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Only Technology can save conservatism
Technology and Virtue
There are loads of Elon fans. I remember in 2014, I went on a date with a girl, and all she did was talk about Elon--Tesla, Batteries, SpaceX, Paypal. So people have been fangirling for a while.
But not me.
I didn't really get it. I'm not a big space guy, and I think electric cars are lame. So none of his projects affected me. Until Twitter.
That's when all that was Elon finally affected me. His force of will. His craziness. His controversies. His oddities. Had finally entered a domain I cared about.
It was eye opening. The truth is...
When Elon Musk purchased Twitter, he did more for conservatives than any Republican in my entire life.
And I realized politics is useless.
Technology and business are the most powerful way conservatives can get power. So yeah, voting might help. But Elon, in less than one month of taking over ownership of Twitter, reinstated the right's figurehead: DJT.
No politician could do that. None of them even tried.
So I'm over politics. At best it's inefficient and slow, at worst it's all a puppet show by the elites and none of it matters.
if conservatives want to restore America. It's time to learn and build.
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Aristotle
I've been on a Greek philosopher kick lately. I think that AI will require us to understand ethics thoroughly. So I thought I'd share some food for thought from Aristotle.
On Virtue —
According to Aristotle, virtue is a character trait that allows an individual to act in accordance with reason.
He believed that virtues are habits or dispositions that allow individuals to achieve eudaimonia, which is often translated as "happiness" or "flourishing." Aristotle believed that virtues are the mean between two extremes(moderation), for example courage being the mean between cowardice and recklessness. He also believed that virtues can be developed through education and habituation.
Here's a brief explanation of each of the nine virtues that Aristotle believed to be important for human flourishing:
Practical wisdom (also known as prudence or practical judgment) - This is the ability to make sound judgments and take appropriate actions in practical matters. It involves the ability to discern what is truly good and bad in the world, and to act accordingly.
Courage - This is the ability to face fear and maintain composure in the face of danger. It involves the ability to do what is right, even when it is difficult or frightening.
Temperance - This is the ability to control one's desires and appetites. It involves the ability to avoid excess and maintain balance in one's life.
Justice - This is the ability to be fair and treat others with respect. It involves the ability to give each person what is due to them.
Generosity - This is the willingness to give of oneself to others. It involves the ability to be open-handed and giving, without being overly attached to material possessions.
Magnificence - This is the ability to act in a grand and noble way. It involves the ability to undertake great projects and to do so in a way that is fitting for one's status and abilities.
Magnanimity - This is the quality of being great-souled. It involves the ability to put oneself in the right perspective, and to not be overly concerned with minor matters.
Ambition - This is the desire to achieve great things. It involves the ability to set high goals for oneself and to strive to achieve them.
Patience - This is the ability to endure difficult situations. It involves the ability to remain calm and composed, even in the face of hardship.
The Sovereign Individual
The Sovereign Individual is a book that's been sitting on my bookshelf for a while. It's thick, and it's not an easy read. But I've finally started it and am enjoying it. Many tech billions recommend the book, and I can see why.
It helps you realize the internet and everything that comes with it is truly and majorly revolutionary. They argue it's a change that will usher in a new era. The era that comes after the industrial-modern era.
I'm only a third of the way through the book, but it shows that we're living in interesting and unprecedented times. I'm sure you didn't already know that.
The key lesson I'm taking away: lean into the technological changes.
There will be movements to resist. People going back to flip phones, and other weird Luddite stuff.
When gunpowder was invented they said using a gun was dishonorable.
Sure, but...
Would you rather have honor or a gun?
Embrace technology. Don't get consumed by it. But embrace and learn it. It's powerful, and you must know how to wield that power.
Thank you for reading. And please consider forwarding this to someone who might find it interesting.
Jon Elordi