The surreal delusion of tech billionaires [.txt]

A recent book review delves into the "surreal delusion" of tech billionaires, questioning their fervent belief in technology as humanity's savior. The review, focusing on Adam Becker's book "The Fallacy of Saving Humanity Through Technology," criticizes the grand pronouncements and astronomical investments made by figures like Elon Musk and Jeff Bezos toward space colonization and technological singularity. Despite the Earth's pressing issues, these billionaires channel vast resources into ventures that seem more aligned with science fiction than practical solutions.

The review outlines the philosophical underpinnings of this mindset, including "effective altruism," which posits that the best way to improve the world is by earning large sums and donating them. Coupled with "long-termism," this philosophy extends the goal beyond the present to ensuring the maximum possible number of people exist and are happy in the far future, even if it means a universe populated by beings only "barely happy." The concept of "the singularity" is also discussed, predicting a future utopia driven by superintelligent AI and advancements in life extension, promising immortality and a transcendence of human limitations.

Furthermore, "transhumanism" aims to redesign the human condition, overcoming aging, biological limits, and even the constraints of Earth itself. The review argues that the common thread in these philosophies is a profound faith in "the promise of transcendence offered by salvation through technology." Faced with the perceived limits of growth on Earth, these billionaires seek infinite expansion and perpetual life through space colonization and radical life extension. The reviewer suggests this ambition is fundamentally rooted in a desire to preserve their current capital and power indefinitely.

Ultimately, the review draws parallels to ancient epics like "The Epic of Gilgamesh" and "The Odyssey," which explored humanity's age-old quest for immortality and the eventual acceptance of mortality. The reviewer concludes by echoing the book's critique, suggesting that these tech titans suffer from a "spiritual glaucoma" that blinds them to the limitations of their techno-utopian visions and the pressing realities of the present.