This contra-UBI argument is often made, but I find it a bit short-sighted. Instead of having "survival" or "career" as a overarching goal in life, (some) people will have to find their own purpose in life. It's a bigger challenge but I believe in human adaptability. The question is how painful it will be initially and how long it will take for people to settle in this new mindset.

This is essentially my viewpoint as well. To mitigate the effects during the transition period I imagine some kind of social service in place where people can spend a lot of time learning to adapt to this new lifestyle.

Would YOU quit your job and descend into apathy and lethargy? You're saying you'd PREFER to be poor?

Centuries of human history shows that most people choose not to be poor, if at all possible. Many go to great lengths to avoid it.

> Centuries of human history shows that most people choose not to be poor, if at all possible.

And it's not just “poor vs. not poor”; a substantial share of the people who have the capacity to be rich without much effort expend additional effort to be more rich, if there are opportunities to do so.

Some do. Some are quite contented.

Since I don't have to worry about a basic income (online business, not part of some experiment) i do a lot more for me, society and my future income.

Therefore I highly believe also other people would adapt this way given a real chance.