“The fundamental weakness is empathy,” Musk recently told radio podcast host Joe Rogan. “There is a bug, which is the empathy response.”
As Musk has established himself as at least the second most powerful person in an administration seeking a wholesale remaking of institutions, rules and norms, what he said matters, because it encapsulates a political plan. What the Project 2025 report set out in over 900 turgid pages, Musk’s remark captures in a simple pithy mantra for the social media age.
For those of you who haven’t yet, it’s a good idea to familiarize yourself with Curtis Yarvin’s “Dark Enlightenment Theory,” because that’s what’s informing all of these chuds.
JD Vance has cited this guy. Peter Thiel is a huge fan. Based on his views, Musk is almost certainly reading this stuff.
The “theory” basically boils down to that tenet: empathy is weakness, might makes right, and it’s only natural for the strong to dominate and brutalize the weak.
Remember that kid in elementary school who refused to play with anyone at recess and just spent the whole time frying ants with a magnifying glass? That kid grew up and has an “intellectual following” now.