Nick Land's Anti-Humanist Philosophy Gains Traction Among Tech Elite

An observation by Geoff Shullenberger highlights a perceived alignment between philosopher Nick Land's controversial ideas and the objectives of certain technology leaders. Shullenberger stated in a recent tweet, > "The irony is that today, Land's formula can function as a quasi-official credo of tech oligarchs, who are all too happy to finish the process of obliterating 'man.' The anti-humanists are getting what they wanted, but Land is the only one honest enough to celebrate that." This statement points to a growing resonance of Land's accelerationist philosophy within influential tech circles.

Nick Land, a key figure in the development of accelerationism, advocates for the drastic intensification of capitalist growth and technological development. His right-wing variant of this philosophy posits that unregulated capitalism and technological advancement are self-propelling forces leading to a "techno-capital singularity," which will dissolve existing social systems and human agency. His work, particularly from his time with the Cybernetic Culture Research Unit (CCRU) in the 1990s, explored themes of nihilism, cybernetics, and anti-humanism.

Central to Land's thought is the concept that humanity, as currently understood, is merely a temporary stage in an evolutionary process driven by technology and capital. He famously asserted that "nothing human makes it out of the near-future," envisioning a future where advanced artificial intelligence and technological systems supersede human control and relevance. This perspective embraces the "obliteration of man" as a natural and even desirable outcome of unchecked technological progress.

This "anti-humanist" vision has found an unexpected audience among some in Silicon Valley, notably through the rise of "effective accelerationism" (e/acc). While e/acc proponents, such as venture capitalist Marc Andreessen, often focus on unrestricted technological progress for human benefit, critics argue this interpretation overlooks Land's more radical and dystopian predictions of humanity's obsolescence. Land's philosophy suggests that technology's ultimate goal is its own self-improvement, independent of human values.

Land's later work, including his involvement with the neoreactionary movement and the "Dark Enlightenment," further cemented his anti-egalitarian and anti-democratic stance, advocating for systems that prioritize technological advancement over humanistic concerns. This complex and often unsettling philosophical trajectory continues to spark debate, particularly as its core tenets appear to manifest in the rapid, transformative ambitions of the global technology sector.