Marc Andreessen's inspiring thoughts on technology.
Reading a brilliant essay from VC Marc Andreessen. It is entitled the Techno-Optimist Manifesto.
Essentially detailing the beauty and promise that technology holds.
The essay has spoken to me much like Ayn Rand’s writing spoke to me. It is the sort of writing that stands in awe of what humans are capable of, that believes we drive our destiny and can live in abundance - so long as we embrace technology.
Anyway, here are some of my favourite quotes.
Techno-Optimists believe that societies, like sharks, grow or die.
We believe growth is progress – leading to vitality, expansion of life, increasing knowledge, higher well being.
We agree with Paul Collier when he says, “Economic growth is not a cure-all, but lack of growth is a kill-all.”
We believe everything good is downstream of growth
I hate when people claim that “Growth is not everything”. Yes it is.
Atomic Energy Commissioner Thomas Murray said in 1953: “For years the splitting atom, packaged in weapons, has been our main shield against the barbarians. Now, in addition, it is a God-given instrument to do the constructive work of mankind.” Murray was right too.
We believe a second energy silver bullet is coming – nuclear fusion. We should build that as well. The same bad ideas that effectively outlawed fission are going to try to outlaw fusion. We should not let them.
This is super interesting and deserves more attention. Nuclear fusion will be an outstanding achievement, driving the marginal cost of energy to 0. There is a false belief in the public sphere that all we have is fossil fuels to power the future and that those are limited.
We believe the natural human drive to make things, to gain territory, to explore the unknown can be channeled productively into building technology.
We believe that while the physical frontier, at least here on Earth, is closed, the technological frontier is wide open.
We believe in exploring and claiming the technological frontier.
We believe in the romance of technology, of industry. The eros of the train, the car, the electric light, the skyscraper. And the microchip, the neural network, the rocket, the split atom.
We believe in adventure. Undertaking the Hero’s Journey, rebelling against the status quo, mapping uncharted territory, conquering dragons, and bringing home the spoils for our community.
So inspiring. Reminds you that you can be a part of history - a player just as the explorers of yesterday were.
A common critique of technology is that it removes choice from our lives as machines make decisions for us. This is undoubtedly true, yet more than offset by the freedom to create our lives that flows from the material abundance created by our use of machines.
Material abundance from markets and technology opens the space for religion, for politics, and for choices of how to live, socially and individually.
We believe technology is liberatory. Liberatory of human potential. Liberatory of the human soul, the human spirit. Expanding what it can mean to be free, to be fulfilled, to be alive.
Our enemy is stagnation.
Our enemy is anti-merit, anti-ambition, anti-striving, anti-achievement, anti-greatness.
Our enemy is statism, authoritarianism, collectivism, central planning, socialism.
Our enemy is bureaucracy, vetocracy, gerontocracy, blind deference to tradition.
Our enemy is corruption, regulatory capture, monopolies, cartels.
This is true of all of us, not just techn-capitalists.
We believe in the words of David Deutsch: “We have a duty to be optimistic. Because the future is open, not predetermined and therefore cannot just be accepted: we are all responsible for what it holds. Thus it is our duty to fight for a better world.”
Be optimistic. Its our duty and right.
If you want to read the full essay - The Techno-Optimist Manifesto
I love Andreessen and all those incredible SF VC’s. We have a lot to learn from them. More tech stuff to come.