Essay revisits free will versus determinism in materialist philosophy
A philosophy-focused essay argues that mainstream tech culture favors a narrow strain of utilitarian thinking associated with Bay Area rationalists, while sidelining broader philosophical inquiry. The author instead explores classic questions about free will and existence, noting that strict scientific determinism—if true—would undercut the basis for morality and personal responsibility.
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The piece suggests that tech communities' preference for a single philosophical framework may narrow the range of ethical reasoning applied to issues like AI, though this is the author's own characterization rather than a documented trend. The free will argument illustrates a long-standing tension between deterministic physical models and everyday moral intuitions, which could inform how people think about accountability in automated or algorithmic systems.
- The essay critiques 'edgelord utilitarianism' as the dominant philosophy in tech circles.
- It contrasts the lived experience of free will with deterministic scientific materialism.
- It argues that full determinism would remove the basis for morality and blame.
Source: blog.coredump.cx, 2026-10-03
Published there as: “Haunted by the ghosts of materialism”
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