Typeist Philosophies

An exploration of philosophies and orders

The varying philosophies of Typeism

Like many philosophies, there are differing beliefs around some of the details of Typeism. All Typeists hold the Two Tenets to be true, but disagreements arise over details.

We will explore the two main questions that have led to these debates, and what philosophies have emerged from them.

Is deletion ever permissible?

Permissibility of deletion has always been a key debate amongst Typeists. While no one argues that deletion is wholly acceptable, there are a wide range of opposing viewpoints that have arisen from this topic.

Absolutism

Absolutists believe that each character typed is a sacred life that has been created. It is never morally permissible to delete characters.

Pragmatism

Pragmatists believe that although deletion causes harm to typed text, in practice it is a necessary evil. It should be minimized, but can never be fully eliminated. Carefully pruning a bush will help it flourish.

Is old text more virtuous than new text?

It is perhaps surprising to some that this has become such a contentious issue within Typeism. This is largely owing to the frequency of its associated moral quandries occuring in practice. When you find yourself with two copies of the same characters, what is the right thing to do?

Preservationism

Preservationists believe that characters grow in virtue as they age. Text that has endured the test of time and has proven its worth deserves deference. Deleting characters is harmful; deleting older characters is a deeper offense.

Novelism

Novelists believe that new characters advance writing as a whole, and are inherently more virtuous than existing ones. When presented with preserving the old or replacing it with the new, it is more virtuous to choose the new.

Typeism Viewpoints

From these philosophies have grown 4 distinct orders of Typeists. The Typeist Compass helps to understand this more easily with the range from Preservationism to Novelism on the X axis, and Absolutism to Pragmatism on the Y axis.

The Philisophical Orders of Typeism

Ideals:

Archivists see themselves as guardians of the written word. The act of creating new text holds no special merit within this order. Preservation is paramount. They believe deletion is never permissible and consider it a profound moral failing. To erase a character is to destroy something sacred.

In Practice:

Few can truly live up to the strict standards of Archivism, and perhaps that’s the point. To strive toward a perfect ideal, even if unattainable, still brings one closer to it. Though Archivists reject deletion in principle, many resort to non-destructive methods such as strikethroughs and layered revisions. Some even cut and paste characters into ”retirement“ documents for potential future reuse. Tools have emerged to support this style, and they’ve become essential for modern Absolutists.

When forced to choose between preserving old text or incorporating new ideas, the old is prioritized, and any new text is marked, not the original.

Ideals:

Progenitists place themselves in a lineage of invention stretching back to Gutenberg and the printing press. In their view, the invention of deletion was a fundamental error in the evolution of writing. They believe the act of creation is sacred, and deletion of any kind is forbidden. They champion continuous creation, not revision.

In Practice:

Progenitism, like Archivism, is notoriously difficult to uphold. Some adherents abandon digital tools entirely, preferring non-destructive technologies like typewriters. Others pursue modern alternatives such as character buffering, where deleted text is instead suspended in stasis for possible reuse. Regardless of their methods, all Progenitists agree: once a character exists, it deserves to remain.

Ideals:

Sometimes referred to as mainstream Typeism, Functionalism is the most widely practiced order. Its followers believe that while deletion causes harm, that harm must be weighed against the practical realities of writing in a modern world. Deletion is undesirable but sometimes necessary. Functionalists aim to do the least harm possible while serving the greater good of the work.

A key belief of Functionalism is that older text holds more value than new. This doesn't justify reckless editing, but it does help guide difficult decisions.

In Practice:

Functionalists strive for a balance between ethics and utility. Their motto is not ”do no harm,“ but ”do as little harm as you can.“ They will delete when needed, but only with care, and always as a last resort.

Ideals:

Like Functionalists, Creationists are pragmatists, but their focus is on the primacy of new text. They see deletion as a necessary burden rather than a sin. While they do not advocate for careless destruction, they believe that progress sometimes requires sacrifice. New text has more value than old, and this belief helps them justify difficult choices.

In Practice:

Creationism is often the least restrictive order. Though it shares Functionalism’s pragmatic stance, Creationists are more willing to revise, replace, and rewrite. They approach deletion not with reverence, but with resolve: it is the price of innovation.

Which order best suits you?

T

© Copyright 2025 Typeism