Marc Andreessen of course hasn't a clue about how the world became divided into the Reality Privileged and the Reality Deprived. His idea of history is that "reality had 5000 years to get good." A greater degree of historical illiteracy can hardly be imagined. Marc, consider the possibility that, as your nemesis Karl Marx wrote, "the history of all societies hitherto is a history of class struggle." Meaning that in virtually every society, the lucky, greedy, and unscrupulous people -- people like you and your fellow American billionaires -- got very rich and then devoted much effort and money to preventing their less fortunate fellow citizens from claiming a fair share of the wealth. Don't blame "reality" for obscene inequalities of wealth and income -- it's you and your friends.
The word privileged, which once demanded us to think critically about our lot in life compared to those of others, is beginning to lose all meaning.
Marc Andreessen sounds like someone appealing to mass discontent and not familiar with the trend of any happiness survey of the last fifty years, let alone 5000 years of human history. The ignorance of these megalomaniacs is perhaps the most interesting thing about them.
Meanwhile theologians have yet to respond in meaningful ways to any of the AI boom... It makes me wonder how many people in my church have AI friends?
This seems important to get out ahead of, and you’re right — I don’t see much guidance being offered. I know Comment magazine (I’m a contributing editor!) has an upcoming issue that touches on these things…
It is deeply chilling how much these Silicon Valley titans seem to hate humanity and human beings generally.
It is also sad to me that they live in a world where everything is an optimization problem. As though the reason for living amounts to how much pleasure you can get out of it. So just maximize pleasure and your life will be better.
It’s insane to compare Reality with on line experience as though they were anything like alternatives. They are different categories. You cannot choose between them. Both exist and you can decide to some extent how to interact with each one.
I used to be so confused by what I thought had been the cruelty and senselessness of sending the Zhiqing to work under the peasant farmers. These days, it kind of seems like good policy...
Marc Andreessen of course hasn't a clue about how the world became divided into the Reality Privileged and the Reality Deprived. His idea of history is that "reality had 5000 years to get good." A greater degree of historical illiteracy can hardly be imagined. Marc, consider the possibility that, as your nemesis Karl Marx wrote, "the history of all societies hitherto is a history of class struggle." Meaning that in virtually every society, the lucky, greedy, and unscrupulous people -- people like you and your fellow American billionaires -- got very rich and then devoted much effort and money to preventing their less fortunate fellow citizens from claiming a fair share of the wealth. Don't blame "reality" for obscene inequalities of wealth and income -- it's you and your friends.
Tell ‘em, George.
Thanks. Think they're listening?
The word privileged, which once demanded us to think critically about our lot in life compared to those of others, is beginning to lose all meaning.
Marc Andreessen sounds like someone appealing to mass discontent and not familiar with the trend of any happiness survey of the last fifty years, let alone 5000 years of human history. The ignorance of these megalomaniacs is perhaps the most interesting thing about them.
Meanwhile theologians have yet to respond in meaningful ways to any of the AI boom... It makes me wonder how many people in my church have AI friends?
Noreen Herzfeld is a theologian who’s been out ahead of this for some time.
This seems important to get out ahead of, and you’re right — I don’t see much guidance being offered. I know Comment magazine (I’m a contributing editor!) has an upcoming issue that touches on these things…
It is deeply chilling how much these Silicon Valley titans seem to hate humanity and human beings generally.
It is also sad to me that they live in a world where everything is an optimization problem. As though the reason for living amounts to how much pleasure you can get out of it. So just maximize pleasure and your life will be better.
This is the definition of decadence.
It’s insane to compare Reality with on line experience as though they were anything like alternatives. They are different categories. You cannot choose between them. Both exist and you can decide to some extent how to interact with each one.
I used to be so confused by what I thought had been the cruelty and senselessness of sending the Zhiqing to work under the peasant farmers. These days, it kind of seems like good policy...