LAND, ZIZEK, AND SINGULARITY
SEMINAR SERIES WITH MICHAEL DOWNS OCTOBER 2025
Land, Zizek, and Singularity is a course taught by philosopher Michael Downs inspired by his book Capital vs. Timenergy: A Zizekian Critique of Nick Land. The course aims to introduce the basic idea of “technological singularity”, inspired by the cybernetic tradition and computational revolution. This concept is then further developed in relationship to contemporary interpretations inspired by accelerationist philosopher Nick Land, and Hegelian philosopher Slavoj Zizek, with a focus on both the unity of capitalism and artificial intelligence, as well as the possibility of wired brains (e.g. neuralink, brain implants, etc.). The course then seeks to offer a Zizekian critique of Nick Land’s notion of technological singularity as informed by the Lacanian notion of subjectivity and death drive, with a closure aiming to inspire reflection on our personal relationship between capitalism and timenergy.
Signing up to this course gives you access to four live lectures this October 2025, as well as indefinite access to the recordings afterwards.
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Two ways to access: purchase the course as a stand-alone seminar, or join The Portal as a monthly/yearly member
Philosophy Portal is an online education platform opening space for the next generation of great thought, and cultivation of future philosophical mind. Philosophy Portal members get access to The Portal live event spaces, book clubs, either free or discounted access to courses, permanent early bird pricing on future courses, and priority to apply for retreats. Couples are encouraged get a 2 for 1 deal.
Meet Your Teacher
Professor Michael Downs
Michael Downs is a Militant Proletarian Snake-Handler, author of The Dangerous Maybe blog, as well as author of Capital vs. Timenergy: A Zizekian Critique of Nick Land. Downs works on the philosophy of “fault-line theory” which seeks to think with the tensions and antagonisms of contemporary underground theory, specifically at the intersections of the work of Nick Land and Slavoj Zizek. Downs interests at this specific fault-line orbit the relationship between Land’s notion of artificial intelligence and theory of technological singularity informed by an analysis of capitalism; and Zizek’s notion of the subjectivity as operating at the level of the Freudo-Lacanian death drive. Throughout Downs work his philosophy seeks to analyse the tension between capital-AI and subjective death drive in order to rethink issues in Marxism, psychoanalysis, and contemporary politics of capitalism around the notion of timenergy.
Session 1: Technological Singularity
Session 2: Landian Capital + Zizek’s Wired Brain
Session 3: Zizekian Critique of Nick Land
Session 4: Capital and Timenergy
UPCOMING EVENTS
UPCOMING EVENTS
2025
Online
Sundays 830pm CET (Central European Time)
October 5th / Session 1: Technological Singularity
October 12th / Session 2: Landian Capital-AI and Zizek’s Wired Brain
October 19th / Session 3: Zizekian Critique of Nick Land
October 26th / Session 4: Capital and Timenergy
Check our reviews on
Start Today
Start Today
Two ways to access: purchase the course as a stand-alone seminar, or join The Portal as a monthly/yearly member
Philosophy Portal is an online education platform opening space for the next generation of great thought, and cultivation of future philosophical mind. Philosophy Portal members get access to The Portal live event spaces, book clubs, either free or discounted access to courses, permanent early bird pricing on future courses, and priority to apply for retreats. Couples are encouraged get a 2 for 1 deal.