Accelerationist Primer E-Book

M.A. Meretvuo

• Herausgeber: Books on Demand
• Kategorie: Geisteswissenschaft
• Sprache: Englisch

Seitenzahl: 31

Veröffentlichungsjahr: 2023

Beschreibung

Accelerationism is a theoretical and political idea that advocates for the acceleration of technological and social change. There are various strands of accelerationism, but they generally argue that existing systems of power and social organization, such as capitalism and the state, should be pushed to their limits or even exceeded through the use of technology and other means in order to bring about radical social transformation. This research essay gives comprehensive overview on the complex subject of accelerationism.

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Accelerationist Primer

Accelerationist PrimerCopyright

Accelerationist Primer

M.A. Meretvuo

Preface

Accelerationism is a theoretical and political idea that advocates for the acceleration of technological and social change, often with the goal of overcoming capitalism and achieving a post-capitalist society. There are various strands of accelerationism, but they generally argue that existing systems of power and social organization, such as capitalism and the state, should be pushed to their limits or even exceeded through the use of technology and other means in order to bring about radical social transformation. Proponents of accelerationism argue that this approach is necessary in order to overcome the various crises and challenges facing society, such as inequality, environmental degradation, and political stagnation. However, accelerationism is a controversial and often misunderstood concept, and there are many criticisms of the idea, including concerns about the potential negative consequences of accelerating technological change and the risks of unchecked technological power.

There are several different strands of accelerationism, which can be broadly grouped into three main categories: left accelerationism, right accelerationism, and white accelerationism.

Left accelerationism is a perspective that advocates for the acceleration of technological and social change in order to bring about a post-capitalist society. Proponents of left accelerationism argue that capitalism is a fundamentally flawed system that is responsible for various social and environmental problems, and that the only way to overcome these problems is to push beyond capitalism through the use of technology and other means. Left accelerationism often draws on Marxist and other critical theories and seeks to use technology as a means of enabling collective ownership and control over the means of production.

Right accelerationism, on the other hand, is a perspective that advocates for the acceleration of technological and social change in order to bring about a post-human or transhumanist society. Proponents of right accelerationism argue that humanity is at a turning point in its evolution, and that we should embrace technological change as a means of transcending our current limitations and achieving a new, post-human condition. Right accelerationism often draws on libertarian and individualist perspectives and seeks to use technology as a means of enhancing individual freedom and agency.

White accelerationism is a far-right ideology that advocates for the acceleration of societal collapse and the downfall of liberal democracy, with the hope of bringing about a white ethno-state or empire. Its proponents argue that the best way to achieve their goal of a white ethno-state is to actively undermine and destabilize society, using violence and other destructive means if necessary. As well as James Mason’s work Siege, it draws from the Hindu concept of Kali yuga and aeonic concepts of Spengler and Toynbee. This term from Hinduism refers to the current epoch, which is believed to be a time of great spiritual degeneration and moral decline. Concept is found in Hindu scriptures, such as the Bhagavad Gita, and is believed by some Hindus to be a time of great spiritual challenge and opportunity. The ideas of Oswald Spengler and Arnold J. Toynbee, on the other hand, concern the rise and fall of civilizations and their place in history. Spengler's work, "The Decline of the West," argued that civilizations go through a cycle of birth, growth, and decline, and that the culture and characteristics of a civilization are determined by its place in this cycle. Toynbee's work, "A Study of History," similarly examined the rise and fall of civilizations and attempted to identify the factors that contribute to the rise and decline of civilizations.

It's important to note that these categories are broad and there is a lot of overlap and debate within the accelerationist community about the various strands of the theory. In general, accelerationism is a complex and multifaceted idea, and there are many different perspectives on what it means and what it entails.

In one perspective, accelerationism can be viewed through feedback loops. A feedback loop is a process in which the output of a system is fed back into the system as input, leading to the amplification or intensification of the original process. Feedback loops can occur in a variety of different systems, including social, economic, and technological systems.