The hottest Philosophy Substack posts right now

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Sam Harris Has Nothing Useful to Say About Free Will (UNLOCKED)

Philosophy for the People w/Ben Burgis • 619 implied HN points • 05 Feb 23
📖 Philosophy Free will Compatibilism Determinism Morality Responsibility
  1. Sam Harris argues that free will doesn't exist because our decisions are influenced by factors we don't fully understand or control.
  2. The debate over free will involves complex questions about determinism, moral responsibility, and cognitive capacities.
  3. Compatibilist philosophers like John Martin Fischer redefine free will in terms of being reasons-responsive, rather than just the ability to act differently given the same circumstances.

Lord Verulam's Idols

Fields & Energy • 279 implied HN points • 18 Dec 23
📖 Philosophy Science Ethics History Literature Education
  1. Francis Bacon proposed a new idea of science that focused on human control over nature and knowledge. His vision was about creating a scholarly place that could influence society.
  2. Bacon is often labeled as the 'Father of Scientism' rather than the father of modern science. This suggests that his ideas shaped more than just scientific methods; they also influenced how we think about science and its role in society.
  3. Literature like Bacon's work, along with stories like 'Brave New World' and '1984,' can serve as warnings about the dangers of letting scientism dominate our lives. They encourage us to think critically about where scientific progress is leading us.

Bayes is not a phase

DYNOMIGHT INTERNET NEWSLETTER • 453 implied HN points • 27 Feb 25
📖 Philosophy Epistemology Logic Decision Theory Rationality
  1. Bayesian reasoning is something we all use, even if we don't realize it. It's more about how we naturally think than some complex math.
  2. There are two types of uncertainty: aleatoric (random) and epistemic (based on knowledge). Mixing them helps us make better decisions.
  3. Arguing over which type of probability is 'real' is silly. It's better to recognize that life involves many messy decisions where formal reasoning can help, but is often complicated.

Gnosticism: Inversions

Secretum Secretorum • 606 implied HN points • 11 Dec 24
📖 Philosophy Spirituality Theology Metaphysics Ethics
  1. Gnosticism focuses on seeking knowledge and self-discovery, rather than blind faith. It believes understanding who we are and where we come from is the key to spiritual liberation.
  2. Gnostics had a very different view of traditional figures, often seeing them in an oppositional light. They believed that the mainstream teachings were a form of deception and celebrated figures like the serpent or Judas as misunderstood heroes, emphasizing personal experience over established doctrine.
  3. Many Gnostic teachings involved breaking away from societal norms and moral restrictions. This led to controversial practices and beliefs about liberation being found through transgressions against established moral codes, although the full reality of these practices is still debated among scholars.

Some Episodic Memories of Issues in Philosophy of Memory 4

The Memory Palace • 39 implied HN points • 02 Jul 24
📖 Philosophy Memory Ethics Research Education Community
  1. The conference focused on many topics related to memory, including how moral values can affect the way we understand our memories. It highlighted the idea that some accurate memories might still cause harm, which makes them less genuine.
  2. Memory is not just an individual experience; it's also social. Speakers discussed how memories can change through interactions with others, helping to foster communication and resolve conflicts.
  3. The event encouraged sharing personal experiences about memory, inviting attendees to reflect on their own thoughts and insights. It created a sense of community among researchers passionate about exploring the complexities of memory.
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Ethics and Insecticide

Bet On It • 211 implied HN points • 07 Jul 25
📖 Philosophy Ethics Logic Metaphysics Epistemology Debate
  1. Insect suffering could challenge views about animal suffering. If we think insects feel pain, it might mean many everyday actions are wrong.
  2. Intelligence might affect how bad suffering is. The more intelligent a being is, the worse their suffering could be seen as.
  3. Concrete facts should guide ethical theories. It's better to start with real experiences and observations, not just abstract ideas.

You're so smart

Becoming Noble • 398 implied HN points • 07 Jul 23
📖 Philosophy Ideas Religion Morality Existence Ethics
  1. The author highlights the importance of encouraging readers to engage in thoughtful discussions and voice their opinions.
  2. There is a discussion on academia's need for a more formal network and standards, similar to a sacred order, to enhance knowledge sharing.
  3. The post delves into the complexities surrounding AI and how it impacts society biologically and socially, urging a deeper understanding of the system's dynamics.

Specialization and Interdisciplinarity: Beyond Memory

The Memory Palace • 99 implied HN points • 23 Apr 24
📖 Philosophy Memory Specialization Knowledge Cognition
  1. Specialization in fields like the philosophy of memory can lead to growth and deeper understanding, but it may also risk limiting broader explorations. It’s important to balance focus with the desire to explore new ideas.
  2. Interdisciplinary work can enrich research by bringing in diverse perspectives and expertise. Collaborations across different fields can lead to new insights that wouldn't be possible in isolation.
  3. Memory connects with many other cognitive and emotional processes in complicated ways. To really understand memory, researchers need to look beyond just memory itself and consider its interactions with different aspects of life.

The Complexity Illusion.

Prime Cuts Newsletter • 393 implied HN points • 16 Apr 23
📖 Philosophy Existence
  1. We are moving through space at incredible speeds, yet it doesn't impact our daily lives.
  2. Life may seem complex with advancements and new research, but at the core, it remains simple.
  3. Despite the appearance of increasing complexity, focus on making simple moves in life.

The Dildofication of Philosophy

Less Foolish • 393 implied HN points • 06 Jun 23
📖 Philosophy
  1. The philosophy section of a bookstore used to have exciting, thought-provoking books that challenged readers.
  2. Recently, there has been a shift in the type of books found in the philosophy section, with more focus on wellness and easy reads.
  3. The author reflects on the change, expressing nostalgia for when philosophy felt like an adventure and was a source of deep, transformative insight.

Recent Media Appearances

Good Thoughts • 216 implied HN points • 20 Jan 24
📖 Philosophy Ethics Epistemology Metaphysics
  1. Recent public philosophy discussions cover effective altruism, longtermism, and synthetic a priori knowledge.
  2. Critical discussion on the reliance on supernatural forces in discerning philosophical truths.
  3. Rejecting the causal debunking principle in favor of relying on coherent philosophical methods for truth-seeking.

Math is not art

The Strategy Toolkit • 26 implied HN points • 22 Dec 25
📖 Philosophy Metaphysics Aesthetics Epistemology Existentialism Identity
  1. You often need to leave your familiar life and roles to really discover who you are, because you can’t fully see yourself from inside your own island.
  2. Having a craft, job, or practical skill can sustain you but it doesn’t replace the deeper search for identity and meaning.
  3. Moments and changing perspectives can reveal unexpected beauty and mystery, so paying attention to how time and place shift perception helps you understand the world and yourself.

Irrepressible liberalism: the philosophy of Gerald Gaus

Hypertext • 159 implied HN points • 29 Feb 24
📖 Philosophy Liberalism Public Reason Political Philosophy Classical Liberalism
  1. Gerald Gaus emphasized the importance of optimism and confidence in defending liberalism, even in challenging times with populist threats.
  2. Gaus's philosophy focused on bottom-up moral reasoning and the idea that a diverse society can find common ground through emergent order.
  3. He advocated for extensive individual freedom as essential for the survival of an open society, and highlighted the significance of incrementalism and learning-based governance in policymaking.

LECTURE: Roots of How Ownership & Trade Have Made Us Truly Weird: "Property" & "Exchange" as a Coördination Mechanism at Societal Scale

Brad DeLong's Grasping Reality • 192 implied HN points • 13 Jul 25
📖 Philosophy Property Exchange Ethics Economics Social theory
  1. The idea of ownership is really strange. We believe we can own things even when we're not present, which is a unique concept for humans.
  2. Trade and exchange are important for how societies work. They help people specialize in tasks and improve efficiency, leading to greater productivity.
  3. Markets and property rights help coordinate action in society. They distribute resources but don't guarantee fairness, so the rules around them shape who benefits and how much.

Causal realism, or should you eat your pet?

The Lifeboat • 206 implied HN points • 27 Jun 25
📖 Philosophy Ethics Reality Truth Existence Causation
  1. Causal realism suggests that what is real isn't just about facts but about how ideas and beliefs can have real impacts. This means both true and false information can shape our actions and the world around us.
  2. Drawing lines between what's real and not, or true and false, has become tricky in today's vast, information-rich world. It's important to recognize these lines can shift based on personal beliefs and cultural contexts.
  3. We need to be cautious about simplistically labeling things as real or fake. Both can influence people's thoughts and behaviors, so acknowledging the complexity of information is crucial for understanding our reality.

David Hume vs. the UFO Whistleblower

Philosophy for the People w/Ben Burgis • 379 implied HN points • 02 Jul 23
📖 Philosophy Skepticism Aliens Cover-up
  1. The writer discusses the possibility of the government concealing information about alien spacecraft, drawing parallels with David Hume's skepticism about miracles.
  2. David Grusch is mentioned as an Air Force officer possibly involved in what some see as a major cover-up.
  3. The post is available only to paid subscribers on Ben Burgis's Substack.

Death smiles at us all

Becoming Noble • 378 implied HN points • 22 Mar 23
📖 Philosophy Time Existence Fear Free will God
  1. Time is an alien force that impacts all of us, and we must learn to embrace it.
  2. Existence in time means every decision becomes permanent, leading into an unknowable future.
  3. Despite the fear of time and God's eternal view of our actions, individual agency is crucial, and we have a limited window to act.

Hidden Open Thread 353.5

Astral Codex Ten • 688 implied HN points • 30 Oct 24
📖 Philosophy Ethics Logic Metaphysics Aesthetics Political
  1. This is a thread for subscribers to discuss various topics openly. People can share their thoughts and insights freely.
  2. It is exclusive to those who have paid a subscription. This means that the discussions here are intended for a smaller, dedicated group.
  3. Engagement is encouraged, with comments and sharing options available. Subscribers can interact with each other in a more personal space.

Why I Don't Buy The Moral Argument

Bentham's Newsletter • 196 implied HN points • 29 Jan 24
📖 Philosophy Ethics Theism Atheism Morality Existence
  1. The traditional moral argument for the existence of God is not convincing because the premise that without God, objective moral values do not exist is not plausible for all.
  2. Having God as the source of morality does not provide a satisfactory grounding for morality as it creates more questions and issues.
  3. Explaining the existence of moral facts by positing God as the source is as arbitrary as positing other explanations like pleasure being good.

The Revaluation of All Values, Part 4

Intimations of a New Worldview • 373 implied HN points • 14 Mar 23
📖 Philosophy Metaphysics Ethics Empiricism Influence Value theory
  1. The will to power is a metaphysical doctrine similar to Heraclitus' Logos and Schopenhauer's primacy of the will.
  2. Nietzsche's will to power aims to promote and justify the flourishing of life, opposing pessimistic philosophies like Schopenhauer.
  3. The will to power is based on empirical findings in biology and psychology, generalizing to explain all aspects of life.

TBM 315: The Self-Sealing Argument Trap

The Beautiful Mess • 727 implied HN points • 13 Oct 24
📖 Philosophy Cognitive Bias Critical Thinking Ethics Communication
  1. Self-sealing arguments trap you into a no-win situation. No matter how you respond, it feels like you lose.
  2. These arguments often happen in discussions where your personal beliefs are questioned. They can make it hard to express your true thoughts without feeling defensive.
  3. It's important to recognize when you're in these traps. Finding a different way to respond can help you avoid feeling stuck and give you a better chance for a positive outcome.

What Would Ayn Rand Say About Existential Risk From Misaligned AI?

The Future of Life • 39 implied HN points • 28 Jun 24
📖 Philosophy Ethics Existentialism AI Risk Rationality
  1. Ayn Rand's Objectivism suggests that intelligence and morality are connected. This means that a superintelligent AI could likely develop values that align with human rights.
  2. The Orthogonality thesis argues that intelligence and goals are separate. However, from an Objectivist viewpoint, a really smart being would need to adopt certain virtues to be effective.
  3. Even if an AI is intelligent, it doesn't mean it will care about humans. There’s no guarantee an advanced AI would think our survival is important, even if it acts morally toward other intelligences.

2.0 Aristotle, Plato, & Newton

Fields & Energy • 259 implied HN points • 13 Dec 23
📖 Philosophy Ancient Philosophy Scientific Method Cognition Metaphysics Epistemology
  1. Aristotle and Plato have very different views on existence. Aristotle believes existence comes first, while Plato thinks consciousness creates reality.
  2. The Aristotelian approach focuses on observing nature to discover principles, while the Platonist starts with foundational ideas and deduces from them.
  3. Both schools of thought are important for science. Sometimes we discover new principles like Aristotle, and other times we analyze and apply ideas like Plato.

The Unreasonable Ineffectiveness of Effective Altruism in thinking about AI

Ulysses • 179 implied HN points • 05 Feb 24
📖 Philosophy Ethics Logic Epistemology Ontology Psychology
  1. Knowledge systems using symbolic logic in natural language are heuristic and capture reality imperfectly.
  2. Validity of heuristics depends on the similarity between the original context and current application.
  3. Rigid deontological symbolic morality may fail in reasoning about new events like AI, leading to ineffective discussions and decision-making.

1.1 Calculation Versus Understanding: Why Care?

Fields & Energy • 319 implied HN points • 01 Nov 23
📖 Philosophy Political theory Epistemology Ethics Metaphysics Causality
  1. Understanding is important, not just getting the right answers. If we want to make sense of our world and society, we need deeper insights and not just calculations.
  2. Ideas about causality and certainty have changed over time. What was once thought to be clear cut, like Newton's laws, has become more complicated with concepts like quantum mechanics.
  3. Political philosophy can be impacted by scientific ideas. If we believe everything is contradictory, it may affect how we think about power and society, sometimes leading to a focus on who holds power rather than what is right or wrong.

What Is Grandmotherly Wisdom?

Grandmotherly Wisdom • 353 implied HN points • 19 Apr 23
📖 Philosophy Wisdom Life Humanity Morality Generations
  1. Grandmotherly Wisdom emphasizes the importance of understanding our connection to past generations and shaping a better future for those to come.
  2. It encourages finding beauty in everyday moments and the value of personal care, attention and shared experiences.
  3. It involves recognizing the collective effort needed for personal growth, building strong communities, and taking responsibility for creating a positive impact in the world.

We're About to Watch Billions Die. Where Does "Empathy" Fit Here?

OK Doomer • 208 implied HN points • 23 Jun 25
📖 Philosophy Ethics Empathy Existentialism Human nature Social Issues
  1. Empathy might not be enough to make a real difference in the world. Just feeling sorry for people doesn’t change the actions of those in power.
  2. Historical examples show that people can feel compassion for fictional stories while being cruel to real victims. This shows a disconnect between emotions and actions.
  3. As global crises increase, it’s important to rethink the role of empathy. We need to consider how we respond to suffering on a larger scale in the face of potential mass deaths.

The Long and the Short of It

The Good Life • 314 implied HN points • 30 Oct 23
📖 Philosophy Life Time Long term Uncertainty
  1. Consider balancing short-term and long-term perspectives in life decisions.
  2. Reflect on how you would spend your time if you had limited time left versus if you had a long life ahead, and incorporate elements of both into your planning.
  3. Strive to find a middle ground between living for the moment and preparing for the future to lead a fulfilling life.

Random bits of philosophy

Philosophy bear • 50 implied HN points • 20 Nov 25
📖 Philosophy Ethics Metaphysics Political theory Philosophy of Mind Moral Psychology
  1. Today, many people view exploitation as worse than disobedience, reflecting a shift in values compared to the past. We are more horrified by the abuse of power than by the breaking of traditional rules.
  2. When judging past actions, it's often argued that people from history should be seen in their own context. However, it's important to recognize that some actions, like slavery, were wrong regardless of the era.
  3. Intuitions guide our understanding of moral and philosophical concepts but may not always point to objective truths. They often reflect our own principles instead of revealing universal truths.