In the undercurrents of America's contemporary political discourse, Friedrich Nietzsche’s “Will to Power” emerges not merely as a philosophical concept but as a potent rallying cry for the dissident right. This principle, understood through Nietzsche's own opaque and often misinterpreted writings, calls for the reclamation of strength and the reassertion of dominance through will—characteristics that the dissident right finds increasingly necessary in a socio-political landscape they perceive as dominated by weakening concessions to globalism and liberalism.
The "Will to Power" posits that life’s fundamental driving force is not survival or reproduction but a fundamental power dynamic where entities continually strive to assert and enhance their strength. For the American dissident right, this idea resonates deeply. It suggests a departure from passive existence or mere endurance within a liberal framework that is seen as inherently corrupt and emasculating. Instead, Nietzsche’s philosophy encourages a dynamic and proactive imposition of one's own values and vision upon the world—asserting will over a perceived disarray of contemporary Western values.
Paleofuturism as a Vision of Strength
The American dissident right's embrace of Nietzsche dovetails with their adoption of Paleofuturism, a philosophy that projects ancient, often heroic values onto a future dominated by advanced technology and ultra-science. Paleofuturism looks back to a time when virtues such as courage, honor, and community allegiance were common currency, imagining a future where these values are reinstated within the framework of an advanced, technologically advanced society.
This philosophical blend champions a return to what are perceived as 'natural' hierarchies and social orders, underscored by a commitment to leadership and decision-making that mirror the storied past of great civilizations. By invoking the imagery of a mythic past, paleofuturism provides a narrative of return and restoration, promising a cleanse of the degenerative aspects of modernity, all while harnessing the promise of future technological power.
Applications and Implications
Paleofuturism is practical. Here are some examples of how we can mate ancient values with the inevitable ultra-science future.
Biotechnology
One application of this Nietzschean and Paleofuturistic ideology is in the arena of biotechnology and genetic engineering. These technologies are inevitable. Resistance to them is ultimately futile. We must embrace biotechnology and bend it to our moral vision. We must seize the opportunity before our enemies—using science to enhance human capabilities rather than merely mend or sustain them. This could mean prioritizing genetic traits that enhance physical and mental health, pushing humanity not just toward baseline health but toward a new echelon of human capability.
Artificial Intelligence
In the realm of artificial intelligence and machine learning, a paleofuturist approach could mean the development of systems that reflect and reinforce our heroic value systems and hierarchies rather than embodying neutral or universal ethics. AI could be directed to serve nationalistic goals and strengthen group identity, creating systems that are explicitly aligned with right-wing cultural values rather than global or humanitarian ones.
The political application of Nietzsche's principle involves a stark rejection of democratic egalitarianism, a system that dilutes individual power and mediates the natural hierarchies that the Right valorizes. Instead, the dissident right could envision a political structure where leadership is not a matter of popular vote but of inherent strength and virtue—a meritocracy rooted in the capacities and will of its leaders, tested by their ability to assert and maintain power.
The Ominous Undertones
Where could we go wrong?
This vision, while it may resonate with ancient heroics and futuristic promise, carries with it an undeniable darkness. The very essence of Nietzsche’s philosophy dismisses universal morality and egalitarianism as weaknesses, celebrating instead the virtue of righteous power. This could lead to a society where might makes right, where the vulnerable are left unprotected against the whims of the powerful. It’s a world where the lines between leadership and dominion blur, where the rule is by the strong, for the strong, potentially at the expense of the weak.
Moreover, the coupling of this ideology with advanced technology could amplify its effects. Biotechnological enhancements could lead to new forms of inequality based on genetic access and modification. AI systems could enforce and perpetuate exclusionary ideals, embedding them into the fabric of daily life.
The Future is the Past
As the American dissident right coalesces around these principles, it is poised on a precipice. Below lies a return to revered ancient values, emboldened by ultrascientific capabilities. However, this same cliff also points upward to a future that might be bleak, divided, and driven by the ruthless pursuit of power. The “Will to Power” thus serves not only as a philosophical underpinning for a movement but as a harbinger of a deeply transformative and potentially troubling reordering of societal values and structures. The path forward, illuminated by the Will to Power and guided by Paleofuturism, promises to be as contentious as it is transformative.
Yet it will come to pass. The only question is if we harness power for good and use it against our enemies, or whether our enemies harness power for evil and turn it against us. There is no middle ground. There is no stopping it. There is no going back.