'Technology Is at the Center'

Entrepreneur and philanthropist Peter Thiel on liberty and scientific progress

Ronald Bailey from the May 2008 issue

(Page 4 of 4)

reason: What do you think are the most dangerous political trends in the United States?

Thiel: It seems like things are moving in a very anti-libertarian direction politically on every issue. There may be a few exceptions, but generally we’re moving toward a country that’s fiscally more liberal and socially more conservative, which is a very odd configuration. You can debate why that is. Maybe politics has become purely reactionary. It’s a reaction against progress, against globalization, against technology.

My optimistic take is that even though politics is moving very anti-libertarian, that itself is a symptom of the fact that the world’s becoming more libertarian. Maybe it’s just a symptom of how good things are.

Ronald Bailey is Reason’s science correspondent.

Comments

|5.1.08 @ 12:26PM|#

Paypal- those thieving cocksuckers! I hope that asshole gets run over by a garbage truck.

Rob W.|5.1.08 @ 12:27PM|#

Second Peter Theil story in a few days... weird how that happens.

|5.1.08 @ 12:48PM|#

excellent!

Bronwyn|5.1.08 @ 1:04PM|#

Although I'm still stuck with paypal for some of my online transactions, I've signed up with the beautifully fee-free Revolution MoneyExchange.

I am well pleased.

I'll send referrals if anyone wants to collect $25 and thank me with $10 for the tip :)

And now, I guess I'll RTFA...

Bronwyn|5.1.08 @ 1:06PM|#

Ah. Never mind, I read it in my paper copy.

I did have to wonder how someone just *decides* to be a venture capitalist. I suppose a big checking account helps... that would disqualify me.

Paul|5.1.08 @ 1:20PM|#

I did have to wonder how someone just *decides* to be a venture capitalist.

I have a funny feeling it's the same way people "decide" to take a couple of years off and do some kind of international, global hiking trek that lands them an interview with Terry Gross on NPR.

Bronwyn|5.1.08 @ 1:27PM|#

Paul, I went to boarding school with a bunch of kids who did that. In their case it required that mommy and daddy have a big checking account.

So yes, I think you're right that there's a common thread here.

|5.1.08 @ 1:54PM|#

My optimistic take is that even though politics is moving very anti-libertarian, that itself is a symptom of the fact that the world's becoming more libertarian. Maybe it's just a symptom of how good things are.

Damn, I wish I had his optimism. I always feel like I am in a canoe and I can hear the waterfall "somewhere" in front of me but can't see where it is, nor can I row away from it.

Tom|5.1.08 @ 2:05PM|#

Peter's last name is spelled "Thiel" not "Theil" as above.

Brandybuck|5.1.08 @ 2:11PM|#

FEE recently gave Thiel the Adam Smith Award, and you can find his acceptance speech online at www.fee.org. Very interesting listen.

Taktix®|5.1.08 @ 2:23PM|#

I always feel like I am in a canoe and I can hear the waterfall "somewhere" in front of me but can't see where it is, nor can I row away from it.

QTMFT

|5.1.08 @ 2:55PM|#

Man, I really hate guys like this... Rich, brilliant, head in the game... I coulda' been like that, but I discovered Motley Crue...

|5.1.08 @ 3:14PM|#

I really do love the dismissal "not even wrong". I predict you will be see the phrase a lot more over the next decade.

Kolohe|5.1.08 @ 3:32PM|#

I realy enjoyed this article on financial bubbles, globalization, and apocalypse, written by Thiel that marginal revolution linked to a few days ago. As a warning, however, many of the m-r commenters did not care for it.

Phillip Conti|5.1.08 @ 3:47PM|#

Is it just me or does anyone else find the concept of "singularity" on par with the resurrection of jesus christ? both are esoteric and give dreamers hope.

Paul|5.1.08 @ 4:04PM|#

Is it just me or does anyone else find the concept of "singularity" on par with the resurrection of jesus christ?

Yes.

JRD|5.1.08 @ 4:35PM|#

A point in the future at which artificial intelligence will outpace human intelligence? What's "esoteric" about that?

|5.1.08 @ 4:46PM|#

Now that GlaxoSmithKline has bought Sirtris, the Government will be inevitably sucked into acknowledging life extension an a legitimate field of research, and the fall-out of the steady progression in applying ever more powerful computers to like science will make radical life extension inevitable. Thank you Peter Thiel, Aubrey de Grey, and Ray Kurzweil: I enjoy hope. But it isn't just the glorious destination, it is the unfolding of the journey that will make the next several decades so wonderful. I like watching the steps being taken day after day, until after a year I find myself on an overlook with a clear view of where we have come from, the next overlook, with the view to the summit ever clearer. What a great time to be alive!

|5.1.08 @ 4:58PM|#

paypal has worked for me for 8 years now. regardless- all the things that suck about paypal are not the fault of the founders.

|5.1.08 @ 6:54PM|#

"I think the purpose of life is life."

Ah, such clarity.

I really appreciate his model for philanthropy, as well. I like this guy.

catfight catfight!|5.2.08 @ 8:27AM|#

What, no joe vs. Bailey bitchfest?

|5.2.08 @ 9:10PM|#

Not to be too nit picky, because I really liked the article and he seems like a super-bright and articulate guy, but I really dislike when people who've made no effort to understand religion claim that "eastern mysticism says that the purpose of life is death."

Actually in many religions, the idea of death is the reality of creative destruction. Death is necessary to evolve and move forward. (not unlike the business idea that certain industries and ideas die in order to move forward)

What is also interesting is how much the idea of the "singularity" is expressed in so many different religions. I know many libs completely dismiss religion, but it ain't all magic and hocus pocus, some of it is very interesting and provacative.

JLE|5.6.08 @ 8:18AM|#

I'm glad to see this here. It did seem too heavy in the buildup of a superhero and too easy on the questioning, but these ideas (life extension, singularity, less economic interference from government) are worth getting out there in the Great Conversation.

Ted Stalets|5.6.08 @ 9:46AM|#

Peter Theil - I would love to send you an advance copy of our new book coming out in September of this year (in 4 months), published by The Key Publish in Toronto, Canada. It is entitled Rescue Plan for Planet Earth - Democratic World Government through a Global Referendum. Many of the World Federalists are starting to see the Rescue Plan outlined in this "world's most necessary book" as a pragmatic, workable plan for political evolution as we move from the nation state to world governance.

For others who are interested, we have 3 free chapters from the book available at the book's website - Rescue Plan for Planet Earth dot com.

Please note - this is a bottom-up democratic world government - the opposite of a top-down world government which is envisioned by the world's money elite.

All the best!
Ted Stalets
VP - VoteWorldGovernment.org
Owner - StaletsLiteraryAgency.com

|5.9.08 @ 10:56AM|#

The definition of Singularity here appears to need some suspension of the laws of physics or economic behavior. A simpler explanation is that it will reach a critical mass where the cumulative efficiencies build on each other.

|5.10.08 @ 7:05AM|#

The whole point about the singularity, is thinking cleverly and creatively about the future. Those who wish to control humanity would like anybody to think too much about the future, and much less about a different future. Technology will help us to transform culture, and eventually evolve into a more mature intelligent specie. Peter Thiel is first and foremost an active optimist we need many like him.