I understand what Thiel represents; that he has gotten his hooks into the highest level of the government through grooming of JD Vance and is a well known financier and acolyte of Curtis Yarvin but found the interview underwhelming, particularly the last third and his Trump-like ramblings about the Antichrist and “the hippies” who he blames for technological stagnation. I’m no fan of Ross Douthat but it was clear that he came prepared to challenge Thiel’s Antichrist thesis and succeeded in exposing him. If people are basing their thoughts on the transcript the video is revelatory as Thiel stumbled badly pushing back at Douthat’s (I believe correct) postulation that the ability of an Antichrist to gather the entire world under one governance umbrella requires a near cataclysmic threat to cause the people of the world to unite and seek refuge from the threat. Thiel had no real response and I frankly couldn’t tell if he genuinely hadn’t thought this out before or was playing coy to avoid a deeper examination of his true thinking which itself would probably identify him as the threat that might galvanize the world. As it is, Douthat’s comment that in essence Thiel, by ownership of Palantir may already have become the Antichrist. Anyway, it was a perplexing discussion to say the least….somewhat sane though, as you comment, revelatory of Thiel’s lack of understanding of the human experience and desire to move toward a transhumanistic existence…before it kind of went off the rails.
Here’s my thing about the sloppy techno feudal state proposals of the likes of Thiel and Yarvin:
From what we know of human past, successful societies have tended to balance: shared governance, distributed support systems, and mutual obligations are resilient.
Extractive, top-down systems may achieve short-term stability or expansion but often sow the seeds of their own collapse.
History is littered with failed empires, but mutual support networks (often invisible in the historical record) persist, adapt, and reform over time.
If they’re so brilliant, how is this eluding them? Or is their narcissism blinding them to their folly?
Thiel is a brilliant psychopath- how can someone be so delusional? But in my heart - he is the worst kind of evil with a complete lack of empathy for those weaker than him. And his wealth empowers him to carry out his his oppression of a healthy society. Here in Silicon Valley there have been red flags about his ruthlessness and now we have a real threat.
This is more true than you know. (The idea that you are more sacrificial than Peter) As a Christian I find it quite maddening honestly that this is more the norm than the exception. Garry Tan/Trae Stephens in SF are also examples of this imo. They have anti social pathology as well imo yet they are supposedly “Christian”. Why do I find more truth and sacrifice in your talks/writings (which is why I once asked if you were a Christian) anyway it’s late but enjoying listening to this as I go to bed and will look up the interview tomorrow for sure
A fascinating start. A first-order concern is an anthropomorphic version of knowledge. Native Americans teach that humans are the weakest species, thanks to our ego, and not to be trusted. That's why a certain distancing from ego is required prior to a vision quest, seeking insights from other creatures. It is perhaps also the source of your awareness of the pathology of hierarchical thinking.
Thiel is a huuuuuge POS, but he is very powerful!
I understand what Thiel represents; that he has gotten his hooks into the highest level of the government through grooming of JD Vance and is a well known financier and acolyte of Curtis Yarvin but found the interview underwhelming, particularly the last third and his Trump-like ramblings about the Antichrist and “the hippies” who he blames for technological stagnation. I’m no fan of Ross Douthat but it was clear that he came prepared to challenge Thiel’s Antichrist thesis and succeeded in exposing him. If people are basing their thoughts on the transcript the video is revelatory as Thiel stumbled badly pushing back at Douthat’s (I believe correct) postulation that the ability of an Antichrist to gather the entire world under one governance umbrella requires a near cataclysmic threat to cause the people of the world to unite and seek refuge from the threat. Thiel had no real response and I frankly couldn’t tell if he genuinely hadn’t thought this out before or was playing coy to avoid a deeper examination of his true thinking which itself would probably identify him as the threat that might galvanize the world. As it is, Douthat’s comment that in essence Thiel, by ownership of Palantir may already have become the Antichrist. Anyway, it was a perplexing discussion to say the least….somewhat sane though, as you comment, revelatory of Thiel’s lack of understanding of the human experience and desire to move toward a transhumanistic existence…before it kind of went off the rails.
Here’s my thing about the sloppy techno feudal state proposals of the likes of Thiel and Yarvin:
From what we know of human past, successful societies have tended to balance: shared governance, distributed support systems, and mutual obligations are resilient.
Extractive, top-down systems may achieve short-term stability or expansion but often sow the seeds of their own collapse.
History is littered with failed empires, but mutual support networks (often invisible in the historical record) persist, adapt, and reform over time.
If they’re so brilliant, how is this eluding them? Or is their narcissism blinding them to their folly?
Bingo!
Thiel is a brilliant psychopath- how can someone be so delusional? But in my heart - he is the worst kind of evil with a complete lack of empathy for those weaker than him. And his wealth empowers him to carry out his his oppression of a healthy society. Here in Silicon Valley there have been red flags about his ruthlessness and now we have a real threat.
Insights of dazzling clarity ! Wisdom. Bring it ON.
Have you seen this?
https://www.thenerdreich.com/is-peter-thiel-the-antichrist-nyt-didnt-think-to-ask/
I've read that Peter Thiel follows Curtis Yarvin and recommend that you read Yarvin to understand where Thiel is coming from.
Mike is very familiar with Yarvin, look into his writings about it👍😎
Thanks. I was also addressing Substack users who may not have followed Mike regularly.
Got it! True! Thanks!
This is more true than you know. (The idea that you are more sacrificial than Peter) As a Christian I find it quite maddening honestly that this is more the norm than the exception. Garry Tan/Trae Stephens in SF are also examples of this imo. They have anti social pathology as well imo yet they are supposedly “Christian”. Why do I find more truth and sacrifice in your talks/writings (which is why I once asked if you were a Christian) anyway it’s late but enjoying listening to this as I go to bed and will look up the interview tomorrow for sure
A fascinating start. A first-order concern is an anthropomorphic version of knowledge. Native Americans teach that humans are the weakest species, thanks to our ego, and not to be trusted. That's why a certain distancing from ego is required prior to a vision quest, seeking insights from other creatures. It is perhaps also the source of your awareness of the pathology of hierarchical thinking.
Please post a gift link for those of us who no longer support the NYT. Thank you in advance.
You can listen to the podcast that the NY Times article is taken from...
https://open.spotify.com/episode/4ayopE6UZrBBJO1qydnmHB?si=PDqNkrQgTO6rr2Xcdp_m9Q
I’ll have to check out the Ross Douthat interview.