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Fear of Science?#

Note: I wrote this article myself but was corrected by BigAI to make it more English. All ideas, the order and many words are mine. But much better. Needless to say: I'm impressed.

Original article here.

Are There Thinkers in Silicon Valley?#

Peter Thiel.png

Peter Thiel continues to be a paradox: a billionaire investor who also fancies himself a philosopher. His writings and interviews often raise uncomfortable questions—questions that seem absent from European intellectual circles. That alone says something unsettling about the current state of Western thought:

  • He is an American investor who dares to think deeply about technology.
  • He frequently quotes French philosopher René Girard, particularly on mimetic desire.
  • He speaks about Europe, its decline, and contrasts it with American ambition.

Where are the French or German philosophers to challenge him? Why is it a Silicon Valley figure leading these conversations?

Instead of criticizing tech entrepreneurs for lacking intellectual depth, perhaps academia should ask itself why it has become so cautious, so risk-averse, that it no longer produces voices capable of shaping the public discourse on innovation.

Why Has Innovation Slowed?#

Thiel suggests that innovation began to decelerate around 1969—symbolically, at Woodstock. The optimism of the Apollo program gave way to introspection, retreat, and ultimately, fear. He argues that technological progress frightened society, especially after World War II and the dawn of the atomic age.

But Thiel may be overlooking deeper, structural causes.

The Rule of the Old#

One major factor is demographics. Western societies are aging. Baby Boomers have extended their lifespan and, more critically, their time in positions of power. Risk-taking is not the preferred mode of the elderly. As a population ages, it tends to favor predictability over uncertainty, stability over progress.

Even worse, aging leadership tends to replicate itself. Older, risk-averse leaders often recruit and promote those who resemble them: conservative in mindset, loyal to legacy systems, resistant to change. Thus, innovation is not only stifled by aging bodies, but by an aging culture.

The Safe Paths to Wealth#

Another culprit is economic incentives. In a society where taking risks is discouraged, careers in science are no longer attractive. The paths to wealth today lie in finance, law, and content creation—not in labs or workshops.

This is especially true in Europe, where launching a startup often requires navigating a bureaucratic labyrinth or relying on state contracts. In such an environment, young innovators are pushed away from science and into safer, more lucrative fields.

A Society Turned Inward#

Finally, our culture no longer celebrates science. Once seen as the vehicle for solving humanity’s biggest challenges, science is now treated as just another interest group. As society fractures into individual struggles and niche identities, there is little collective vision left to rally around grand scientific endeavors.

Instead of building the future, we optimize for engagement metrics. We look inward, not outward. We trust influencers more than researchers. And so the idea of science as a noble, shared mission has eroded.

The Return of the Technologists#

ITcrowd

But now, the geeks are having their revenge. With the rise of large-scale AI, technology has once again forced its way into the public imagination. The IT crowd, long treated as second-class citizens in the intellectual world, has delivered something that cannot be ignored.

And who is framing the discussion? Once again, it’s Silicon Valley.

That should scare us.

If philosophers and public intellectuals want to reclaim the conversation around innovation, they need to do more than complain. They need to show up—with clarity, with courage, and most of all, with vision.

Annex: Peter Thiel and René Girard#

Me: I don't really see how the thesis of rené Girard articulates with the thoughts of Thiel.

BigAI: Peter Thiel often cites René Girard as a major intellectual influence, particularly Girard’s theory of mimetic desire—the idea that we imitate the desires of others, leading to rivalry and conflict. Thiel sees this imitation as a trap that stifles innovation, pushing society into endless competition instead of original creation. For him, true innovators must escape the mimetic cycle and think independently. But Girard’s work is also a warning: unchecked desire and rivalry can lead to violence and collapse. In a way, Thiel treats Girard both as an inspiration and a cautionary tale—using his insights to justify bold innovation, but perhaps overlooking the deeper call for humility and social cohesion at the heart of Girard’s thought.

(July 6 2025)

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