Acid Communism: Philosopher Emma Stamm on Mark Fisher's Unfinished Manuscript, Capitalist Realism, the Slow Cancellation of the Future, Joe Rogan, Critical Theory, AI, and Life in Para-Academia

In 'Acid Communism', Mark Fisher explores the potential for a new left politics that combines elements of 1960s counterculture with contemporary social and political movements. The book draws inspiration from the Situationist International, psychedelic culture, and radical thinkers such as Herbert Marcuse. Fisher argues that the left needs to reclaim the utopian impulses of the 1960s and develop a new vision of a post-capitalist future. He critiques the cynicism and resignation that have become prevalent on the left, calling for a renewed sense of hope and possibility. The book offers a provocative and imaginative vision of a future where pleasure, freedom, and collective liberation are central.

In 'Gaia Wakes', Topher McDougall proposes an approach to integrate Artificial Intelligence with natural ecosystems, exploring the potential of AI in solving environmental issues. The book suggests new ways to use technology to enhance ecological balance. This book considers how humanity can leverage technology for the benefit of the planet.

In this groundbreaking work, Judith Lewis Herman places individual experiences of trauma within a political frame, drawing parallels between private horrors like child abuse and public horrors like war. The book details a three-stage sequence of trauma treatment and recovery: establishing safety, working through the trauma, and reconnecting with oneself and the world. Herman emphasizes the importance of community in healing and the need for a secure base for recovery. The book includes a new epilogue assessing changes in understanding and treating trauma over the last three decades.

Mark Fisher's "The Weird and the Eerie" is a collection of essays exploring the unsettling and uncanny aspects of contemporary culture. Fisher examines the ways in which the weird and the eerie manifest in art, film, and everyday life. He delves into the psychological and philosophical implications of these phenomena. The book is a compelling exploration of the anxieties and uncertainties of modern existence. Fisher's insightful analysis offers a unique perspective on the cultural landscape.

Adam Becker's "More Everything Forever" delves into the exaggerated promises and dangers surrounding AI, particularly those promoted by Silicon Valley figures. The book critiques the apocalyptic fears of superintelligent AI, arguing they are science fiction rather than scientific fact. Becker acknowledges AI's current value but highlights the overhyped capabilities and the troubling ideologies, such as eugenics, intertwined with AI rhetoric. He criticizes the focus on AI dominance over addressing real-world issues like climate change. Ultimately, the book warns against the potential for increased human misery and degradation resulting from unchecked AI development.

In 'Postscript on the Societies of Control', Gilles Deleuze examines the transition from disciplinary societies, characterized by rigid enclosures like prisons and factories, to societies of control, marked by fluid and continuous forms of surveillance and modulation. Deleuze argues that these societies operate through subtle mechanisms of control, often perceived as exercises of freedom, and are deeply intertwined with modern technology and capitalism.

Byung-Chul Han interprets the widespread malaise in modern society as an inability to manage negative experiences in an age characterized by excessive positivity and the universal availability of people and goods. He argues that the shift from a disciplinary society to an achievement society, where individuals are driven by self-monitoring and the desire to achieve, leads to auto-exploitation and burnout. Han draws on literature, philosophy, and the social and natural sciences to explore the consequences of sacrificing intermittent intellectual reflection for constant neural connection and the impact of hyperattention and multitasking on mental health and culture.

In this book, William MacAskill advocates for longtermism, the idea that positively influencing the long-term future is a key moral priority. He argues that future people count, there could be many of them, and we can make their lives better. MacAskill discusses various threats to humanity, including climate change, AI misalignment, and pandemics, and proposes strategies to ensure civilization's survival and improve its trajectory. The book explores moral and philosophical issues surrounding longtermism, including the risks of human extinction, civilizational collapse, and technological stagnation, while offering a measured optimism about the future's potential for human flourishing.

Walter Benjamin's "Theses on the Philosophy of History" is a concise yet profound work that critiques traditional historical narratives and offers a revolutionary approach to understanding the past. Benjamin challenges the linear and progressive view of history, arguing that it often serves to legitimize the status quo and obscure the experiences of the oppressed. He introduces the concept of 'historical materialism,' emphasizing the importance of material conditions in shaping historical events. The famous image of the 'Angel of History' powerfully captures the complexities of the past and its impact on the present. Benjamin's work has had a lasting influence on critical theory and historical studies.