American billionaire Peter Thiel, a libertarian tech figure, has been invited to speak in closed session at the Academy of Moral and Political Sciences in Paris. Invited by philosopher Chantal Delsol, he is set to discuss the Antichrist before a working group on the future of democracy. This visit, kept secret until the last moment, is stirring reactions within the institution.
Peter Thiel, co-founder of PayPal and Palantir Technologies, a giant in data analysis for governments, has arrived in Paris for an unusual intervention. Invited by Catholic philosopher Chantal Delsol, who supports the union of the right and far right, he will speak on Monday, January 26, in closed session at the quai de Conti, home of the Academy of Moral and Political Sciences.
This visit is causing a stir. The working group, chaired by former minister Hervé Gaymard, is examining the future of democracy and has already heard from 25 French personalities, mainly jurists, political scientists, and historians. Thiel, known for challenging democratic principles, brings a transgressive perspective to these discussions.
Even the chancellor of the Institut de France, Xavier Darcos, was informed only at the last moment. A lunch with Foreign Minister Jean-Noël Barrot did not appear on the official agenda. This discretion highlights the controversial nature of the invitation, as Thiel is one of the largest tech investors in the United States.
The intervention focuses on the Antichrist, a theme that questions moral and political foundations in the context of democratic reflection.
