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The Blockchain Socialist

accelerationism is back and tech elites are making it cringier than it already was (e/acc)

Feb 18, 2024
Adam Jones delves into accelerationist theory, e/acc, and techno-optimism. They discuss the origins of accelerationism, critique techno-elites, and explore the intersection of power dynamics in a cyberpunk reality. The conversation covers Nick Land's influence, the need to break current systems, and the implications of accelerating intelligence towards a techno-capital singularity.
01:04:10

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Quick takeaways

  • Effective accelerationism is a mutation of earlier trends driven by tech elites, promoting unregulated technology.
  • Techno-optimism overlooks power dynamics and societal consequences, presenting capitalism as the sole solution.

Deep dives

Accelerationism as a theory of time and politics

Accelerationism is a political and metaphysical theory that aims to speed up change in order to achieve a certain end. It originated in the UK in the 90s and was influenced by postmodern French theory. One branch of accelerationism is focused on intensifying positive feedback loops to break through obstacles and advance technology. Another branch sees capitalism as a cybernetic system and aims to break through its control of time. The main idea is to accelerate social and technological progress to ultimately create a new way of experiencing time and reality.

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