[trashtester]

I think of Elon more as a modern Nocola Tesla. (As does, it seems, Elon himself.)

The closest current analogy to Nietzsche would be Jordan Peterson, I think. Their problem definitions are very similar (ie to fight nihilsm), but it seems to me that Nietzsche's proposed path is more heroic, but also harder.

[voidhorse]

I agree completely on Elon; that’s probably the same fate other tech greats will be granted as well.

While Peterson’s most basic premise to “fight against nihilism”, is respectable I don’t think he is philosophically well-equipped enough to have the same lasting effect as Nietzsche—if you listen to his arguments it’s clear that he’s quite ignorant of a whole swath of philosophical developments that have occurred in the past few decades. His arguments are not sophisticated. Someone with a basic education in the humanities can craft them just as easily. His whining about the death of individuality is also shallow—he doesn’t even realize the very shape of the concept of induiviudality itself has changed over time. He’s praying for the ressurection if old concepts, which is a method the ignores the particularités and needs of our own historical situation. Part of this could be a result of his trying to reach a wide audience, part of it could be his lack of capability, idk. At any rate, even though Nietzsche has an aphorism about writing for your readers it’s clear he himself didn’t do so, and his reknown partly stems from the uniqueness of his style, which is impeccable. In this regard Peterson doesn’t hold a candle to Nietzsche. Of course he may still be remembered, given he’s speaking for a different era, but idk, lacking argumentative or stylistic ingenuity typically doesn’t net you a spot in the hall of fame.

[trashtester]

It sounds like you know more of this than me. Do you have any specifics in mind about the change in the concept of individuality?

That said, I also see Peterson as clearly adding much less than Nietzsche (if anything at all) on pure philosophy. He is a psychologist, first and foremost, that happens to draw on some concepts from philosophy and biology (developed by others) for the purpose of providing a path for people (mostly young men) that have lost the sense of purpose.

In this confrontation with the inner emptiness, he seems to grapple with the same problem as Nietzsche, but with a more practical approach.

Indeed, as a clinical psychologist, his task is precisely to formulate it in a way that can reach people.

For those who have never had any serious struggles with the problem (nihilism, lack of purpose), he probably looks like a quack.

[ethelward]

Nicola Tesla actually invented thing. AFAIK, Musk didn't; he's above all a successful businessman but has little to no technical competencies.

[erikpukinskis]

There is a lot of technical work to turning an invention into an affordable and dependable product.

In fact, I would wager the majority of engineering/math/physics/etc happens after the proof of concept phase.

[robfitz]

In that case, Tesla would have lived and died happier if he'd had a Musk around to help him find a way to scalably and sustainably bring what he invented to the world.

[trashtester]

You are right. Maybe Edison would be a better example.