Thinking clearly in a system-shaped world.
This portfolio examines how the systems around us shape what we value, how we act, and what we believe is possible. Whether it's a social norm or an algorithm, I look at how these forces influence our thinking—and how we can start to see them more clearly.
About
I’m Mac Carlton. I explore how the systems around us—technical, social, and psychological—shape how we think, what we value, and how we live.
My writing sits at the intersection of AI, philosophy, and behavior. I’m interested in how machine learning models reflect our minds, how incentives shape our choices, and how we can stay human in systems not built for reflection.
This blog is a way to make sense of those forces—through topics like attention, game theory, agency, and the strange feedback loops of modern life.
Featured Series
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Algorithms & Life
How computational thinking helps us understand growth, decisions, and complexity.
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Where Attention Goes
How attention shapes identity, behavior, and power in an age of infinite inputs.
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Outcomes May Vary
How strategic thinking, human behavior, and invisible rules shape the games we play — and the lives we lead.
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Performing for the Crowd: When Everyone Is Watching
When we live online, we perform. Platforms collapse all our audiences into one—and algorithms amplify what performs best.
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Why Governments Are Suboptimal Systems
And why real progress often feels impossible.
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