How “The Techno-Optimist Manifesto” Twists Nietzsche’s Lessons.
I just read Marc Andreessen’s “The Techno-Optimist Manifesto” and it was quite the read. In this article I will abstain from talking about any political implications of this text.
Instead I will focus on its use of Nietzsche’s philosophy and the chapters titled “Becoming Technological Supermen” and “The Enemy” and the fact that Andreessen quotes Friedrich Nietzsche as one of the “Patron Saints of Techno-Optimism”. And how this text twists Nietzsche’s lessons, ending up in total conflict with them.
While the chapter “Becoming Technological Supermen” aligns with Nietzsche’s rejection of victimhood, and the ability to forge one’s destiny, the overall tone of the text conflicts with Nietzsche’s idea of rejecting objectivist morality.
The text pretty blatantly tries to proclaim its own values as righteous and rejects any other ways of thinking, framing other ways of thought as ‘demoralization’ and ‘against life’.
While not explicitly stating it, it is obvious that the chapter “Becoming Technological Supermen” is based on Nietzsche’s concept of Ubermensch. That argument is further reinforced by Andreessen quoting Nietzsche as one of the “Patron Saints of Techno-Optimism”. And it twists that idea to turn it in favor of promoting its own values.
It promotes a certain set of values that the “Technological Supermen” would adhere to, which totally conflicts with Nietzsche’s Ubermensch. The Ubermensch would not adhere to a set of values, instead adapting their own values based on their individual experience of life. They would also be flexible in adjusting those values contextually.
The Ubermensch would also never be threatened by other ways of thought, hence the chapter “The Enemy” is also in conflict with Nietzsche’s lessons.
In this chapter, Andreessen quotes Nietzsche’s concept of Last Man which is the exact opposite of the Ubermensch. The text frames it as an enemy of mankind, which aligns with Nietzsche’s view of this concept.
However, consciously or not, the text itself is the concept of Last Man. What I mean by that is that the text obviously states that ‘the dream’ is to have everyone join their movement.
“We believe we must help them find their way out of their self-imposed labyrinth of pain. We invite everyone to join us in Techno-Optimism.” — The Techno-Optimist Manifesto
They are this ‘savior’ that will save all humanity from unimaginable pain. They are the exact opposite of the Ubermensch, trying to make everyone adhere to values that they set and saving everyone with their values, therefore becoming the concept of Last Man.
“The Techno-Optimist Manifesto” is a prime example of how ideas can be twisted in contradictory ways.
The “Technological Supermen” are in conflict with the Ubermensch upon which they were built.
“The Enemy” which is the Last Man are the “Technological Supermen” themselves.
In its use of Nietzsche’s philosophy “The Techno-Optimist Manifesto” is a snake eating its own tail.
