Feeding on Illusions
The article critiques modern society's reliance on comforting illusions rather than facing difficult truths, arguing that this tendency weakens collective resilience and leads to a fragile culture unable to cope with reality.
Background
- The author, **Gavin Le B.** (known online as "The Consequentialist"), writes the Substack newsletter *The Convivial Society*, which critiques technology, modernity, and culture from a humanistic and often religiously-informed perspective.
- This piece is a **book review-essay** focused on *Feeding on Infinity*, a book by **Johannes de Silentio** (a pseudonym referencing Kierkegaard). The book argues that modern society is governed by an insatiable "will to power" masquerading as progress.
- The essay connects this critique to familiar tech-world debates: the **"effective altruism" (EA) movement** (led by figures like William MacAskill), **longtermism**, and **AI safety/alignment**. Le B. argues these movements are not rational solutions but expressions of the same spiritual emptiness and will-to-power they claim to fight.
- The core claim: tech-driven movements like EA and longtermism are "illusions" driven by a hidden metaphysical hunger, not sober reason. The reader needs this context to see the piece as a religious/philosophical takedown of Silicon Valley's self-image, not a simple policy critique.