with competing ideas. And that's better anyway. Even post-scarcity, competition will be a good thing.