The Evil Philosopher: Elon Musk Calls Jean-Jacques Rousseau a 'Diabolical Asshole' and Blames Him for Woke Ideology

In a move that has sparked considerable debate, tech billionaire Elon Musk has publicly denounced the 18th-century philosopher Jean-Jacques Rousseau, labeling him a "diabolical asshole." This strong condemnation, posted on Musk's platform X, was triggered by a viral post from French AI entrepreneur Brivael Le Pogam. Le Pogam's message, which he issued as an apology on behalf of France, targeted what he termed "French Theory" and its perceived negative influence on Western society.

“

Jean-Jacques Rousseau is a 'diabolical asshole'.

Le Pogam's argument, which has garnered millions of views, posits that postmodern philosophical concepts originating from French thinkers like Michel Foucault, Jacques Derrida, and Gilles Deleuze have laid the groundwork for contemporary ideologies that are now "poisoning" the West. He specifically identifies postcolonialism, genderism, Critical Race Theory, and particularly "wokeism" as harmful "ideological weapons" forged from these philosophical roots.

Musk's endorsement of Le Pogam's sentiment, amplified by his own forceful language, aligns with a growing critique of certain academic and social trends in Western discourse. The idea that abstract philosophical ideas from decades ago could be directly responsible for contemporary social and political divisions is a provocative one. Le Pogam's apology, framed as a national mea culpa, attempts to distance France from a philosophical legacy he believes has become destructive.

“

I apologize on behalf of France for the creation of 'French Theory'.

This controversy highlights a significant cultural and intellectual divide. While thinkers like Rousseau are celebrated for their contributions to ideas of natural rights and social contract theory, and French postmodernists are studied for their deconstruction of power structures and societal norms, this perspective argues for a direct causal link between these intellectual traditions and what is perceived as the "woke" ideology paralyzing Western societies. The NZZ, in reporting this, reflects a growing concern in some circles about the impact of these intellectual movements on contemporary culture and politics.

“

These are ideological weapons they forged, and what he calls the 'worst ideological filth': wokeism, the heightened form of political correctness.