Coursera Flash Sale
40% Off Coursera Plus for 3 Months!
Grab it
Explore a 44-minute German conference talk from the 38C3 that examines longtermism as the ideological driving force behind digital capitalism. Analyze how this Silicon Valley ideology, championed by figures like Elon Musk and Sam Altman, parallels Max Weber's analysis of Protestant ethics in early capitalism. Understand how longtermism, which prioritizes the development of a computational utopia over present concerns, functions as both a metaphysical justification for tech companies' business models and a performance-driving moral framework for its adherents. Learn about the current right-wing shift in longtermism, examining why individualistic performance ideologies tend to develop fascistic tendencies, and evaluate the potential impact of influential figures like Musk and Thiel on US elections. Gain insights from sociological research that reveals how this seemingly new ideology serves similar social functions to historical belief systems in capitalism.
