Curtis Yarvin, a former software engineer turned advocate of neo-monarchism, has become a notable figure in recent political discourse.
Yarvin argues that American democracy has reached a dead end and should be succeeded by a system centered on singular authority. His ideas have gained traction among influential conservative circles, reportedly resonating with figures such as Marc Andreessen, Peter Thiel, and JD Vance. Since President Trump's re-election, his profile has increased in mainstream conversations.
On Monday evening, Yarvin appeared at the core of what he refers to as 'the Cathedral,' a term he uses to describe the elite intellectual institutions shaping society.
Addressing an audience of about 100 at Harvard's faculty club, Yarvin began by thanking Harvard University before quickly correcting himself to say, 'I mean, the school where we are.'
He had come to debate Danielle Allen, a distinguished Harvard political theorist and advocate for democracy. The announcement of the event sparked debate itself, with some questioning why Allen would engage with such a controversial figure, while others eagerly secured the limited tickets.
Organizers and the university press office were careful to clarify that the debate was not an official Harvard event. It was hosted by Passage Publishing, the publisher of Yarvin's recent book, 'Gray Mirror: Fascicle 1, Disturbance,' alongside the John Adams Society, a conservative student group at Harvard that describes itself as committed to the 'reinvention of man.'
