2025-10-13 13:35

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TAGS: worldbuilding, city eternal, City Eternal Religion, character design, eternalists

The Eternalists (Elites of City Eternal)

Billionaires across the world tend to justify their immense wealth through a combination of moral, psychological, and philosophical narratives. These justifications fall into a few broad categories, reflecting both individual psychology and cultural ideology surrounding merit and success.

Meritocratic and Desert-Based Justifications

One of the dominant narratives is the “desert-based argument” — the belief that wealth is deserved because it stems from individual effort, intelligence, creativity, or risk-taking. Billionaires often argue that, much like skilled surgeons or inventors, they are compensated in proportion to the value they create for society, not simply the hours they work. This worldview rests on meritocracy, suggesting that those who produce the most societal value earn the right to the largest rewards.[1][2][3]

Contribution to Progress and Innovation

Many frame their wealth as the result of innovation that benefits society — that by creating companies like Amazon, Tesla, or Microsoft, they have improved billions of lives through jobs, products, and technological progress. This argument often transforms moral criticism into utilitarian defense: rather than hoarding resources, billionaires view themselves as catalysts for economic growth and advancement.[4][2]

This belief is particularly pronounced among technological and entrepreneurially minded billionaires, who cast themselves as modern pioneers breaking institutional inertia and solving global problems.

Longtermism and Effective Altruism

Some, such as Elon Musk and other techno-futurists, use longtermism — a utilitarian philosophy emphasizing the preservation and thriving of future humanity — to justify extreme wealth concentration as necessary for solving existential problems (like AI safety or space colonization). Similarly, billionaires influenced by effective altruism (e.g., some in Silicon Valley or crypto sectors) believe that large fortunes allow more “efficient” philanthropy than democratic redistribution would.[5][6]

Stoic and Existential Self-Narratives

Certain billionaires ground their worldview in Stoic philosophy, emphasizing discipline, accountability, and rejection of victimhood. They frame their success as the consequence of moral clarity and emotional mastery rather than privilege. In psychological terms, this serves as self-legitimation — wealth becomes evidence of personal virtue and mental strength rather than systemic inequity.[7]

Freedom, Control, and Psychological Identity

Psychological research suggests that many wealthy individuals value autonomy, control, and independence far more than luxury or status. Wealth represents not just money, but freedom from constraint — the ability to act without limits. This desire for control often blends with a competitive mindset in which money becomes “a way to keep score,” reinforcing identity and worth.[8][9][10]

From a psychoanalytic view, billionaire psychology can reveal narcissistic traits — a fixation on legacy, greatness, and symbolic immortality through technological or cultural impact.

Civilizational and Hierarchical Beliefs

Some, such as Peter Thiel, adopt explicitly anti-egalitarian philosophies, believing that exceptional individuals must lead humanity forward and that equality stifles civilization’s progress. This worldview treats extreme wealth not as injustice but as a natural hierarchy — the material reflection of intellectual or moral superiority.[11][12]

In this perspective, billionaires perceive themselves as guardians of progress in a world threatened by mediocrity, bureaucracy, and moral relativism.

Summary Table

In essence, billionaires justify vast wealth by weaving together moral self-concepts (desert), practical claims (innovation), and existential beliefs (freedom, immortality, hierarchy). These narratives serve both a social and psychological function: they preserve identity, deflect guilt, and transform what might appear as structural inequality into moral destiny.

Sources
[1] What are some good defenses of billionaires? https://www.reddit.com/r/askphilosophy/comments/1gkvh4k/what_are_some_good_defenses_of_billionaires/
[2] There's no such thing as a self-made billionaire https://thecorrespondent.com/712/theres-no-such-thing-as-a-self-made-billionaire
[3] The Psychology of Meritocracy and The Myth of The Self ... https://www.neuroscienceof.com/human-nature-blog/psychology-meritocracy-self-made-made
[4] Wealth Without Limits: in Defense of Billionaires - PMC https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC9684899/
[5] The Techno-Futuristic Philosophy Behind Elon Musk's Mania https://www.nytimes.com/2025/05/29/business/elon-musk-longtermism-effective-altruism-doge.html
[6] The Altruist Billionaire's Philosophical Con https://www.discoursemagazine.com/p/the-altruist-billionaires-philosophical-con
[7] Self-made billionaire says Stoic philosophy key to success https://nypost.com/2025/05/06/business/self-made-billionaire-says-stoic-philosophy-key-to-success/
[8] The Psychology of Money: 15 Mind Tricks Billionaires Use https://spartan-cafe.com/blog/the-psychology-of-money-15-mind-tricks-billionaires-use/
[9] Can someone explain the psychology of money, especially ... https://www.reddit.com/r/TrueAskReddit/comments/10ew979/can_someone_explain_the_psychology_of_money/
[10] Scientific Study: Luxury Is Not What Motivates Rich People ... https://www.forbes.com/sites/rainerzitelmann/2020/06/08/scientific-study-luxury-is-not-what-motivates-rich-people-to-become-rich/
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[13] Are Billionaires Good for Society? No, and Here's Why https://www.whatshesaidtalk.com/are-billionaires-good-for-society/
[14] Tax the rich: 9 Reasons for a wealth tax https://www.fightinequality.org/blog/tax-rich-9-reasons-wealth-tax
[15] The Case Against Billionaires https://www.linkedin.com/pulse/case-against-billionaires-david-mcqueen-caowe
[16] Three Arguments for Taxing Billionaires Out of Existence https://aninjusticemag.com/three-arguments-for-taxing-billionaires-out-of-existence-239df80141fa
[17] Why Do We Hero-Worship Billionaires? https://www.psychologytoday.com/us/blog/rich-encounters/202411/why-do-we-hero-worship-billionaires
[18] Should There Be Billionaires? https://www.prindleinstitute.org/2025/07/should-there-be-billionaires/
[19] Wealth can make us selfish and stingy. Two psychologists ... https://www.weforum.org/stories/2016/10/wealth-can-make-us-selfish-and-stingy-two-psychologists-explain-why/
[20] Peter Thiel explains how an esoteric philosophy book ... https://finance.yahoo.com/news/peter-thiel-explains-esoteric-philosophy-221708682.html

The positions and arguments advanced by billionaires to justify vast wealth—when examined through the lens of human history, planetary survival, and the preservation of life—are not strongly defensible on factual grounds. Historical, ecological, and economic evidence points to several contradictions between billionaire justifications and the realities of human and planetary wellbeing.

Historical Patterns: Power Concentration vs. Collective Wellbeing

Throughout history, great concentrations of wealth have rarely translated into broader social good or planetary health. Although some innovations and philanthropy arise from wealthy elites, the overall pattern shows that such concentrations often correlate with higher social inequality, slower progress on public goods, and systemic instability (such as financial crashes or civil unrest). Arguments based on “deserving” wealth or being uniquely fit for leadership echo social Darwinism and the rationalizations of previous oligarchic eras, many of which ended in social upheaval, not sustained prosperity or safety for humanity as a whole.[1]

Impact on the Survival of the Planet

Quantitative studies and planetary science reveal that billionaires, and the economic system that produces billionaires, disproportionately drive ecological overshoot and climate change. The ultra-wealthy have carbon footprints hundreds of times higher than average citizens, both via personal consumption and investment portfolios tied to fossil fuels and extractive industries. The richest 1% alone are responsible for a significant share of total ecological degradation and carbon emissions, contributing to existential risks for planetary life systems.[2][3][4][5]

Researchers and climate scientists consistently warn that meaningful action on climate change—and thus the preservation of life on Earth—requires far greater resource and emissions equity, not further entrenchment of billionaire privilege or luxury consumption.[4][5]

Inequality, Instability, and Global Wellbeing

Wealth concentration fosters global economic instability and undermines collective problem-solving. Extreme inequality leads to greater political polarization, less resilient democracies, and a higher likelihood of resource-driven conflict. In global health crises, such as the COVID-19 pandemic, billionaires often profited while basic life-saving needs in poorer countries went unmet, contradicting claims that extreme wealth enables more effective solutions for all humanity.[6][7]

Attempts by billionaires to "opt out" of global risk—such as building doomsday bunkers or investing in secluded islands—underscore that private wealth cannot meaningfully shield humanity from systemic breakdowns, only temporarily insulate a tiny elite while underlying problems worsen.[8][9][10]

Conclusion: Fact-Based Assessment

• The evidence shows that our current system, which enables the accumulation and justification of extreme wealth by billionaires, does not factually protect or preserve life, nor ensure planetary survival.[3][5][7][4]
• In reality, the justifications proffered often obscure the ways in which inequality, overconsumption, and the diversion of resources away from collective needs directly threaten both social and planetary stability.

Thus, the main arguments made by billionaires to legitimize vast personal fortunes are contradicted by the historical, economic, and ecological record—they serve self-justification more than they contribute to the genuine preservation or thriving of humanity and the planet.

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[4] We can't have billionaires and stop climate change https://thecorrespondent.com/728/we-cant-have-billionaires-and-stop-climate-change
[5] Carbon Inequality Kills https://www.oxfam.de/system/files/documents/carbon_inequality_kills.pdf
[6] Their Will is Wealth: American Billionaires, Illiberal Capital ... https://pdxscholar.library.pdx.edu/cgi/viewcontent.cgi?article=7987&context=open_access_etds
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[8] To Billionaire Doomsday Preppers: Your Wealth Won't Save You https://www.resilience.org/stories/2017-02-23/billionaire-doomsday-preppers-wealth-wont-save/
[9] Billionaires are preparing themselves for Doomsday. Should ... https://www.financialexpress.com/life/lifestyle-billionaires-are-preparing-themselves-for-doomsday-should-we-be-worried-4007993/
[10] Why Billionaires Are Obsessed With the Apocalypse https://www.thenation.com/article/culture/douglas-rushkoff-survival-richest/
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[12] Wealth Without Limits: in Defense of Billionaires - PMC https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC9684899/
[13] Psychology's “Dark Triad” and the Billionaire Class https://www.psychologytoday.com/us/blog/dangerous-ideas/201910/psychology-s-dark-triad-and-the-billionaire-class
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[16] Biohacker Bryan Johnson declares war on death, wants ... https://economictimes.com/magazines/panache/biohacker-bryan-johnson-declares-war-on-death-wants-health-as-the-new-gdp-why-humanity-must-rethink-life-before-ai-outpaces-us/articleshow/124344522.cms
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[19] Untitled https://knowledge.uchicago.edu/record/10105

Scientific research has shown that individuals who possess great wealth and power, including billionaires, consistently demonstrate diminished brain activity and psychological capacity for empathy, compassion, and social awareness compared to those with less wealth and status.[1][2][3][4]

Core Psychological Constructs and Traits

• Reduced Empathy and Compassion: Experiments led by Dr. Paul Piff (University of California, Irvine) and Dr. Dacher Keltner (University of California, Berkeley) demonstrate that as socioeconomic status rises, activity in brain regions involved in empathy declines. Higher-status individuals have difficulty perceiving and responding to others’ emotions—shown by lower vagus nerve activation when exposed to suffering, and poorer accuracy recognizing emotional signals in others.[2][3][4][1]
• Entitlement and Moralization of Self-Interest: Dr. Piff’s studies found that wealthier people are more likely to judge greed and self-interest as morally justified, leading to more frequent unethical behaviors (e.g., cheating, breaking rules) if these behaviors benefit them personally.[5][1]
• Narcissism, Machiavellianism, and “Dark Triad” Traits: High-status individuals disproportionately exhibit traits associated with narcissism and Machiavellianism (self-centeredness, manipulation, and strategic lack of remorse), reinforcing psychological distance from the needs and rights of others.[6][7]

Why Do Billionaires Think This Way?

• Social and Psychological Distance: Wealth brings independence from needing help or cooperation, which weakens the circuits for compassion and interdependence in the brain. This sense of autonomy erodes social sensitivity and increases self-focus.[8][1]
• Altered Brain Activity: Neuroscientific studies using brain scans and transcranial magnetic stimulation have found that feelings of power and status reduce activity in circuits related to motor resonance and emotional contagion—core mechanisms for understanding and sharing other people’s experiences.[8][2]
• Distorted Beliefs and Justifications: Wealthy individuals develop beliefs that “merit” or moral worth are closely tied to wealth, amplifying narratives of personal desert and diminishing sensitivity to counterevidence about structural inequality or collective impact.[4][9][1]

Key Findings from Paul Piff and Dacher Keltner’s Studies

• Dr. Paul Piff’s Monopoly experiments showed “winning” players (given unfair advantages) became noisier, more dominant, more entitled, and less aware of their privilege—even when they knew the game was rigged for them.[10][11]
• Lower-class participants consistently show more robust physiological responses (i.e., vagus nerve activation) to others’ suffering, a marker for empathic concern. Upper-class participants are less reactive, illustrating biological and learned deficits in empathy.[2][4]
• Piff’s team reports that merely reminding wealthy individuals of community values and shared vulnerability can momentarily restore empathy—but sustained wealth cultivates deep psychological defenses against such awareness.[5]

Summary Table

In essence, the wealthiest individuals are shaped neurologically and psychologically to prioritize self-interest over social good, often ignoring objective evidence about harm or inequality. These effects are both a product of life experience and reinforce a worldview in which facts about collective need or ecological risk are discounted in favor of personal, moral and economic exceptionalism.[1][6][4][5][8]

Sources
[1] How Wealth Reduces Compassion https://www.scientificamerican.com/article/how-wealth-reduces-compassion/
[2] Does Wealth Reduce Compassion? | Greater Good https://greatergood.berkeley.edu/article/item/does_wealth_reduce_compassion
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[4] The Rich Lack Empathy, Study Says https://www.nytimes.com/2011/01/02/fashion/02studied.html
[5] 6 studies on how money affects the mind - TED Blog https://blog.ted.com/6-studies-of-money-and-the-mind/
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[7] Psychology's “Dark Triad” and the Billionaire Class https://www.psychologytoday.com/us/blog/dangerous-ideas/201910/psychology-s-dark-triad-and-the-billionaire-class
[8] Here's how the powerful lose touch with reality, according ... https://www.sciencefocus.com/wellbeing/powerful-mindset-psychology
[9] Class and compassion: socioeconomic factors predict ... https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/22148992/
[10] Being rich makes you less empathetic (even when it's just ... https://www.blog-thebrain.org/beginner/2021/01/14/being-rich-makes-you-less-empathetic-even-when-its-just-monopoly-money/
[11] Why rich people tend to think they deserve their money https://www.marketplace.org/story/2021/01/19/why-rich-people-tend-think-they-deserve-their-money
[12] The psychology of wealth, empathy, and entitlement https://www.apa.org/news/podcasts/speaking-of-psychology/wealth-empathy
[13] The psychology of wealth, empathy and entitlement, with ... https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nFhMMSHthyk
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[15] In the Case of Wealth v. Empathy https://fnaohio.com/in-the-case-of-wealth-v-empathy
[16] Does money make you mean? | Paul Piff https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bJ8Kq1wucsk
[17] How Money Changes the Way You Think and Feel https://greatergood.berkeley.edu/article/item/how_money_changes_the_way_you_think_and_feel
[18] The Money-Empathy Gap https://nymag.com/news/features/money-brain-2012-7/
[19] The Effect of Social Class and Empathy on Prosociality - PMC https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC8062701/
[20] The psychology of wealth, empa… https://podcasts.apple.com/no/podcast/the-psychology-of-wealth-empathy-and-entitlement/id705934263?i=1000714470959&l=nb
[21] The Psychology of Wealth and How It Affects Mental Health https://caldaclinic.com/the-psychology-of-wealth-and-how-it-affects-mental-health/

While it is not medically correct to categorize all wealthy individuals as having formal mental disorders, converging scientific evidence suggests that many display persistent psychological and behavioral traits (narcissism, Machiavellianism, psychopathy) that are maladaptive for the collective survival of society and the planet. These patterns are frequently found at above-average rates among the ultra-wealthy and powerful, and they have measurable effects on global ecosystems and social wellbeing.[1][2][3][4][5]

Evidence from Psychological and Psychiatric Research

• Dark Triad Traits and Environmental Harm: Multiple peer-reviewed studies confirm that high levels of psychopathy (impulsivity, low empathy, irresponsibility), narcissism (entitlement, self-centeredness), and Machiavellianism (manipulation, disregard for ethics) are overrepresented among corporate leaders and the super-rich. These traits are shown to drive short-term, high-risk, and environmentally destructive decision-making. Psychopathic leaders in particular have been linked to a lack of corporate social responsibility and a willingness to sacrifice environmental stewardship for personal or organizational gain.[2][3][4][1]
• Pathological Addictions to Wealth: Research on “process addictions” demonstrates that compulsive pursuit of more money can mirror behavioral addictions—triggering dopamine-driven reinforcement cycles that override social bonds and broader moral concerns, similar to substance addiction. This addiction to accumulation can impair happiness and lead to risk-taking behavior that is damaging at planetary scale.[6]
• Empirical Increase in Unethical Behavior: Paul Piff and colleagues have published studies showing that upper-class individuals are substantially more likely to cheat, break rules, and act unethically compared to their lower-class counterparts, even in lab settings, and are routinely less charitable and more narcissistic. Piff’s research does not define this as a mental “illness,” but as a persistent pattern with brain, behavioral, and social consequences.[7][5][2]
• Impaired Empathy Circuits: Studies by Keltner, Piff, and others at UC Berkeley show that the brains of the wealthy have reduced activation in neural regions governing empathy and social concern, which increases self-focus, entitlement, and a sense of deservingness, reducing their ability to respond to others’ needs and environmental risks.[2]

Clinical Perspective

• Not a Traditional Sickness, but Dangerously Maladaptive: While not classified as psychiatric disorders in the DSM, these traits align with “maladaptive personalities” whose aggregate effects are deeply destructive in a social and environmental sense. When such patterns are concentrated in positions of power, they drive the appetite for endless growth and resource extraction—primary causes of climate and ecological crises.[3][4][1][2]
• Link to Environmental Destruction: Corporate psychopathy and narcissism have a direct correlation with decreased organizational responsibility to the environment, increased pollution, and disregard for regulations designed to protect life systems. Experts call these leaders a “greatest threat” to global business ethics and sustainability.[4][1][3]

Conclusion

It is arguable on scientific grounds that the prevalent psychological profiles among the ultra-wealthy—marked by impaired empathy, increased narcissism and psychopathy, and compulsive pursuit of wealth—constitute a set of maladaptive syndromes with destructive consequences for the planet and our collective future. These patterns should be recognized as urgent social and environmental hazards, even if they are not formally recognized as clinical mental disorders.[5][1][3][6][4]

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[1] How Machiavellianism, Psychopathy, and Narcissism ... https://www.frontiersin.org/journals/psychology/articles/10.3389/fpsyg.2019.00779/full
[2] Paul K. Piff: "Are the Wealthy More Narcissistic?" https://matrix.berkeley.edu/research-article/are-wealthy-more-narcissistic/
[3] How Machiavellianism, Psychopathy, and Narcissism ... https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC6499190/
[4] The dark triad and corporate sustainability: An empirical ... https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1111/beer.12398
[5] Higher social class predicts increased unethical behavior https://www.pnas.org/doi/10.1073/pnas.1118373109
[6] How Money Affects the Psychology of the Extremely Rich https://www.theswaddle.com/how-money-affects-rich-people
[7] Does Wealth Breed Narcissism: The New 'Mirror, Mirror on ... https://www.pbs.org/newshour/economy/does-wealth-breed-narcissism-the-new-mirror-mirror-on-the-wall-study
[8] Wealth as an obstacle and a support for environmental ... https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0272494424002226
[9] Clinical Ecopsychology: The Mental Health Impacts and ... https://www.frontiersin.org/journals/psychiatry/articles/10.3389/fpsyt.2021.675936/full
[10] The Interplay of Environmental Exposures and Mental Health https://ehp.niehs.nih.gov/EHP9889
[11] Mental health and the environment https://ieep.eu/publications/mental-health-and-the-environment-environmental-degradations-impact-on-mental-health-and-wellbeing/
[12] The rise of eco-anxiety: scientists wake up to the mental- ... https://www.nature.com/articles/d41586-024-00998-6
[13] The social determinants of mental health and disorder https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC10786006/
[14] Climate Change Affect On Mental Health https://www.commonwealthfund.org/publications/explainer/2023/mar/how-climate-change-affects-mental-health
[15] The impact of chief executive officer narcissism on ... https://www.econstor.eu/bitstream/10419/288222/1/BSE_BSE3375.pdf
[16] Modelling the impact of environmental and social ... https://www.nature.com/articles/s41746-024-01422-z
[17] The dark side of environmental activism https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/abs/pii/S0191886923004294
[18] The Psychology of Wealth and How It Affects Mental Health https://caldaclinic.com/the-psychology-of-wealth-and-how-it-affects-mental-health/
[19] Effect of Narcissism, Psychopathy, and Machiavellianism ... https://www.frontiersin.org/journals/psychology/articles/10.3389/fpsyg.2019.00360/full
[20] There's No Such Thing as Noblesse Oblige https://www.theatlantic.com/ideas/archive/2021/04/does-wealth-rob-brain-compassion/618496/

The Dark Enlightenment, or neo-reactionary movement, attracts individuals with specific psychological traits and drives rooted in a combination of elitist, anti-democratic thought, hierarchical worldviews, and often a deep distrust of modern egalitarian and humanitarian ideals. The psychological underpinning of those who adopt this philosophy reveals several consistent characteristics:[1][2][3][4]

Core Psychological Traits

• Authoritarian Personality and Hierarchical Preference: Believers typically value order, hierarchy, and clear dominance-submission structures. They see social stratification not just as inevitable, but as desirable and natural for human flourishing. This echoes established findings in psychology that those with high Social Dominance Orientation (SDO) seek and support strong, top-down authority, often with little empathy for “out-groups.”[2][3][1]
• Desire for Control and Disdain for Uncertainty: Many adherents are attracted to the promise of stability, order, and control that authoritarian governance styles offer, especially during periods of crisis or social change. These needs can be traced to underlying feelings of threat, anxiety, and a low tolerance for ambiguity.[5][1]
• Mistrust and Alienation: There is a marked mistrust of democratic institutions, mainstream media, and academia (collectively called “the Cathedral”), which are viewed as corrupt, manipulative, or conspiratorial. This outlook often emerges from psychological feelings of alienation, a need to feel exceptional, and persecution narratives.[3][6][2]
• Narcissism and Techno-Elitism: The movement often appeals to individuals with grandiose self-conceptions, particularly in technology and finance sectors. It offers a narrative where existing elites (or would-be elites) can justify their power and distance themselves from the “mediocrity” of the masses.[6][7][5]

Why Do They Believe in It?

• Identity and Status Security: Neo-reactionary thought provides a psychological haven for those who fear loss of status and power in a rapidly changing, democratizing world. It offers a restoration of privilege via hierarchy.[8][2][3]
• Cognitive Rigidity: The philosophy satisfies a craving for cognitive closure and certainty—favoring simple, foundational beliefs (“equality is a myth,” “democracy inevitably fails”) over the uncertainties and compromises of pluralistic societies.[1][2][3]
• Historical and Technological Determinism: Believers are drawn to deterministic, often fatalistic, explanations of history and technology. Authors like Nick Land and Curtis Yarvin cast the collapse of liberal institutions as inevitable, making surrender to technocratic authority or even AI government seem rational and “natural”.[7][5][2]
• Psychological Reward for Transgression: The movement markets itself as “red-pilled” or forbidden knowledge, appealing to contrarian, anti-establishment personalities who derive psychological reward from rebelling against mainstream moral expectations.[4][5]

Summary Table

In summary, the psychological underpinning of Dark Enlightenment adherents is a volatile mix of authoritarianism, social dominance, need for control, alienation from mainstream institutions, and grandiose self-conception. People gravitate to the movement as a means of securing certainty, status, and a sense of “truth” in a world they perceive as chaotically equal, dangerously open, or unjustly hostile to their privilege and power.[5][2][3][6][7]

Sources
[1] Dark Enlightenment https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dark_Enlightenment
[2] Dark Enlightenment | Ideology, Politics, & Philosophy https://www.britannica.com/topic/Dark-Enlightenment
[3] NRx: The (underground) movement that wants to destroy ... https://english.elpais.com/usa/2024-11-30/nrx-the-underground-movement-that-wants-to-destroy-democracy.html
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[5] What We Must Understand About the Dark Enlightenment ... https://time.com/7269166/dark-enlightenment-history-essay/
[6] Anti-democratic 'Dark Enlightenment' ideas have spread from ... https://cascadeinstitute.org/dark-enlightenment/
[7] Curtis Yarvin, Nick Land and the Black Utopia of the New ... https://www.resetdoc.org/story/curtis-yarvin-nick-land-black-utopia-of-new-radical-right/
[8] Dark Enlightenment theory is anti-capitalist and can only ... https://www.reddit.com/r/PoliticalDebate/comments/1irc453/dark_enlightenment_theory_is_anticapitalist_and/
[9] The Dark Enlightenment, also called the neo-reactionary ... https://www.reddit.com/r/wikipedia/comments/1ir27j4/the_dark_enlightenment_also_called_the/
[10] Dark Enlightenment And Accelerationism https://www.thestudyias.com/blogs/dark-enlightenment-and-accelerationism-the-technocratic-threat/
[11] The Dark Enlightenment | Azimuth - WordPress.com https://johncarlosbaez.wordpress.com/2025/03/17/the-dark-enlightenment/
[12] Perverse Possibilities of Capitalist Collapse: Neoreaction ... https://irgac.org/articles/perverse-possibilities-of-capitalist-collapse-neoreaction-and-dark-enlightenment-as-an-authoritarian-alternative-to-the-structural-crisis-of-global-capitalism
[13] Deep Disagreement, the Dark Enlightenment, and ... https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/abs/10.1111/japp.12331

The Dark Enlightenment philosophy is fundamentally opposed—in both beliefs and outcomes—to the worldview and value systems of human societies that have been scientifically shown to increase biodiversity and sustain healthy, livable environments. This distinction is rooted in their respective relationships with nature, community, and authority.

Dark Enlightenment: Anthropocentrism and Hierarchy

• The Dark Enlightenment, and related neo-reactionary thought, centers on hierarchy, social dominance, and the radical separation of elites from masses.[1][2][3]
• It explicitly rejects egalitarianism, democracy, and collective stewardship, favoring technocratic rule, competition, and the maximization of personal or elite gain.
• Its stance is anthropocentric—regarding nature primarily as a resource for human utility (especially powerful humans), rather than as a network of interconnected life.[2]
• History and science have shown that such philosophies drive extractive economics, ecosystem destruction, and unsustainable approaches to the environment.[4][5]

Indigenous and Biodiversity-Promoting Societies: Interconnectedness and Reciprocity

• Societies proven to sustain and increase biodiversity—especially Indigenous communities—consistently embrace interconnectedness, reciprocity, humility, and respect between humans and the natural world.[6][7][8]
• Their philosophies emphasize “kinship” with other species, cyclical relationships, and stewardship—humans as caretakers rather than masters.[9][4]
• Traditional ecological knowledge (TEK) is highly place-based and holistic, rooted in centuries of adapting practices with local environments to foster resilience (e.g., rotational farming, controlled burns, ritual and taboo).[7][6]
• Scientific studies confirm that where these belief systems and practices are maintained, biodiversity is higher, ecosystems are more resilient, and life-supporting services (soil, water, air) are better protected.[10][11][12][6]
• Justice, equity, and collaborative governance are usually central; well-being for all life (not just human) is the moral goal.[13][8]

Comparative Table

Key Insights

• Dark Enlightenment promotes division, control, and a utilitarian view of nature linked to ecosystem decline.
• Indigenous worldviews—and societies with similar philosophies—recognize the co-dependent, relational nature of all species, fostering sustainable practices and enhanced biodiversity.
• The success of biodiversity-promoting cultures rests on humility, collaboration, and a sense of moral duty to future generations and all life forms, in direct opposition to the individualistic, extractive ethos of Dark Enlightenment.[8][5][4][9]

In summary, societies that thrive and maintain biodiversity do so through value systems of reciprocity, respect, and interconnected stewardship, while the Dark Enlightenment undermines these conditions through ideological and practical hostility to egalitarian, ecological, and collaborative principles.The Dark Enlightenment philosophy centers on elitism, hierarchy, and anthropocentrism—prioritizing the mastery of a powerful few over democratic stewardship and often seeing nature mainly as a resource for human exploitation. In stark contrast, societies globally shown to increase biodiversity and maintain healthy, livable environments (such as Indigenous cultures and those prioritizing ecological reciprocity) embrace values of interconnectedness, humility, stewardship, and equitable management of shared resources.[5][3][6][7][4]

Indigenous worldviews, for example, treat humans as interdependent with all living beings, often formalizing spiritual and practical “kinship” obligations to land, plants, and animals, rather than separation or domination. Their scientific success in fostering biodiversity is directly linked to cultural beliefs that prioritize the health of whole ecosystems over individual gain, with strategies like rotational farming, controlled burning, and taboo or ritual preservation that restore and maintain ecological balance. These approaches are collaborative rather than combative and place the needs of future generations—and all species—above personal or elite interests.[11][6][7][4][8]

Comparatively, the Dark Enlightenment’s extractive, divisive philosophies reduce resilience and drive ecosystem destruction, while Indigenous and biodiversity-promoting systems consistently generate more robust, sustainable environments through principles of reciprocity, community, and harmony with nature.[6][4][8][9][5]

Sources
[1] Dark Enlightenment https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dark_Enlightenment
[2] Dark Enlightenment | Ideology, Politics, & Philosophy https://www.britannica.com/topic/Dark-Enlightenment
[3] NRx: The (underground) movement that wants to destroy ... https://english.elpais.com/usa/2024-11-30/nrx-the-underground-movement-that-wants-to-destroy-democracy.html
[4] Combating the Climate Crisis: Deconstructing Western ... https://pdxscholar.library.pdx.edu/cgi/viewcontent.cgi?article=2476&context=honorstheses
[5] Beyond the Enlightenment Mentality - Karl-Schlecht https://karl-schlecht.de/fileadmin/daten/service/NPW/Projects/BeyondEnlightenment.pdf
[6] Indigenous knowledge‐bridging to support ecological ... https://besjournals.onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/full/10.1002/pan3.70034
[7] Integrating Indigenous Knowledge and Traditional ... https://er.researchfloor.org/integrating-indigenous-knowledge-and-traditional-practices-for-biodiversity-conservation-in-a-modern-world/
[8] A values-centered relational science model https://ecologyandsociety.org/vol29/iss2/art11/
[9] The Wisdom of Indigenous Cultures https://www.earthday.org/the-wisdom-of-indigenous-cultures/
[10] indigenous-relevant-indicators-biodiversity-conservation. ... https://science.gc.ca/site/science/sites/default/files/documents/indigenous-relevant-indicators-biodiversity-conservation.pdf
[11] For Nature-Based Solutions to Be Effective, We Need to ... https://www.iisd.org/articles/insight/nature-based-solutions-indigenous-peoples
[12] Biodiversity https://www.who.int/news-room/fact-sheets/detail/biodiversity
[13] Benefits of Biodiversity to Human Health and Well-being ... https://www.nps.gov/articles/parksciencev31-n1_buttke_etal-htm.htm
[14] Indigenous Peoples: Traditional knowledges, climate ... https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC10575522/
[15] The Resilience of Indigenous Peoples to Environmental ... https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S2590332220302505
[16] Indigenous communities & biodiversity | XR de https://extinctionrebellion.de/aktionen/kampagnen/nature-needs-justice/indigenous-communities-and-biodiversity/
[17] How Do Cultural Practices Affect Biodiversity? → Question https://lifestyle.sustainability-directory.com/question/how-do-cultural-practices-affect-biodiversity/
[18] Facing the Anthropocene: Comparative Education as ... https://www.journals.uchicago.edu/doi/10.1086/716664
[19] Biodiversity, cultural pathways, and human health https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0169534714000238
[20] Perceptions of disaster temporalities in two Indigenous ... https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S2212420921001874
[21] Strengthening society's engagement with nature https://www.eea.europa.eu/en/analysis/publications/strengthening-societys-engagement-with-nature
[22] Deep ecology https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Deep_ecology
[23] Biodiversity, Conservation and Human Rights https://www.institut-fuer-menschenrechte.de/fileadmin/Redaktion/Publikationen/Analyse_Studie/Analysis_Biodiversity_Conservation_and_Human_Rights.pdf

REFERENCES