Metaphysical Inflation: A Critique of the Uncanny Valley

In this critique of modern philosophical writing, language philosopher Bry Willis challenges the notion that the uncanny—the sense of unease triggered by lifelike machines or biological anomalies—proves that humans possess a hidden belief in a non-mechanical soul. Using an AI-assisted dialogue, the author dismantles an article claiming that these psychological glitches reveal "cracks in our metaphysics" or a deep-seated rejection of physicalism. Willis argues that such theories rely on a flawed generalisation of subjective emotional responses, treating specific cultural or aesthetic reactions as universal truths about reality. He characterises these grand metaphysical claims as "unearned" and describes the phenomenon as a "Barnum Effect" tailored for an intellectual audience. Ultimately, the source suggests that feeling creeped out is merely a perceptual mismatch rather than evidence of a profound ontological crisis.👉 https://brywillis634737.substack.com/p/metaphysical-inflation