The hottest Philosophy Substack posts right now

And their main takeaways
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Top Philosophy Topics

The Journal of Dangerous Ideas

Secretum Secretorum • 808 implied HN points • 03 Feb 24
📖 Philosophy Ideas Journal Thought Morality Creativity
  1. The idea of dangerous ideas includes those that can harm the world, pose threats, or are inherently dangerous in various aspects like technology, science, or philosophy.
  2. The concept of 'white balls' representing beneficial ideas and 'black balls' representing pernicious ideas explores human creativity and the potential risks and benefits of various thought processes.
  3. The post challenges readers to consider whether pursuing dangerous ideas, like founding a Journal of Dangerous Ideas, is a bold approach worth taking or if it leads to unnecessary risks.

Deus Ex Machina

imetatronink • 1611 implied HN points • 09 Dec 23
📖 Philosophy Existence Ethics Reality Morality Perception
  1. The world is described as a place filled with engineered plagues and masks as symbols of love.
  2. There is a critique on society where the rich thrive and the poor are content with their circumstances.
  3. The text raises the idea that intelligence is now manufactured to serve human needs.

Aristotle vs the Stoics: part II, ethics

Figs in Winter: New Stoicism and beyond • 943 implied HN points • 12 Jan 24
📖 Philosophy Ethics Metaphysics Logic Psychology
  1. Stoics focused on practical philosophy of life, while Aristotle was more into theoretical inquiries.
  2. For Aristotle, a flourishing life required virtue and external goods, while for Stoics, virtue alone was sufficient.
  3. The ultimate goal of life for the Stoics was living in agreement with nature, while for Aristotle, it was a contemplative or politically involved life.
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Robot Philosophy

Egg Report • 569 implied HN points • 10 Feb 24
📖 Philosophy Metaphysics Reality Intelligence Time Logic
  1. In the realm of computation, complex statements can be broken down into simple ones, reflecting a mono-causal, universalist view of reality.
  2. Projects like AI and VR are attempts to recreate intelligence and reality, each carrying metaphysical claims about the simplicity and illusory nature of complexity.
  3. Engaging with computers and writing code trains individuals to think in a certain way, guiding them towards a robotic mindset and reinforcing metaphysical assumptions.

The Limits of Principles

Holly’s Newsletter • 2201 implied HN points • 22 Oct 23
📖 Philosophy Ethics Morality Beliefs Principles
  1. Questioning and re-evaluating personal principles is important for growth and understanding.
  2. In certain situations, sticking to principles might lead to negative consequences and reevaluation may be needed.
  3. Understanding the redefined concepts like 'intolerance' can lead to shifts in societal norms and values.

Managed decline

Logging the World • 418 implied HN points • 25 Feb 24
📖 Philosophy Narrative Luck Life lessons Career
  1. Spurious precision in quantifying data can lead to misleading conclusions. It's important to question the validity and relevance of highly specific measurements.
  2. Success in fields like sports, work, or academia is influenced by luck and chance. It's crucial to acknowledge these factors in evaluating performance and outcomes.
  3. Random events play a significant role in everyone's career. It's essential to maintain perspective during both highs and lows, understanding the impact of chance in long-term success.

Purpose Porn

thestoa • 687 implied HN points • 27 Jan 24
📖 Philosophy Purpose Meaning Self-help Critique
  1. Question the notion of having a predefined life purpose.
  2. Living without a defined purpose can lead to a more adventurous life.
  3. Avoid getting caught up in the societal pressure of constantly showcasing a sense of purpose.

Unpsyopable

thestoa • 589 implied HN points • 03 Feb 24
📖 Philosophy Conspiracy Theories Critical Thinking
  1. Psyops are techniques used to influence minds with varying degrees of transparency and deception.
  2. In today's world, psychological manipulation is pervasive, and being aware of it is crucial to personal sovereignty.
  3. Engaging in philosophical inquiry can help individuals become less susceptible to psyops and actively construct their reality.

Carl Jung’s Gnostic Revival, Abraxas, and the 20th Century Cult of Mithra (part 5)

Matt Ehret's Insights • 727 implied HN points • 17 Jan 24
📖 Philosophy Psychology Religion Cosmology Metaphysics
  1. Carl Jung saw himself as a Dionysian messiah and initiate of Mithra seeking to create a new religious order.
  2. Jung preferred Mithraism over Christianity for its nature worship and viewed Christianity as antagonistic towards the beauty of the world.
  3. Jung's involvement in promoting gnostic texts and psychedelics, as well as his influence on establishing a new spiritualism, reflects his desire to overthrow Christianity and establish a new gnostic religious order.

Full Automated Palestinian Luxury Communism from the River to the Sea?

Philosophy for the People w/Ben Burgis • 299 implied HN points • 04 Mar 24
📖 Philosophy Political theory
  1. The article discusses various political ideas such as worker's control of production, police and prison 'abolitionism', and fully automated luxury communism.
  2. It mentions the concept of a single democratic state in Israel/Palestine with equal rights 'from the river to the sea'.
  3. The post is only accessible for paid subscribers.

Leslie's Razors

The Ruffian • 835 implied HN points • 06 Jan 24
📖 Philosophy
  1. In philosophy, a \
  2. Have a bias towards ideas that have stood the test of time.
  3. When faced with choices, trust your past self over impulsive decisions.

The evolved functions of morality: From the Haidts to the depths.

ideassleepfuriously • 628 implied HN points • 24 Jan 24
📖 Philosophy Morality Evolutionary Psychology Altruism Social Sciences
  1. Morality is more than just virtue; it involves judgments of wrongness and desire for punishment.
  2. The explanation for morality may go beyond altruism and virtues, delving into darker aspects.
  3. Understanding moral judgments involves looking at nonconsequentialism, desire for punishment, impartiality, and presence of a victim.

Misanthropic uses of the nudge

Archedelia • 1533 implied HN points • 12 Nov 23
📖 Philosophy Ethics Morality Behavior Purpose
  1. Machine gambling terminals are designed to create addiction through behavior design.
  2. Players are absorbed into pseudo-action at slot machines, seeking a sense of control and zone of efficacy.
  3. The libertarian response to issues like machine gambling may overlook the impact of external forces and fail to address the need for regulation.

Coach Industrial Complex

thestoa • 727 implied HN points • 13 Jan 24
📖 Philosophy Self-help Spirituality Friendship Existentialism
  1. Approach the 'coach industrial complex' with cynicism and criticism due to toxic positivity and overpromising.
  2. There is a market demand for 'space holders' like coaches, therapists, and philosophical counselors.
  3. The coach industrial complex has the potential to improve interpersonal skills and lead to widespread positive regard without the need for paid services.

Don’t trust the vibes

Ada Yeo • 1631 implied HN points • 01 Nov 23
📖 Philosophy Truth-seeking
  1. Distrust memes that make you feel morally superior or good about yourself.
  2. Reason from first principles instead of relying on convention or intuition.
  3. Adopt a scout mindset by seeking truth and being open to discarding beliefs that don't work.

Meta-rational practices: Overview 1

Meaningness • 219 implied HN points • 09 Mar 24
📖 Philosophy Meta-rationality Norms Practices Reasoning
  1. Meta-rationality is different from traditional rationality and requires an open-ended inquiry and responsiveness to various contexts and purposes.
  2. Meta-rationality involves ongoing consideration of when and how to apply rationality, recognizing situations where rational methods may not be sufficient.
  3. The norms of reasonableness, rationality, and meta-rationality differ in terms of accountability, formal rules adherence, and responsiveness to context and purpose.

Immanuel Kant — Beauty

Ralph Ammer • 569 implied HN points • 20 Jan 24
📖 Philosophy Beauty Truth Knowledge
  1. Beauty leads us to truth and goodness according to Immanuel Kant.
  2. Our perceptions are structured by concepts inside our mind, creating our understanding of the world.
  3. Beauty is a relief from rational thinking, allowing us to enjoy the playful dance of our mind with the world.

Philosophy is the mathematics of language

Wood From Eden • 816 implied HN points • 23 Dec 23
📖 Philosophy Language Mathematics Concepts Logic Epistemology
  1. Philosophy is the art of clarifying concepts and finding links between them.
  2. Philosophy is similar to mathematics in that it explores relationships between concepts, just as mathematics explores relationships between numbers.
  3. Concepts in philosophy change over time, making it a field that evolves constantly unlike mathematics which is built on stable concepts.

Reclaiming Cornucopianism

Atlas of Wonders and Monsters • 627 implied HN points • 11 Jan 24
📖 Philosophy Innovation
  1. Cornucopianism suggests that human intellect and creativity can generate an abundance of resources and solutions.
  2. Malthusianism is the opposing viewpoint that argues there are limits to growth and resources on a finite planet.
  3. The metaphor of the cornucopia can be seen as a call for techno-optimists to embrace the idea of continuous progress and innovation.

A Defence of Hate

Becoming Noble • 2232 implied HN points • 01 Sep 23
📖 Philosophy Ethics Religion Identity Spirituality Morality
  1. Hatred, when directed at evil and not individuals, can be a powerful force for rejecting what is harmful.
  2. According to philosophers like Aquinas and Nietzsche, properly understanding and harnessing hatred involves recognizing its role in opposing evil.
  3. It's crucial to distinguish between hating evil actions and hating individuals, as the former is aligned with rejecting what is harmful while the latter can be destructive.

Me vs Huemer

David Friedman’s Substack • 341 implied HN points • 13 Feb 24
📖 Philosophy Epistemology Ethics Logic Bias Experts
  1. Consider forming opinions on controversial issues based on evaluating arguments rather than just trusting the experts
  2. Experts may not always have expertise in all aspects of an issue, so it's important to critically evaluate their arguments and not just rely on their authority
  3. It's crucial to judge both arguments and arguers, as bias and incentives can influence the opinions of experts in controversial topics

The Inner Life of the Future

The Joyous Struggle • 1106 implied HN points • 14 Nov 23
📖 Philosophy Metaphysics Spirituality Consciousness Existentialism Ethics
  1. The future for humanity is often viewed through the concept of 'the third attractor,' which aims to divert the default trajectories of collapse and dystopia.
  2. The third attractor represents a disposition not to give up on the future, encompassing diverse visionary ideas for societal transformation and renewal.
  3. Attention to the 'third reality,' encompassing the inner subjective experience, and the cultivation of spiritual sensibility, is crucial for envisioning and shaping a more sustainable and meaningful future.