Peter Thiel (Facebook Board of Directors) – The Star Trek Computer Is Not Enough | National Conservatism Conference (Jul 2019)

Chapters

Abstract

Updated Article: Impact of the Apollo 17 Photograph, Modern Perspectives, and Peter Thiel’s Critique

Peter Thiel’s Opening Remarks and the Globalist Perspective

Peter Thiel, a venture capitalist, conservative libertarian intellectual, and Stanford alumnus, delivered the opening keynote address at a conference, aiming to expand the Overton window for discourse and address the challenges facing the United States in the coming decade. He presented an image of Earth taken from space in 1972 by Apollo 17 astronauts, which, from a distant perspective, eliminates national boundaries and promotes a globalist perspective. This view encourages solipsistic individualism (Immanuel Kant) or planetary collectivism (Karl Marx), excluding the nation, city, and politics.

Four Key Questions for the United States and Critique of Big Tech

Thiel identified four specific questions to examine: Is big tech good for the United States of America? Is free trade good for the U.S. of A? Is college good for the U.S.? Is war good for us? Thiel used Google as an example of big tech’s globalist aspirations. Google’s goal is to create a Star Trek-like computer with universal knowledge. However, this vision is at odds with the actual experiences of people in the United States. Thiel highlighted the gap between Silicon Valley’s technological progress and the decline in living standards and productivity.

Globalization and Free Trade:

Peter Thiel criticizes the use of technology as a scapegoat for globalization issues, shifting the focus to the topic of free trade. In theory, free trade should benefit all parties involved, but the current global trade system is far from functioning properly. Thiel highlights China’s significant trade surplus with the United States, with China exporting $100 billion annually and importing $500 billion. This imbalance suggests that something is fundamentally wrong with the trade picture, indicating unfair practices and restrictions. Thiel mentions intellectual property theft and cyber warfare directed against US corporations as additional factors contributing to the trade imbalance. He suggests reframing the 25% tariffs on Chinese goods as a carbon tax, considering China’s extensive pollution and its impact on the global environment. Thiel emphasizes the need for negotiators who are skeptical and distrustful rather than dogmatically believing in free trade. He argues that such negotiators are more likely to secure better deals and protect national interests. Thiel identifies a political economy problem in the United States and the Anglosphere, where the interests of certain companies or industries are often seen as representative of the entire country’s interests.

Silicon Valley’s Progress Cone and Stagnation

In the last 40-50 years, innovation has been primarily focused on bits and computers, leading to advancements in the digital world but neglecting progress in the world of physical matter or atoms. This narrow focus on digital technology has resulted in a lack of innovation in fields related to building and changing the physical world, leading to relative stagnation and a struggle for the younger generation to match the standards of their predecessors. Silicon Valley has become insular and has developed a propaganda that doesn’t align with reality, leading to a sense of disconnect between its promises and actual progress.

The Bad Conscience and Self-Hatred and Google’s Manhattan Project for AI

This disconnect has led to a bad conscience within Silicon Valley, manifesting in extreme left-wing politics and a self-hating attitude, but it has not yet led to meaningful introspection or a shift towards addressing the lack of progress. Google’s pursuit of artificial general intelligence through its DeepMind effort raises questions about its potential as a military weapon and the risk of foreign intelligence infiltration. Thiel emphasized the need for federal authorities, such as the FBI and CIA, to investigate and address these concerns in a serious and assertive manner.

Automation, Unemployment, and Globalization

Contrary to popular belief, runaway automation is not a significant factor in the current unemployment rate or productivity growth. Most jobs that could be automated have already been automated, leaving those that are resistant to automation, such as yoga teachers, kindergarten instructors, nurses, and waiters. The concern is that slow automation will lead to low productivity growth in the coming decades. The narrative of runaway automation serves as a distraction from the real economic issues. The discussion of automation may be a displaced way of addressing the problems associated with globalization.

The Problem with College:

There are big lies that go unchallenged, especially about the universal knowledge universities supposedly provide. Michelle Obama falsely claimed there are thousands of amazing universities in the country, contradicting her daughter’s choice to attend Harvard. Barack Obama also made misleading statements about the quality of education at non-elite schools. There are two lies in Barack Obama’s statement: The first lie is that just because a school is not famous or fancy doesn’t mean it doesn’t provide a great education. The second lie is that all students should go to college, which is a disservice to those who would be better suited for vocational training. Peter Thiel argues that most universities in the U.S. are not providing a quality education and are a waste of money. He calls for criminal investigations into universities that engage in fraudulent practices and for the elimination of non-profit tax-exempt status for elite universities like Harvard and Stanford.

Money Center Banks and Trade Policy:

Money center banks’ interests are negatively correlated with the United States’ interests when it comes to trade. The more capital inflows there are to sterilize the current account deficit, the bigger the profits the money center banks make. A large current account deficit leads to a banking crisis when it decreases, as seen in the 1987-1991 and 2006-2009 periods. A current account deficit reduction from -3% to 0% will result in a banking crisis, and a controlled crash landing is the best-case scenario. Wall Street banks will fight against any sensible trade policy, so they should be kept away from trade negotiations.

Science:

Thiel believes that science, particularly in academia, is in decline and has made little progress in recent decades. He suggests that only computer science and petroleum engineering are worth studying at the university level.

U.S. Foreign Policy:

Thiel advocates for a national conservatism approach to foreign policy, focusing on whether engagements benefit the U.S. He criticizes the U.S. for engaging in utopian nation-building and wars that do not serve American interests. He praises the Trump administration for reducing U.S. involvement in foreign entanglements.

Societal Issues:

Thiel attributes the lack of questioning and obvious answers in society to identity politics, which he sees as a distraction from more important issues. He offers a left-wing and a right-wing perspective on this phenomenon.

Identity Politics: A Distraction from Important Questions:

– Identity politics focuses on differences rather than commonalities, leading to endless debates and distractions.

– It prevents meaningful discussions about what is good for the United States as a whole.

American Exceptionalism: Another Distraction:

– The doctrine of American exceptionalism holds that the United States is uniquely different and incomparable to other countries.

– This belief obscures important questions and prevents meaningful comparisons and discussions.

Theological and Epistemological Analogies:

– The problem of knowing about a radically singular and different God is similar to the problem of knowing about the United States if it is considered exceptionally different.

– Just as the attributes of God cannot be fully understood due to His singularity, the characteristics of the United States cannot be fully understood if it is seen as exceptionally different.

Exceptional Unself-Awareness:

– Peter Thiel argues that the doctrine of American exceptionalism has led to a country that is exceptionally overweight, addicted to opioids, has dysfunctional public infrastructure, and is unselfaware and uncritical.

Nationalism Beyond Exceptional Unself-Awareness:

– Thiel emphasizes that nationalism, in contrast to exceptionalism, does not imply blind patriotism or uncritical support for one’s country.

– True nationalism involves asking hard questions, comparing one’s country to others, and being critical of its shortcomings.

Trump’s Presidency as a Move Beyond Exceptionalism:

– Thiel sees the Trump presidency as a move beyond exceptionalism and its associated dogmas.

– He believes that exceptionalism is outdated and that it is time for the United States to settle for greatness rather than exceptionalism.

Convergence Between National Conservatives and the Left:

– Thiel acknowledges that some of the questions he raises could also be tackled by the left.

– He identifies issues such as big tech, free trade, and runaway debt as areas where national conservatives and the left might find common ground.

Differences in Approach:

– While Thiel agrees with the left on some issues, he differs in his solutions.

– For example, he believes that colleges should be held responsible for the runaway debt problem, while some on the left advocate for socializing the debt.

Silicon Valley’s One-Party State:

– Thiel criticizes Silicon Valley’s homogenous political culture, likening it to a one-party state where conformity is expected.

Political Correctness as a Hindrance:

– Thiel views political correctness as a major obstacle in society, preventing meaningful discussions and stifling independent thought.

Expert Monopoly in Political Discourse:

– Thiel challenges the notion that political discourse should be restricted to experts, arguing that average citizens have valuable perspectives.

Totalitarianism and Conformity:

– Thiel suggests that Silicon Valley’s political culture resembles a soft totalitarianism, where individuals are pressured into conforming to a narrow set of acceptable viewpoints.

Lack of Genuine Thought:

– Thiel believes that many Silicon Valley executives have pre-packaged opinions on various issues without genuinely considering the underlying complexities.

Notes by: TransistorZero