Thiel is missing the point. We *can't* be Elves. The difference between Elves and Humans isn't immortality. The overgeneralized TLDR idea is that they're, more or less, an idealized Us from before the Fall. They don't have our fear, greed, ambition, or our corruptibility. 1/ - ThreadSky

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theevildex.bsky.social • 10 days ago

Thiel is missing the point. We *can't* be Elves. The difference between Elves and Humans isn't immortality. The overgeneralized TLDR idea is that they're, more or less, an idealized Us from before the Fall. They don't have our fear, greed, ambition, or our corruptibility. 1/

Reposted from BeijingPalmer

illiteracy is a genuine problem

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theevildex.bsky.social•10 days ago

Tolkien isn't big on allegory, but there was enough of his theology that bled into his writing. Elves & Humans have a share in God's creative ability (as artists & craftsmen). Elves have more, and can therefore *sub-create* more, as long as the Earth endures (technically forever). 2/

theevildex.bsky.social•10 days ago

While Elves aren't subject to old age and sickness, the catch is they can still be slain. And when they go that way, that's it (with caveats, but this is an already overlong TLDR).

Elves don't have our Hope. 3/

theevildex.bsky.social•10 days ago

The reward of a moral life for Humans on Middle-Earth is the prospect of a better life in a better place outside of it. This is the point that Thiel keeps missing in his attempts to extend his life on Earth indefinitely. /4

theevildex.bsky.social•10 days ago

If you want a fitting allegory to Thiel's efforts to en-lich himself, look to the Kings of Numenor when Sauron was whispering in their ears.

5/5

theevildex.bsky.social•10 days ago

Addendum: The danger of grafting your life to a narrative is that the story only reflects aspects of reality. It's a poor substitute for reality itself, regardless of the quality of your literature. But we do this all the damn time because we need meaning that much.

theevildex.bsky.social•10 days ago

The defense against our common myopia is to read more, to make our libraries bigger, to include more books.

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