Silicon Valley's tech elites are shifting towards controversial political philosophies like the Dark Enlightenment. This ideology promotes authoritarian city-states controlled by corporate leaders. Accelerationism calls for rapid social change driven by technology, raising alarms about its impact on democracy. The idea of 'freedom cities' critiques self-governing areas that may deepen inequality. Tech billionaires’ ambitions for immortality blur the lines between power and governance, prompting a need to protect democratic values against the rise of oppressive ideologies.
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insights INSIGHT
Dark Enlightenment's Influence
Tech billionaires' alignment with Trump goes beyond taxes and regulations.
It's rooted in the "Dark Enlightenment," a philosophy rejecting liberal democracy for authoritarianism.
insights INSIGHT
Dark Enlightenment and Accelerationism
The Dark Enlightenment promotes authoritarianism and accelerationism, using technology for radical social change.
Curtis Yarvin, a key figure, advocates for tech-controlled city-states and CEO-led "monarchies."
question_answer ANECDOTE
Yarvin's Influence in Politics
Peter Thiel invested in Yarvin's startup, and J.D. Vance echoed Yarvin's ideas on bureaucratic reform.
Yarvin's influence extended to Trump's inaugural gala, highlighting his impact on the Trumpian right.
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In 'The Contrarian,' Max Chafkin provides a meticulous biography of Peter Thiel, one of Silicon Valley's most influential and controversial figures. The book explores Thiel's singular life and worldview, from his conservative roots at Stanford to his founding of PayPal and Palantir, and his early investments in Facebook and SpaceX. Chafkin also delves into Thiel's political activities, including his support for Donald Trump and his role in the lawsuit that destroyed the blog Gawker. The biography is both a portrait of Thiel and an examination of the broader tech industry, highlighting its explosive growth, power, and the controversies surrounding it.
Atlas Shrugged
Ayn Rand
Published in 1957, 'Atlas Shrugged' is Ayn Rand's magnum opus and her longest novel. The story is set in a dystopian United States where increasingly burdensome laws and regulations strangle innovation and productivity. The plot follows Dagny Taggart, a railroad executive, and Hank Rearden, a steel magnate, as they struggle against 'looters' who exploit their work. A mysterious figure named John Galt leads a strike of productive individuals, persuading them to abandon their companies and disappear. The novel culminates with Galt's three-hour radio speech explaining his philosophy of Objectivism, which emphasizes rational self-interest, individual rights, and the importance of the human mind. The book explores themes of capitalism, property rights, and the failures of governmental coercion, presenting a provocative vision of a society in collapse and the potential for a new capitalist society based on Galt's principles.
Silicon Valley’s traditionally Democratic tech leaders are turning toward President Donald Trump, but are the reasons as straightforward as lower taxes and favorable regulations? Perhaps not, if we consider the influence of a convoluted political philosophy called the “Dark Enlightenment.” Washington and Silicon Valley power players, including Vice President JD Vance, Steve Bannon, Peter Thiel, and Marc Andreessen, have all cited the philosophy’s ideas and one of its leading developers, Curtis Yarvin. Yarvin was reportedly present at Trump’s inaugural gala as an informal guest of honor.
In a nutshell, Dark Enlightenment rejects liberal democracy as an outdated software system incompatible with freedom and progress. Instead, it argues for breaking up the nation-state into smaller authoritarian city-states, which Yarvin calls “patchworks.” These patchworks will be controlled by tech corporations and run by CEOs. The theory is attached to another idea called accelerationism, which harnesses capitalism and technology to induce radical social change. In fact, Yarvin proposed a plan he called “RAGE”—or “Retire All Government Employees”—as far back as 2012.
So, how did this obscure and oxymoronically named philosophy reach the highest echelons of business and political power? Bethany and Luigi trace the theory from its origins to its practical manifestations in Elon Musk’s Department of Government Efficiency, Silicon Valley’s race to develop artificial intelligence, and the growing push for “Freedom Cities” unfettered from federal regulations. Are the people embracing Dark Enlightenment espousing its ideas because they genuinely believe it is the way forward for humanity? Or do they believe it because it's a way for them to make money? What does it mean for capitalism and democracy if the administration runs the federal government like a tech company?
Capitalisn't 
