Mastodawn

Armamatic 3d ago

Four hundred years ago, the people Andreessen imagines were blissfully unselfconscious were reading Augustine and Montaigne and arguing about Stoic philosophy. They were writing diaries and letters that examined their own motives with considerable care. They were not, in fact, just moving forward without asking where they were going.

https://www.joanwestenberg.com/marc-andreessen-is-wrong-about-introspection/

Marc Andreessen is wrong about introspection

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Westenberg.

@Daojoan “[Andreessen] summarised his own approach to life thus: ‘Move forward. Go.’”
- Marc Andreessen interview, quoted in post

“Irrationalism also depends on the cult of action for action’s sake. Action being beautiful in itself, it must be taken before, or without, any previous reflection. Thinking is a form of emasculation.”
- Umberto Eco’s “Ur-Fascism”

@WhiteCatTamer @Daojoan that. But also: it’s easy to act without thoughts or doubts when one hasn’t suffered consequences for their actions. Possibly ever.

Peter Ludemann 3d ago

@wbftw @WhiteCatTamer @Daojoan
It also helps to have taken nothing but STEM courses at university (I'm extrapolating from my experience - I wanted to take more liberal arts courses but my degree requirements made that impossible)

@PeterLudemann @WhiteCatTamer @Daojoan this fits for Andreessen, but not for all villains of our time: Thiel and Karp both have philosophy degrees.

Oliver Schafeld 3d ago

»Irrationalism also depends on the cult of action for action’s sake.«

https://libcom.org/library/eternal-fascism-fourteen-ways-looking-blackshirt

Eternal Fascism: Fourteen Ways of Looking at a Blackshirt - Umberto Eco

Luka Rubinjoni 1d ago

@oliver_schafeld Eggheads, lol.

notanowl 3d ago

@Daojoan looking at the book stack i feel seen / but there is also an eastern section

@Daojoan That these people find this belief, that an unexamined life is worth living, explains so much. Context free decision making, or an executive will that is wholly unconscious. Explains both a hopelessness in the face of actual problems (global warming) and a tolerance for actions that cause great social harm (billionaires).

El Fotoliptófono 🐘3d ago

@Daojoan the only thing remembrable from him is NCSA Mosaic

@Daojoan I think about these techbros who have read all these books and missed the point of every last one of them and I keep coming back to

Wanda: To call you stupid would be an insult to stupid people. I've known sheep who could outwit you. I've worn dresses with higher IQs, but you think you're an intellectual, don't you, ape?

Otto: Apes don't read philosophy.

Wanda: Yes they do, Otto, they just don't understand it.

@Daojoan
Also : Folks in Asia sometimes wrote about reflecting during that era ...

Osma A 🇫🇮🇺🇦3d ago

A fascist requires that the unwashed masses exist and follow orders without examination. Forward, go: to factories, to war, or to the chambers. Andreessen does not deny that human consciousness works through introspection: he simply reserves that as the luxury for the Führer at their pleasure.
@Daojoan

🇨🇦 Maverick ✊🇲🇲🇺🇦🇻🇪🇬🇱3d ago

@Daojoan Ignorance always assumes it’s right.

AM💙🏴󠁧󠁢󠁳󠁣󠁴󠁿3d ago

@Daojoan
And writing great poetry, John Donne , Edmund Spenser, Anne Askew -so many more er--Shakespeare????

ideaPDish 3d ago

his If we buy that line of bull, then we demonstrate that we are easy marks. I don't buy into it, just because he's righ.

That emporer, man, he ain't even wearing a smile. He's rich enough to retire, so Why doesn't he just retire. I can make my own future as I see fit, thank you very much.

Artemysia 3d ago

@Daojoan What a weird take of his, especially given Stoicism has been a favourite of the broisphere for ages.

peachfront 2d ago

wait i thought the whole reason we were taught Hamlet in high school is that the English modestly take credit for one of them (William Shakespeare) having invented introspection... & there was some debate about whether it sapped the will

🤣

be that as it may, i'm pretty sure introspection existed from at least the cave dwelling days, after all, those folks had the whole winter to do nothing but gaze into the fire, hibernate, & introspect...

@Daojoan It's just a trope for AI.

Mark Levison 2d ago

@Daojoan Marc Andreessen was right about one big thing once. Not so much since

The effort to de-value introspection reminds me of Musk and Kirk’s effort to de-value empathy.

It seems to be a strategy to disarm their critics.