That's an interesting video I found on Youtube: Watch it!
Samia Hurst is one of (I guess) very very few philosophers who played an important and influential role in the government response to the Covid-19 pandemic, at the highest level. It is revealing how she brings her experience to bear on the question of how to respond to the video of Elon Musk raising his arm in a way that looks like a fascist salute.
The text below the video reads: "We all saw what he did. Of course he knew what he was doing, that's the point."
Does it matter?
What does deciding to think Elon Musk is a fascist involve? According to some views I think have at least some plausibility, it could entail at least some of the following:
- It would be ok to kill Elon Musk or, at least, we should rejoice his killing, and support it in any way we can.
- Elon Musk should be silenced, by long-term incarceration, not giving the opportunity to write something like "Mein Kampf", as the Economist recommends (in retrospect) for Hitler: https://econ.st/4jJOINF.
- Elon Musk's businesses should be outlawed and branded criminal, if not terrorist, organisations; no one should be allowed to do businesses with them, their money fall under money-laundering regulations and their (and his) fortunes seized by the authorities.
Just to say that this is not inconsequential. Say what you think in the comments or submit a reply...
A Proposal
Personally, I find it more productive, than discussing whether he's a fascist (there's no generally accepted definition), to argue about what we should do with him. The German band "Von Wegen Lisbeth" tell how the (famous) bouncers of the (famous) Berlin club "Berghain" do not let him in - just because he is not cool. This, I think, is something we can all agree on.
Von Wegen Lisbeth, "Elon", on "EZ Aquarii" (2022)
