Nolen Gertz
@ethicistforhire.bsky.social
Philosophy professor @utwentephilosophy.bsky.social
Author of #NihilismAndTechnology (RLI 2018), #Nihilism (MIT 2019), #PhilosophyOfWarAndExile (Palgrave 2014)
https://www.nolengertz.com
#Philsky #Philtech #Existentialism #Phenomenology #Filmsky
Author of #NihilismAndTechnology (RLI 2018), #Nihilism (MIT 2019), #PhilosophyOfWarAndExile (Palgrave 2014)
https://www.nolengertz.com
#Philsky #Philtech #Existentialism #Phenomenology #Filmsky
Pinned
Nolen Gertz
@ethicistforhire.bsky.social
· Dec 27
Nihilism and Technology, Updated Edition
Investigating how human values mediate the design and use of new technologies, the updated edition of Nolen Gertz’s Nihilism and Technology explores the ramifications of artificial intelligence. G...
rowman.com
Thread of things I wrote this year:
1) Updated edition of my #NihilismAndTechnology book with new chapters about why AI doesn't exist, why ChatGPT shouldn't exist, and why climate change can't be solved by nihilism...
rowman.com/ISBN/9781538...
1) Updated edition of my #NihilismAndTechnology book with new chapters about why AI doesn't exist, why ChatGPT shouldn't exist, and why climate change can't be solved by nihilism...
rowman.com/ISBN/9781538...
Me: "How did it feel to crush and recycle all your old Lego boxes?"
My son: "Not even the water of a thousand seas will cleanse the blood from my hands..."
My son: "Not even the water of a thousand seas will cleanse the blood from my hands..."
December 26, 2025 at 12:48 PM
Me: "How did it feel to crush and recycle all your old Lego boxes?"
My son: "Not even the water of a thousand seas will cleanse the blood from my hands..."
My son: "Not even the water of a thousand seas will cleanse the blood from my hands..."
The comments on this are all about how sweet it is and I feel insane. Using AI to make fake memories of your grandma with dementia and telling her they happened and then filming her reaction
December 26, 2025 at 11:56 AM
Can't wait to find out what God thinks of false idols...
December 26, 2025 at 9:00 AM
Can't wait to find out what God thinks of false idols...
Reposted by Nolen Gertz
Jewish Christmas mood:
December 25, 2025 at 5:11 PM
Jewish Christmas mood:
Definitely made the right choice getting my son an Escape Room advent calendar this year, even if it has now been left exploded all over the living room...
December 25, 2025 at 12:44 PM
Definitely made the right choice getting my son an Escape Room advent calendar this year, even if it has now been left exploded all over the living room...
Merry Christmas from Kierkegaard (derogatory) and from Nietzsche (laudatory)...
December 25, 2025 at 8:39 AM
Merry Christmas from Kierkegaard (derogatory) and from Nietzsche (laudatory)...
In case you're looking for a last minute Christmas gift...
December 24, 2025 at 7:49 PM
In case you're looking for a last minute Christmas gift...
Took my son to the Church of St. Nicholas today so I think I won Christmas...
December 24, 2025 at 7:10 PM
Took my son to the Church of St. Nicholas today so I think I won Christmas...
Reposted by Nolen Gertz
There is a genuine sadness to this era of tech. This IS the Rot Economy, and what you get when growth is all that matters. Every person defending LLMs is ultimately defending growth itself. It’s not about technology and hasn’t been for a long time. It’s about more things to sell and develop for.
December 24, 2025 at 5:36 AM
There is a genuine sadness to this era of tech. This IS the Rot Economy, and what you get when growth is all that matters. Every person defending LLMs is ultimately defending growth itself. It’s not about technology and hasn’t been for a long time. It’s about more things to sell and develop for.
Reposted by Nolen Gertz
There really is no justification for this company’s existence.
Her daughter was unraveling, and she didn’t know why. Then she found the AI chat logs.
A majority of teens are interacting with AI companions, and many of their parents have no idea.
www.washingtonpost.com
December 23, 2025 at 6:48 PM
There really is no justification for this company’s existence.
Reposted by Nolen Gertz
There is no ethical use of AI because the continued existence of the AI industry is directly harmful to (alongside everyone else) the interests of everyone whose labour makes books exist—writers of fiction & nonfiction, illustrators, translators, researchers, editors, everyone.
December 23, 2025 at 4:56 PM
There is no ethical use of AI because the continued existence of the AI industry is directly harmful to (alongside everyone else) the interests of everyone whose labour makes books exist—writers of fiction & nonfiction, illustrators, translators, researchers, editors, everyone.
I'm a sucker for the Enschede tradition of a community Christmas party at City Hall...
December 23, 2025 at 3:33 PM
I'm a sucker for the Enschede tradition of a community Christmas party at City Hall...
The Platonic ideal of a Trump era headline: "Trump is committing atrocities. But he's also doing something so dumb that you have to see it (click here) to believe it!"
President Trump has announced the Navy will begin building a new fleet of warships. And, a federal judge has ruled the deportations of more than 100 Venezuelan men to El Salvador were illegal. n.pr/4965AJD
Trump's plans for warship fleet. And, deported Venezuelans must receive due process
President Trump has announced the Navy will begin building a new fleet of warships. And, a federal judge has ruled the deportations of more than 100 Venezuelan men to El Salvador were illegal.
n.pr
December 23, 2025 at 12:50 PM
The Platonic ideal of a Trump era headline: "Trump is committing atrocities. But he's also doing something so dumb that you have to see it (click here) to believe it!"
People who hate Avatar 3: "It's like a dumb magic eye poster!"
People who love Avatar 3: "It's like a dumb magic eye poster!"
People who love Avatar 3: "It's like a dumb magic eye poster!"
Sorry but this shit is so funny
December 23, 2025 at 11:16 AM
People who hate Avatar 3: "It's like a dumb magic eye poster!"
People who love Avatar 3: "It's like a dumb magic eye poster!"
People who love Avatar 3: "It's like a dumb magic eye poster!"
Tech companies: "Students love AI!"
Students: "We hate AI!"
Tech companies: "Shut up everyone loves AI!"
Administrators: "Well you've convinced us, more AI please!"
Students: "We hate AI!"
Tech companies: "Shut up everyone loves AI!"
Administrators: "Well you've convinced us, more AI please!"
The ROI for tech companies in this scam is going to be absolutely massive. $23 million and they get to worm their way into classrooms.
AI has become the norm for students. Teachers are playing catch-up.
At a New York City training session, educators explored how artificial intelligence could support teaching while also discussing their concerns around the technology.
www.nbcnews.com
December 23, 2025 at 9:36 AM
Tech companies: "Students love AI!"
Students: "We hate AI!"
Tech companies: "Shut up everyone loves AI!"
Administrators: "Well you've convinced us, more AI please!"
Students: "We hate AI!"
Tech companies: "Shut up everyone loves AI!"
Administrators: "Well you've convinced us, more AI please!"
A student told me that it we wanted to get more new students we needed to get on TikTok and now I can see why...
www.instagram.com/reel/DSf66jB...
www.instagram.com/reel/DSf66jB...
De Twentsche Courant Tubantia on Instagram: "De meeste Amerikaanse toeristen in ons land bezoeken Amsterdam of Den Haag, maar Instagrammer Ben Stiteler (36) koos voor Enschede. Zijn video’s van de sta...
763 likes, 5 comments - tubantia_nl on December 20, 2025: "De meeste Amerikaanse toeristen in ons land bezoeken Amsterdam of Den Haag, maar Instagrammer Ben Stiteler (36) koos voor Enschede. Zijn vide...
www.instagram.com
December 23, 2025 at 9:05 AM
A student told me that it we wanted to get more new students we needed to get on TikTok and now I can see why...
www.instagram.com/reel/DSf66jB...
www.instagram.com/reel/DSf66jB...
Reposted by Nolen Gertz
Returning to Church Won’t Save Us from Nihilism:
Engaging in ritual for ritual’s sake only deepens nihilism.
by @ethicistforhire.bsky.social
Engaging in ritual for ritual’s sake only deepens nihilism.
by @ethicistforhire.bsky.social
Returning to Church Won’t Save Us from Nihilism
Engaging in ritual for ritual’s sake only deepens nihilism.
thereader.mitpress.mit.edu
December 22, 2025 at 9:03 PM
Returning to Church Won’t Save Us from Nihilism:
Engaging in ritual for ritual’s sake only deepens nihilism.
by @ethicistforhire.bsky.social
Engaging in ritual for ritual’s sake only deepens nihilism.
by @ethicistforhire.bsky.social
Reposted by Nolen Gertz
Read the original story and was really struck by it at the time (and not, BTW, with disgust.) A interesting and maybe cheerful update:
My last story of the year: an update on the woman who fell in love with ChatGPT.
www.nytimes.com/2025/12/22/t...
www.nytimes.com/2025/12/22/t...
December 22, 2025 at 6:48 PM
Read the original story and was really struck by it at the time (and not, BTW, with disgust.) A interesting and maybe cheerful update:
Reposted by Nolen Gertz
“‘My most daring idea is to refuse,’ she said to applause.”
Professor Warns That the Wealthy Are Trying to Use AI to Seize Control of Everything
Renowned sociologist Tressie McMillan Cottom says that AI is a tool for the rich to cement control over society.
futurism.com
December 21, 2025 at 1:03 PM
“‘My most daring idea is to refuse,’ she said to applause.”
🤢🤮☠️
December 21, 2025 at 11:25 PM
🤢🤮☠️
Reposted by Nolen Gertz
‘Psychoanalysis can help us better understand how the world, including our oppressors, works, and so what we might do about it, and them; and what wishes we might have for collective life, and which of these the reality principle demands we set aside.’
Amia Srinivasan:
www.lrb.co.uk/the-paper/v4...
Amia Srinivasan:
www.lrb.co.uk/the-paper/v4...
Amia Srinivasan · The Impossible Patient: Return of the Unconscious
You may not wish to commit yourself ontologically to some thing called the ‘unconscious’, and you may reasonably...
www.lrb.co.uk
December 21, 2025 at 9:41 AM
‘Psychoanalysis can help us better understand how the world, including our oppressors, works, and so what we might do about it, and them; and what wishes we might have for collective life, and which of these the reality principle demands we set aside.’
Amia Srinivasan:
www.lrb.co.uk/the-paper/v4...
Amia Srinivasan:
www.lrb.co.uk/the-paper/v4...
Reposted by Nolen Gertz
As everyone knows who has ever written a book or manuscript review, summarizing a text is essential work. It’s the first step of an analysis. If you haven’t summarized the text there is no way I believe that you have understood it.
Professional societies keep beclowning themselves buying into a lie about what an LLM "summary" is. They are inherently counterfeit: not an epistemic product of the ideas in the source, but summary-shaped text linguistically based on *other* works (in the training corpus) that use related language.
This is one of the reasons I remain horrified by seeing @historians.org suggest "ways to use gAI" that included this:
December 21, 2025 at 7:55 AM
As everyone knows who has ever written a book or manuscript review, summarizing a text is essential work. It’s the first step of an analysis. If you haven’t summarized the text there is no way I believe that you have understood it.