The cursed power to transform everything into gold, like Midas, is a fascinating and cautionary tale from Greek mythology. It tells the story of King Midas, who was granted a wish by the god Dionysus for his hospitality. Midas foolishly asked that everything he touched would turn to gold, fully expecting to enjoy a life of unlimited wealth and luxury. At first, Midas was ecstatic to find his newfound power working as promised. Objects and even people transformed into solid gold at his touch. However, it soon became apparent that this gift was more of a curse than a blessing.
However, it soon became apparent that this gift was more of a curse than a blessing. Midas could no longer eat or drink, as everything he touched turned to the precious metal, leaving him in a state of constant hunger and thirst. His wealth became useless, as he could not enjoy anything he possessed.
What happens if King Midas produces gold en-masse
Suppose King Midas learns to turn off his power to turn things into gold, and passes on that ability to his children. A few centuries later, King Midas has thousands of descendants, all of whom can turn things into gold by touching them, and all of whom can turn this power off when they want to. Specifically, when a descendant of Midas uses their power, the object they touch gains mass to become solid gold. (Air particles only turn into a thin, flaky golden film on the hand when the power is used, and they can't convert more than a few cubic meters in one shot. There is no danger of turning the entire earth to gold or similar disasters.) What happens to gold economically? Do people start building houses out of the stuff? how does this affect technological and economic development? What uses are there for gold when it becomes incredibly cheap?
Follow 273k 57 57 gold badges 565 565 silver badges 1180 1180 bronze badges asked Mar 29, 2021 at 5:07 Globin347 Globin347 5,787 24 24 silver badges 38 38 bronze badges $\endgroup$$\begingroup$ "What happens to gold economically?" let me introduce you to the richest person to ever live: Mansa Musa, ruler of Mali. His realm was exceptionally wealthy due to many gold and salt mines. He was also devout Muslim and made his Hajj (religious pilgrimage for Muslims) to Mecca. He gave away so much gold while there that he crashed the economy for the next 10 years. So, start there and imagine even worse economic results. $\endgroup$
Mar 29, 2021 at 11:34$\begingroup$ First and foremost, such a power would be weaponized and the wielder would likely be killed/detained by enemies or the government. Additionally, Goldar from en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Power_Rangers_(film) would cease to be an interesting villain since you may as well have made them from dirt. If King Midas decided to be an a$$ and start turning all food into gold then people would be quick to send him to the guillotine where the final splash of blood would turn onlookers into solid gold. As for its value, yes it will absolutely plummet. $\endgroup$
Mar 29, 2021 at 15:03 $\begingroup$ FANTASTIC idea - I explain why in an answer $\endgroup$ Mar 29, 2021 at 15:48 Mar 29, 2021 at 21:34 $\begingroup$ Relevant Kurzgesagt video: youtube.com/watch?v=VB_GWz25B3Q $\endgroup$ Mar 30, 2021 at 3:08Midas realized the gravity of his mistake and desperately prayed to Dionysus to reverse the curse. The god took pity on him and instructed him to wash away his golden gift in the river Pactolus. Upon doing so, Midas was finally freed from his curse, but the experience left him humbled and wiser. The main idea of this tale is that the desire for excessive wealth and power can lead to disaster. Midas, blinded by his greed, failed to see the potential drawbacks of his wish. He sacrificed the enjoyment of life's simple pleasures and learned the value of contentment and moderation only after suffering its loss. This myth serves as a cautionary tale, reminding us that unlimited wealth does not necessarily equate to happiness. It warns against the dangers of unchecked desire and the importance of appreciating what we have in life. The story of Midas and his cursed power to turn everything to gold is a timeless reminder to seek balance and contentment rather than unattainable riches..
Reviews for "Midas' Touch and Its Economic Implications: Examining the Role of Gold"
- Sarah - 2 stars - I was really excited to read "The cursed power to transform everything into gold like Midas" because the concept sounded interesting. However, I was disappointed with the execution. The pacing was extremely slow, and I found myself getting bored by the middle of the book. Additionally, I didn't connect with any of the characters and found them to be two-dimensional. Overall, I felt like the potential of the story was wasted, and it left me unsatisfied.
- John - 1 star - I couldn't even finish "The cursed power to transform everything into gold like Midas". The writing style was confusing and lacked clarity. The plot was all over the place, and I couldn't make sense of what was happening. The characters were unlikable and their motivations were unclear. I was expecting a gripping and captivating story, but I was sadly met with confusion and frustration. I wouldn't recommend this book to anyone.
- Emily - 2 stars - "The cursed power to transform everything into gold like Midas" had an interesting premise, but it fell short in execution. The story felt scattered and disjointed, and I found it difficult to follow along. The writing style was confusing and overly complicated, which made it hard for me to stay engaged. The characters lacked depth and development, and I didn't care about their fates. Overall, I found this book to be a disappointing read.