Nick Land recently went on the Theory Underground show and told people at various levels of philosophical mastery about how the human body is an inefficent mechanism for carrying brains around the solar system, and that eventually intelligence will rid itself of the human body in order to more efficiently scooter around the galaxy for questionable reasons.
I wonder what Heidegger would say about the technology stuff? I think he'd probably agree with much of what you say here. There's a sort of danger in getting caught up in the lure of technological thinking. You sum it up nicely when you say that it appears "cool and goth". Surely there's a way of thinking this age of technology which doesn't just lapse into this, as you say, "ridiculous" (I really loved that you used this word here too, it's apt!) view of technology.
I just think its funny that Nick Land believes that technology is going to indefinitely reproduce itself in successful bouts of overcoming its limits and expanding. He equates Capital with the self expansion of technology which (he acknowledges) would require that Capital is able to overcome its limits of being rooted in human labor and fuse the real production of technology fully with the logic of financial acceleration, which, despite appearances, is a crazy gamble. It's much more likely for things to stagnate or collapse. He even recognized some of his idealism in his turn to NRx in which he realized that this could not occur from the autonomous functions of the free market but only from some powerful actor.personifying the function of high rates of real reinvestment. He somehow expects that these powerful actors will continue to push this forward towards their own dissolving. In reality as soon as this becomes a problem for their self reproduction (as happened in the '70s) they probably will simply start to try and self-insulate and maintain ruling power without resting on the mess of constant technological dynamism which is inherently destabilizing. It's just a total fantasy, a potential possibility.
He is absolutely exhausting, much like looking after a toddler is exhausting and boring. I haven't said anything 'cause why bother. History will put him and his ilk in his place.
I wonder what Heidegger would say about the technology stuff? I think he'd probably agree with much of what you say here. There's a sort of danger in getting caught up in the lure of technological thinking. You sum it up nicely when you say that it appears "cool and goth". Surely there's a way of thinking this age of technology which doesn't just lapse into this, as you say, "ridiculous" (I really loved that you used this word here too, it's apt!) view of technology.
Am I hearing a request for a piece on Heidegger's take on technology? :-)
I think so!
Great critique, thank you for sharing
I just think its funny that Nick Land believes that technology is going to indefinitely reproduce itself in successful bouts of overcoming its limits and expanding. He equates Capital with the self expansion of technology which (he acknowledges) would require that Capital is able to overcome its limits of being rooted in human labor and fuse the real production of technology fully with the logic of financial acceleration, which, despite appearances, is a crazy gamble. It's much more likely for things to stagnate or collapse. He even recognized some of his idealism in his turn to NRx in which he realized that this could not occur from the autonomous functions of the free market but only from some powerful actor.personifying the function of high rates of real reinvestment. He somehow expects that these powerful actors will continue to push this forward towards their own dissolving. In reality as soon as this becomes a problem for their self reproduction (as happened in the '70s) they probably will simply start to try and self-insulate and maintain ruling power without resting on the mess of constant technological dynamism which is inherently destabilizing. It's just a total fantasy, a potential possibility.
What do you have against goths dude, at least the girls can be pretty hot
I’m citing it as the redeeming factor!
He is absolutely exhausting, much like looking after a toddler is exhausting and boring. I haven't said anything 'cause why bother. History will put him and his ilk in his place.