I Finally
Understand the Motivations of Billionaires Like Musk and Bezos. It Still
Doesn’t Make Me Feel Any Better Long-termism is what fuels their businesses and
brains. What do the rest of us think of it?
EXPERT
OPINION BY NICK HOBSON, MANAGING DIRECTOR NORTH AMERICA, INFLUENCE AT WORK,
BEHAVIORAL SCIENCE ADVISER @NICKMHOBSON
JAN 7, 2024
elon-musk-jeff-bezos-inc-1341554748
Elon Musk
and Jeff Bezos.. Photo: Getty Images
Elon Musk
and Jeff Bezos, among the ultra-rich members of society, are as confounding as
they are controversial. It’s par for the course for anyone who reaches
multi-billionaire status. Recently, I uncovered insights into their motivations
and mindsets. It offers an understanding that sheds light on their decisions
and business dealings, but still, it raises concerns about what they value (and
what they don’t) and how that impacts the broader economy and society as a
whole.
In
conversation with John Cleese, Stephen Fry shed light on a philosophy that
drives the likes of Elon Musk and Jeff Bezos: long-termism. This view, as Fry
explains, is about envisioning humanity’s future over centuries. It considers
short-term crises like pandemics and climate change as minor hiccups in the
grand narrative of human evolution.
This
perspective offers a compelling lens through which to view the endeavors of
billionaire entrepreneurs. For Musk and Bezos, their space expeditions, under
the banner of human survival and progress, align with this long-termist view.
They present themselves as guardians of humanity’s future, pushing the
boundaries of space travel and technology. Yet, this visionary stance raises
questions about their engagement with present-day challenges.
Securing a
long-term future, but at what cost?
The allure
of long-termism for these titans lies in its grand narrative — a story where
their actions today are judged not by their immediate impact but by their
potential legacy centuries ahead. This conveniently sidesteps the ethical
complexities of their current business practices. Issues like labor concerns,
environmental impact, and societal inequalities, which demand urgent attention,
are overshadowed by the grandiose vision of colonizing Mars, creating a
multi-planetary human species, or building strong AI.
However,
Fry’s critique suggests a troubling aspect of this philosophy. By concentrating
solely on a distant utopia, immediate ethical responsibilities are blurred. If
the ultimate goal is humanity’s long-term survival and prosperity, do immediate
harms and ethical lapses get a free pass? This is the moral conundrum at the
heart of long-termism as practiced by these billionaires.
Show them
the money
The adoption
of long-termism serves a dual purpose for the world’s richest. It not only
garners the image of visionary leaders but also furthers their personal and
business interests. Under the guise of this philosophy, wealth accumulation and
market dominance are recast as necessary steps toward achieving their lofty
goals.
This
philosophical stance becomes a powerful tool for such influential figures. It
allows them to craft a narrative where their pursuit of wealth and power is not
just a personal ambition but a service to humanity’s future. As shown, it’s a
narrative that is fraught with moral ambiguity, regardless of whether people
like Musk and Bezos see it that way.
I for one am
not completely sold on the long-termism of these notorious billionaire
founders. Neglecting our present ethical obligations in the pursuit of a
speculative future should give pause for concern. We can and should celebrate
their successes because they are impressive, to be sure. But let’s also
question how they got there in the first place.
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