The hottest Philosophy Substack posts right now

And their main takeaways
Category
Top Philosophy Topics

Greatness or Virtue

Fake NoΓ»s β€’ 289 implied HN points β€’ 21 Jun 25
πŸ“– Philosophy Ethics Moral Philosophy Human nature Social theory Personal Development
  1. Many people prioritize success over being virtuous, which shows how we often chase fame and wealth instead of moral goodness.
  2. We tend to measure our moral worth by comparing ourselves to those who are worse, rather than aiming for the best examples of virtue.
  3. While personal success is valuable, true moral respect comes from being virtuous, not just successful; it's important to aim for both.

Adverse Selection by Life Saving Charities

Optima & Outliers β€’ 39 implied HN points β€’ 11 Jul 24
πŸ“– Philosophy Ethics Social contract Moral Philosophy
  1. Life-saving charities often focus on minimizing costs per life saved, which can lead to overlooking the quality of life in poorer countries. Simply saving the cheapest lives doesn't account for how much those lives might suffer.
  2. Saving lives in low-income countries often involves addressing symptoms of deeper issues related to poor governance and societal conditions. These issues make it easier to save lives but often result in a lower quality of life.
  3. It's important to consider both present and future quality of life when deciding where to allocate resources for life-saving efforts. Countries with better governance and prospects for improvement may yield better outcomes for saved lives.
Get a weekly roundup of the best Substack posts, by hacker news affinity:

Rethinking Collapse

God's Spies by Thomas Neuburger β€’ 236 implied HN points β€’ 23 Jul 25
πŸ“– Philosophy Social theory Political theory Human nature Cultural criticism Historical Analysis
  1. Collapse doesn't always mean disaster; it can open up new possibilities for more humane living. Instead of seeing it as a loss, we might see it as a chance to rebuild society better.
  2. There are different ways to bring about change: peaceful methods through elections, forceful overthrow, or natural system collapse. Each method carries its own risks and potential benefits.
  3. The idea of civilization has often been romanticized, but collapsing big structures can allow communities to thrive independently, leading to a simpler, yet more supportive way of life.

The Asymmetry of Destruction

Passing Time β€’ 267 implied HN points β€’ 29 Jun 25
πŸ“– Philosophy Ethics Metaphysics Epistemology Social theory Political Philosophy
  1. Creating something takes time, teamwork, and skill. It's a careful process that can easily fall apart with just one mistake.
  2. Destroying things is much easier and faster than creating them. Just a small action can ruin a whole system while building it requires collaboration and effort.
  3. In life and politics, it's often harder to prove false claims than to spread them. We need more people focused on building a better future instead of just tearing down what's there.

Introducing The McGilchrist Manoeuvre

The Joyous Struggle β€’ 474 implied HN points β€’ 01 Mar 23
πŸ“– Philosophy Reality Perspective Metaphysics Perception
  1. The McGilchrist Manoeuvre highlights the importance of acknowledging the different but equally valuable perspectives of the right and left hemispheres of the brain.
  2. It emphasizes the relative trustworthiness of the right hemisphere's viewpoint in guiding us on understanding reality and making progress in philosophy.
  3. The maneuver involves transcending contradictions and recognizing the generative nature of coinciding opposites, ultimately enriching our perception and understanding of complex aspects of life.

Why Going with Our Gut is Not Enough: Critical Thinking and the Art of Mindfulness

Humanities in Revolt β€’ 319 implied HN points β€’ 21 Dec 23
πŸ“– Philosophy Critical Thinking Mindfulness Interpretation Intellectual humility
  1. Our thoughts shape our world: The power of critical thinking and mindfulness is evident in how our thoughts influence our experiences and actions.
  2. Mindfulness over gut reactions: While automated thinking can be useful, critical thinking requires self-awareness to assess situations, especially new and unfamiliar ones.
  3. Interpretation and critical thinking: Understanding how interpretation and inference impact our understanding of the world is crucial for developing critical thinking skills and constructing meaningful beliefs.

Will you explain anarchism to me?

The Novelleist β€’ 781 implied HN points β€’ 07 Nov 24
πŸ“– Philosophy Political theory Ethics Social movements Anarchism Utopianism
  1. Anarchism is about creating a society without centralized power or authority. It acknowledges that people might still try to gain power, but the goal is to build a culture that resists such authority.
  2. There are questions about how to protect communities striving for anarchy while facing external threats. People are thinking about ways to create temporary spaces of freedom and coordinate efforts across different regions.
  3. For anarchism to flourish, there needs to be a shared global sentiment among people. It’s essential to imagine what an anarchist society could look like, as this vision can help guide the movement.

2.5 RenΓ© Descartes

Fields & Energy β€’ 259 implied HN points β€’ 17 Jan 24
πŸ“– Philosophy History Logic Metaphysics Epistemology Ethics
  1. RenΓ© Descartes believed science is connected and trying to find one truth could help explain other truths. He thought this truth came from the 'infinite perfections of God.'
  2. He had some important ideas in physics, like how light bends and motion is conserved. However, some of his ideas turned out to be wrong, showing that science takes time to improve.
  3. Descartes thought that studying nature could help humans control it, but his methods sometimes lacked support from experiments. He lived a relaxed life, which changed when he had to teach in Sweden and sadly got pneumonia.

The Thing About Change

Insight Axis β€’ 434 implied HN points β€’ 19 Oct 23
πŸ“– Philosophy Change Acceptance Fear Pain Growth
  1. Change is often accompanied by pain, and that's okay. Accepting the pain is crucial for growth.
  2. To make a change, it's important to follow your fear, as it can show you where you need to grow.
  3. Embodying change means accepting the discomfort and fear, knowing they do not define you.

Can One Become a Different Person?

Justin E. H. Smith's Hinternet β€’ 691 implied HN points β€’ 08 Dec 24
πŸ“– Philosophy Identity Metaphysics Memory Existentialism Anthropology
  1. People can feel like they've transformed into a new version of themselves, much like a caterpillar becoming a butterfly. This change can be exciting, but it also makes them reflect on their past identities.
  2. Memories play a key role in how we see ourselves and maintain our identity over time. Even when we go through tough experiences, like illness, we hold on to memories that connect us to who we were.
  3. The idea of being a person isn't as fixed as it seems; we shift and change over time. It's natural for us to evolve and take on new roles, much like actors changing characters in a play.

You live in a world that philosophy built

Trevor Klee’s Newsletter β€’ 3283 implied HN points β€’ 18 Mar 23
πŸ“– Philosophy Science Society History Knowledge Ethics
  1. The Catholic Church venerated Aristotle and opposed Galileo because they trusted ancient philosophy over new scientific ideas.
  2. Living in a world where science evolves, we give more weight to current evidence than ancient texts or philosophers.
  3. Lessons from history remind us of the importance of valuing empirical evidence over established theories.

The Sigmoidal Moral Value Function

Bet On It β€’ 191 implied HN points β€’ 05 Aug 25
πŸ“– Philosophy Ethics Morality Behavior Relationships Science
  1. The effects of radiation don't work in a straight line. At low levels, the harm is minimal and at high levels, they can be dangerously lethal. Instead, the impact follows an S-shaped curve.
  2. Just like spending time with kids has diminishing returns, relationships also follow a similar sigmoidal pattern. A little time can have no effect, but after a certain point, more time won't significantly improve the bond.
  3. This S-shape model isn't just for science; it also applies to moral beliefs and our feelings about pain, hinting that our moral intuitions might follow similar patterns as seen in nature and relationships.

Essay Club: The Humanitarian Theory of Punishment by C. S. Lewis

Mind & Mythos β€’ 339 implied HN points β€’ 02 Dec 23
πŸ“– Philosophy Ethics Justice Humanism Legal theory Literary Criticism
  1. C. S. Lewis argues that punishment should be based on what a person deserves, rather than just trying to deter others or cure the criminal. This is important for justice to exist.
  2. When punishment is only about deterrence or cure, it can lead to abusing people as mere tools for society's goals, rather than treating them as individuals with rights.
  3. Lewis warns that a system focused just on helping or fixing people can end up being very oppressive, especially if those in power ignore the concept of what someone deserves for their actions.

Thinking Harder About Justice: Rawls vs. Cohen vs. Marx (UNLOCKED)

Philosophy for the People w/Ben Burgis β€’ 758 implied HN points β€’ 08 Jan 23
πŸ“– Philosophy Political Philosophy Socialism Marxism Justice Inequality
  1. Marxist philosopher G.A. Cohen criticizes John Rawls's theory of justice from the left
  2. Cohen's idea of 'socialist equality of opportunity' aims to correct inequalities linked to factors beyond an individual's control
  3. Rawls and Cohen may be in a semantic dispute about the term 'justice', but both their perspectives are important in highlighting existing injustices and guiding future progress

Don't Cancel Zizek (UNLOCKED)

Philosophy for the People w/Ben Burgis β€’ 738 implied HN points β€’ 15 Jan 23
πŸ“– Philosophy Criticism Ideology Ethics Debate Thought
  1. The distinction between 'analytic' and 'continental' philosophy, with analytic focused on clarity and precision, while continental is more diverse and broader in scope.
  2. Slavoj Ε½iΕΎek's work blends insights from various fields like Lacanian psychology, Hegelian idealism, and Marxist materialism, making him a unique and thought-provoking thinker.
  3. Critics of Ε½iΕΎek often take his provocative statements out of context, leading to misunderstandings of his views, but his work remains engaging and intellectually stimulating.

Time Travel Loops, Causation, and the Cosmological Argument for the Existence of God

Philosophy for the People w/Ben Burgis β€’ 439 implied HN points β€’ 28 May 23
πŸ“– Philosophy Time travel Causation
  1. Causal loops, infinite chains, and finite ones can be difficult for our minds to understand. It raises questions about how we can draw conclusions about external reality.
  2. Time travel movies often don't make sense when characters travel back to their own universe's past. This can lead to logical inconsistencies and confusion for viewers.
  3. The post discusses the concept of consistent time travel and the effects of actions happening before they are actually taken, raising intriguing points about the nature of time and causality.

Analytical Marxism in the 1990s

Philosophy for the People w/Ben Burgis β€’ 219 implied HN points β€’ 04 Feb 24
πŸ“– Philosophy Marxism Class politics Identity politics
  1. Analytical Marxism in the 1990s is a topic that explores the book 'Reconstructing Marxism' by Wright, Levine & Sober from 1992.
  2. There is a need to think beyond the authors' perspective to move away from left identitarianism and reconstruct class politics.
  3. The discussion emphasizes the importance of delving deeper into the complexities of these concepts for a more nuanced understanding.

Hume in Hell (UNLOCKED)

Philosophy for the People w/Ben Burgis β€’ 758 implied HN points β€’ 01 Jan 23
πŸ“– Philosophy History Religion Ethics Morality Free will
  1. David Hume's essays on suicide and the afterlife delve into questioning common beliefs even when granting believers' core premises.
  2. Hume challenges the concept of suicide as a sin against God, arguing that humans cannot disrupt God's plan or transgress against it through suicide.
  3. The essays lead to a broader reflection that morality should be grounded in human considerations, not divine commands, opening up a secular perspective in philosophy.

The Philosopher's Tarot: Nietzsche vs. Nihilism

Outlandish Claims β€’ 79 implied HN points β€’ 21 May 24
πŸ“– Philosophy Nihilism Tarot Philosophical Concepts Mythology
  1. Tarot can be used as a tool for generating random writing prompts and exploring philosophical concepts.
  2. Nietzsche, often associated with nihilism, actually aimed to lead people beyond nihilism towards new values and freedom.
  3. Nietzsche's philosophy is often misunderstood due to misinterpretations and misappropriations by others, like the Nazis.

Two Theories of Governmental Legitimacy

Contemplations on the Tree of Woe β€’ 1628 implied HN points β€’ 07 Feb 24
πŸ“– Philosophy Government Legitimacy Revolution Divine Sovereignty
  1. The legitimacy of government is crucial for its stability and acceptance by the populace.
  2. The two main theories of governmental legitimacy are the mandate of heaven and the mandate of the people.
  3. The right of revolution is a fundamental aspect of both theories, with differing justifications and implications.

Nietzschean Morality, Criminal Impulses, Inequality

Rob Henderson's Newsletter β€’ 814 implied HN points β€’ 22 Oct 24
πŸ“– Philosophy Ethics Morality Social Status Inequality
  1. Nietzsche's ideas challenge traditional views of morality. They encourage looking at morality from a different perspective.
  2. Understanding criminal impulses can help us find ways to address crime more effectively. Therapy might be one of the options to consider.
  3. Reducing inequality might be as simple as increasing work opportunities. Encouraging people to work more could lessen social gaps.

Notes on Power, Seduction, Mastery, Strategy, and Human Nature

Rob Henderson's Newsletter β€’ 795 implied HN points β€’ 27 Oct 24
πŸ“– Philosophy Power Mastery Strategy Human nature
  1. Understanding power dynamics can help you navigate social situations better. It's good to be aware of how influence works between people.
  2. Mastery in any skill requires consistent practice and strategy. Putting in the effort over time will lead to improvement.
  3. Human nature is complex, and understanding it can help you relate better to others. Being empathetic goes a long way in connecting with people.

Two visions of ultrafinitism intricately intertwined

Infinitely More β€’ 25 implied HN points β€’ 29 Dec 25
πŸ“– Philosophy Logic Ontology Epistemology History
  1. There are two ultrafinitist views: one posits a largest natural number, and the other accepts successor, addition, and multiplication as total but not exponentiation.
  2. Model theory tightly connects them: truncations of bounded-induction models produce finite-arithmetic models, and every finite-arithmetic model can be seen as a truncation of some bounded-induction model.
  3. Each finite-arithmetic model has a unique smallest extension to a bounded-induction model that makes addition and multiplication fully determined, so the two approaches end up sharing the same semantic landscape.

Electrons, Alternate Universes, and the Ontological Commitments of Physics: A Handy Guide to Hossenfelder vs. Goff

Philosophy for the People w/Ben Burgis β€’ 319 implied HN points β€’ 03 Dec 23
πŸ“– Philosophy Physics Ontology Debate Twitter Ethics
  1. Philosopher Philip Goff and physicist Sabine Hossenfelder concluded their Twitter debate on electrons and alternate universes.
  2. The discussion highlights the intersection of philosophy and physics in understanding ontological commitments.
  3. The resolution between Goff and Hossenfelder signifies an end to the Great Electron Twitter War of 2023.

Cosmic Game

Seven Senses β€’ 259 implied HN points β€’ 06 Jan 24
πŸ“– Philosophy Existentialism Mindfulness Meditation Hope Self-reflection
  1. Entering a new year can bring excitement and a sense of renewal. It's important to embrace the feeling of possibility without holding onto specific expectations.
  2. Life is a mix of experiences, both good and bad. Instead of labeling years as 'hard' or 'good', it's better to appreciate the in-between moments that make up our daily lives.
  3. Showing up with clarity and hope while letting go of control can lead to a more fulfilling year. Embrace life's surprises and focus on your intentions without strict plans.

1/(Effective Altruism)

Philip’s Newsletter β€’ 41 implied HN points β€’ 13 Dec 25
πŸ“– Philosophy Ethics Moral theory Altruism Moral Psychology Decision Theory
  1. Effective Altruism often treats distant and future lives as equally important, but it can also make sense to discount impact by distance and time and prioritize helping those nearest to you.
  2. If many people are giving, focusing on nearby recipients can increase measurable impact and coordination because local help reduces uncertainty and leads to better collective outcomes.
  3. Caring more about people close to you can support social stability and cooperation, and regardless of strategy, giving more generally benefits both recipients and the giver.

Susan Wolf's Critique of Moral Saints

Philosophy for the People w/Ben Burgis β€’ 159 implied HN points β€’ 11 Mar 24
πŸ“– Philosophy Ethics
  1. Susan Wolf argues against the ideal of moral saintliness, suggesting it may not be practical or necessary for everyone.
  2. Most people will not achieve moral sainthood, and that's okay because it's an unattainable level of perfection.
  3. While being a moral saint may be unattainable, striving for greater moral virtue could lead to a better society overall.

From Propriety to Extremism

Doc Hammer's Anvil β€’ 216 implied HN points β€’ 29 Jan 24
πŸ“– Philosophy Morality Behavior Reality Mental Illness Social norms
  1. Mental illness isn't necessary for spiraling into extremism, but it can play a role in exacerbating the process.
  2. Human judgment of behavior is based on societal norms and personal perceptions of propriety, praise-worthiness, blame-worthiness, reward-worthiness, and punishment-worthiness.
  3. Low costs and high benefits can lead to purity spirals, where society's expectations become more demanding, driving behavior towards extremism.

The Room and Matt Christman

De Pony Sum β€’ 412 implied HN points β€’ 27 Sep 23
πŸ“– Philosophy Existentialism Ethics Morality Politics Metaethics
  1. Matt Christman deserves appreciation for his understanding of societal injustices and the need for change.
  2. The analogy of a room with limited democracy, resources, healthcare, and foreign policy mirrors the inequalities present in the world.
  3. The message conveyed by Christman emphasizes the importance of solidarity, shared humanity, and the power to create a better world.

The Ethics of Meaning-Making

Breaking Smart β€’ 41 implied HN points β€’ 04 Dec 25
πŸ“– Philosophy Ethics Meaning Narrative Complexity Virtue
  1. Meaning-making can be dangerous when it becomes rigid and does not accept uncertainty. It can lead to harmful narratives that ignore the needs and experiences of others.
  2. Ethical frameworks are essential for guiding our understanding of meaning. They help us not to let our personal viewpoints distort the reality of situations.
  3. It's important to embrace some uncertainty in our search for meaning. This allows us to keep our perspectives flexible and open, preventing us from becoming extreme in our beliefs.

Reflections on Ethical Vegetarianism, Part 2

Bet On It β€’ 191 implied HN points β€’ 23 Jul 25
πŸ“– Philosophy Ethics Logic Metaphysics Value theory Critical Thinking
  1. Many people find ethical vegetarian arguments hard to understand. This might be because philosophy can be tricky, and most people don't have great responses to common issues.
  2. Common sense really matters in philosophy. When people doubt basic ideas about the world, appealing to common sense can help clear up confusion.
  3. Eating meat and treating animals differently isn't seen as absurd to many people. It's okay to think this way, especially when there are bigger issues, like helping hungry humans.