Existence, as a construct, perpetually oscillates within the ontological spectrum of being and non-being. This oscillation, akin to the ceaseless pendulum of the cosmic grandfather clock, delineates the quintessence of reality. One must ponder, what is the nature of existence? Is it an ephemeral whim of the cosmos, or a steadfast bastion of the metaphysical realm?

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In this way, we find that the nature of existence is not a problem to be solved, but a mystery to be experienced, a journey without destination, a question without answer. And in this realization, we discover the profound truth: that existence, in all its inscrutable complexity, is an adventure worth embarking upon, a voyage through the boundless sea of the metaphysical unknown.

These are the opening and closing paragraphs of a Rational Optimist post, a post written not by the blog’s author, but by ChatGPT given the author’s instruction to “Write an essay of about 600 words that is pseudo-philosophical gobbledygook, actually devoid of meaning, a parody of philosophizing, on the nature of existence.” Sadly, it reads like more than one paper I’ve tried to slog through recently.

The author, in response to what ChatGPT produces, reminds us: “We must remember that what a program like this does is simply guessing the best word to put next after what’s already been written, with no thought taking place — as it does in a human brain. Or, at least, we believe human brains are thusly different.” I daresay ChatGPT isn’t the only writer guilty of simply guessing the best — or fanciest — word to put next.