False idols
People used to worry about how others would speak their name, whether with admiration and envy, or with disdain and loathing. Even terrible moguls who would would bring thugs to menace peaceful activists worried and created philanthropic organizations to alter public perception. Reputation was the only kind of non-pious immortality available, though nowadays some billionaires believe otherwise, forsaking whatever any pretense of bettering society. The prospect of living forever has gripped the imagination of the ultra-rich, and has bolstered the idea that democracy with its hordes of lowly, disposable mortals is something which threatens them (also known as 'public choice theory' per James McGill Buchanan). Technological shortcomings notwithstanding, the promise of never-ending life makes the already exaggerated hubris and ambition of the top 1% even more dangerous by uniting them together with the singular vision of becoming gods.
Research Bill Maris of Google Ventures, Peter Thiel of Paypal, the Koch brothers, and James McGill Buchanan. Much credit for this goes to the enlightening writings of George Monbiot and Maciej Ceglowski.
Research Bill Maris of Google Ventures, Peter Thiel of Paypal, the Koch brothers, and James McGill Buchanan. Much credit for this goes to the enlightening writings of George Monbiot and Maciej Ceglowski.