Nick Land and a Jouney Through Fanged Noumena

Introduction

Nick Land's work is characterized by a departure from the formal conventions of academic writing, embracing a wide range of influences from futurism, technoscience, philosophy, mysticism, numerology, complexity theory, and science fiction, among others​1​. This approach and his unorthodox philosophical interests often caused a stir in academic circles. Land began his career as a lecturer in Continental Philosophy at the University of Warwick, where he co-founded the Cybernetic Culture Research Unit (CCRU), an interdisciplinary research group that experimented with conceptual production​1​.

Land's early work has been tied to the development of speculative realism and the political philosophy of accelerationism, an idea resembling that of the "fatal strategy" of "ecstasy" in the earlier work of Jean Baudrillard, where "a system is abolished only by pushing it into hyperlogic, by forcing it into an excessive practice which is equivalent to a brutal amortization"​1​. His work during this period is characterized by radical rereadings of various philosophers and the development of futuristic theory-fiction. His writings explored a variety of themes, often in combination, such as cybercapitalism, Ballardian fictions, poetics, cryptography, anthropology, grammatology, and the occult​2​.

One of Land's celebrated concepts is "hyperstition," a portmanteau of "superstition" and "hyper." Hyperstitions are ideas that, once "downloaded" into the cultural mainframe, engender apocalyptic positive feedback cycles. In other words, they are ideas that function causally to bring about their own reality, a sort of self-fulfilling prophecy in the arena of culture​1​.

In the later part of his career, Land developed the anti-egalitarian and anti-democratic ideas that would form the basis of the neo-reactionary movement and the Dark Enlightenment philosophy​1​. Land's Dark Enlightenment philosophy opposes egalitarianism and is sometimes associated with the alt-right or other far-right movements. He believes that democracy restricts accountability and freedom​1​.

Land has been a controversial figure due to his provocative philosophical vision, which some describe as "rabid nihilism," "mad black Deleuzianism," and "cybergothic"​2​, as well as his later connection to alt-right movements and his development of the Dark Enlightenment philosophy. His influence, however, extends beyond philosophy to other cultural producers such as writers, artists, musicians, and filmmakers, who have been invigorated by his uncompromising and abrasive philosophical vision​2​.

As of 2017, Land was residing in Shanghai​1​, and his writings continue to generate discussion and controversy in philosophical circles and beyond.

Land's Philosophical Journey

Land started his philosophical journey as a lecturer at the University of Warwick, where he was a part of the Cybernetic Culture Research Unit (CCRU). However, his radical ideas and unconventional teaching style led to his departure from academic philosophy, after which he resided in Shanghai as of 2017

Land's work can be broadly divided into two stages. The early stage, characterized by radical reinterpretations of philosophers like Heidegger, Nietzsche, Kant, and Bataille, presents concepts and theories related to techno-capitalist acceleration. The later stage is marked by a more elusive approach, with Land's writing blending various disciplines and ideas into enigmatic combinations, such as Ballardian fictions, poetics, cryptography, anthropology, grammatology, and the occult

'Fanged Noumena': A Deep Dive into Land's Philosophy

'Fanged Noumena', a collection of Land's writings from 1987 to 2007, offers a comprehensive look at the evolution of Land's philosophical thought. The book takes the reader on a dizzying journey through Land's mind, showcasing his unique work that has been variously described as “rabid nihilism,” “mad black deleuzianism,” and “cybergothic” The writings in 'Fanged Noumena' mirror the development of Land's work, starting from his early radical reinterpretations of renowned philosophers to his later, more cryptic writings. The collection includes some pieces that have never been previously published, adding further depth and complexity to our understanding of Land's philosophy. By the end, the book paints an image of Land's philosophy as a futuristic theory-fiction of cybercapitalism gone wild, with various disciplines merged into unrecognizable hybrids

Conclusion

Nick Land remains a figure of intrigue and controversy in contemporary philosophy. While his unconventional views and methods have led to his estrangement from academic philosophy, his influence is undeniable. 'Fanged Noumena' serves as a testament to his unique philosophical vision, offering a provocative exploration of the depths of philosophical and cultural thought.