J.D. Vance, who was selected as the Republican Party nominee for vice president, once panned disgraced former President Donald Trump’s promises as a kind of “opioid of the masses” and he has embraced an anti-democratic, anti-egalitarian, reactionary philosophy known as the “Dark Enlightenment” movement.
The Dark Enlightenment, a reactionary movement advocating for a return to pre-Enlightenment values and hierarchies, presents itself as a radical critique of modernity. However, upon closer examination, its propositions are not only regressive but also dangerous to the fundamental principles of equality, democracy, and human rights.
Real Americans should aim to dismantle the core tenets of Dark Enlightenment thinking by exposing its flaws and highlighting the inherent risks it poses to a just and progressive society.
The Republican campaign is raking in enormous checks from crypto billionaires, Big Oil executives, and now even Elon Musk himself —the richest person in the world— because Trump and Vance think that the American people can be bought. For more than four decades, US workers have been under assault in a class war in which almost nobody is fighting back.
The danger of Vance’s warped perspective should be obvious to freedom-loving Americans but here are several specific problems with his ideology.
First, the Dark Enlightenment’s romanticization of hierarchies and monarchies reveals a fundamental misunderstanding of historical progress. The movement’s proponents often cite the supposed stability and order of pre-Enlightenment societies as evidence of their superiority.
Vance has cited Curtis Yarvin, Rod Dreher, and Patrick Deneen as influences on his ideological views and describes himself as a member of the post-liberal right, whose adherents argue that America’s focus on individual rights and freedoms has undermined the importance of community, family, and tradition. On social issues, he has promoted ultra-conservative policies, opposing abortion, same-sex marriage, and gun control.
Vance’s philosophical influencers have expressed support for neo-nationalists in Europe, including Hungary’s Prime Minister Viktor Orbán, the French Front National politician Marion Maréchal-Le Pen, and neo-fascist Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni.
Yet, this view conveniently ignores the widespread oppression, lack of individual freedoms, and systemic injustices that characterized those eras. Feudal systems and absolute monarchies were built on the subjugation of the many for the benefit of the few, creating vast inequalities and stifling human potential.
The Enlightenment, with its emphasis on reason, science, and individual rights, was a crucial turning point that led to the development of democratic institutions and the recognition of universal human rights. To yearn for a return to pre-Enlightenment hierarchies is to disregard the immense progress humanity has made in achieving greater social justice and personal freedoms.
Harvard Law professor Charles Fried, who served from 1985 to 1989, as U.S. Solicitor General under President Ronald Reagan, claimed that Republicans are attempting a “slow-motion coup” and said he believed they are determined to repeal the 20th century.
Second, the Dark Enlightenment’s critique of democracy as inherently flawed and chaotic is fundamentally elitist and undemocratic. While it is true that democratic systems are not without their imperfections, they remain the best available means for ensuring that power is distributed fairly and that citizens have a voice in their governance.
The Dark Enlightenment’s preference for authoritarian rule and technocratic governance assumes that a select few are inherently more capable of ruling than the masses. This perspective not only undermines the principle of equality but also ignores the dangers of concentrated power, which historically has led to tyranny and abuse.
Democracy, with all its messiness, is a safeguard against despotism and a mechanism for accountability and change. Trump’s pick for vice president made a 180-degree turn from fierce critic to bulldog surrogate for the rapist and first ex-president convicted of a crime. This plasticity and disdain for fundamental American values makes Vance a dangerous person to entrust with power.
Third, the movement’s skepticism towards egalitarianism and its advocacy for a rigid social order reflect a deep-seated fear of change and diversity. The Dark Enlightenment’s proponents often argue that societal inequalities are natural and beneficial, fostering competition and innovation. However, this view overlooks the systemic barriers and discrimination that perpetuate inequality. True innovation and progress arise not from exclusion but from inclusivity, where diverse perspectives and talents can flourish. Societies that prioritize equality and social mobility are better equipped to harness the full potential of their citizens, leading to more sustainable and equitable development.
Furthermore, the Dark Enlightenment’s antagonism towards modernity and its achievements is fundamentally nihilistic. The movement’s rejection of Enlightenment values such as reason, empiricism, and progress is a rejection of the very foundations of modern civilization. Science and technology, products of the Enlightenment, have brought about unprecedented advancements in health, knowledge, and quality of life. The movement’s disdain for these achievements is a call to regress into ignorance and superstition. Embracing modernity means embracing the ongoing pursuit of knowledge, the application of reason to solve problems, and the continuous improvement of human society.
Finally, the Dark Enlightenment’s cultural and racial essentialism is both morally reprehensible and scientifically unfounded. The movement’s emphasis on preserving “traditional” cultural and racial hierarchies is a thinly veiled justification for bigotry and xenophobia. Such views have no basis in reality and serve only to sow division and conflict. Human history is a testament to the strength and resilience of diverse and multicultural societies. Our greatest achievements have come from cooperation and the blending of cultures and ideas. Rejecting this diversity in favor of a homogenous and exclusionary vision is not only ethically indefensible but also impractical in an increasingly interconnected world.
In conclusion, the Dark Enlightenment is a regressive and dangerous ideology that seeks to undermine the values of equality, democracy, and progress. Its romanticization of hierarchy, disdain for democracy, fear of diversity, rejection of modernity, and racial essentialism are antithetical to the principles that have driven human advancement. The future should be built on the foundations of inclusivity, reason, and progress, not on the archaic and oppressive structures of the past. It is imperative that we continue to champion the Enlightenment ideals that have brought about so much positive change and resist the siren call of reactionary thought.