Coding

Coding is often seen as a purely technical skill—a matter of syntax and logic. But at a deeper level, it is an act of philosophy. It is ontology engineering.

When we write code, we are defining a world. We decide what objects exist, what properties they have, and how they interact. We are the gods of these digital microcosms.

The logic of code mirrors the logic of thought. It teaches us rigorous thinking. It forces us to confront ambiguity and resolve it. A computer does not do what you want it to do; it does exactly what you tell it to do. In this way, code is a merciless mirror, reflecting the clarity or confusion of our own minds.

But there is also an aesthetic dimension to code. There is elegance in a well-crafted algorithm, beauty in a clean architecture. Coding is a creative medium, as expressive as paint or prose.

As software eats the world, the decisions we make in our text editors have rippling effects across society. To code is to wield power. And with that power comes the responsibility to build systems that reflect our highest values.