The hottest Philosophy Substack posts right now

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The Luxury of Fudged Numbers

Living Fossils • 13 implied HN points • 16 Jul 25
📖 Philosophy Emotions Society Economics Evolution Human behavior
  1. People have different attitudes towards measuring things, from being meticulous to being relaxed. This can affect how we interact and feel in social situations.
  2. The modern world makes us focus on specific measurements like money and social media likes, which can lead to feelings of inadequacy and competition that didn't exist before.
  3. Numbers and metrics can sometimes complicate our lives, shaping how we perceive ourselves and others, and making us lose sight of more meaningful, fuzzy qualities.

Liminal Thinking

QUALITY BOSS • 2 HN points • 16 Jul 24
📖 Philosophy Belief systems Personal Growth Psychology Change Management Self-help
  1. Changing your beliefs can change your life. By shifting how you think, you can create a new reality for yourself.
  2. Liminal thinking encourages you to look at the patterns in your life. Identify negative cycles and imagine ways to turn them into positive experiences.
  3. Understanding that beliefs shape our identity is key. If we challenge and reshape our beliefs, we can change how we see ourselves and improve our lives.

Why No Cassandra of Hope?

What Is Called Thinking? • 42 implied HN points • 04 Dec 24
📖 Philosophy Existentialism Epistemology Ethics Literature Mythology
  1. Cassandra represents the idea of being ignored while predicting disaster, like prophets in the Bible who warn others but are often mocked or disregarded.
  2. In literature, we see more examples of ignored warnings than of hopeful messages. It seems people find it easier to mock the messengers of doom than to accept hopeful visions.
  3. People who share positive messages often focus on small, gradual changes instead of significant, sudden improvements, which makes their voices less impactful in comparison to doom-laden warnings.

Freedom, Not Control

Splattern • 19 implied HN points • 12 Dec 23
📖 Philosophy Existentialism Free will Freedom Self-Actualization Spirituality
  1. Freedom is about making choices that lead to a fulfilling life, rather than trying to control everything. Prioritizing sleep and good nutrition helps create that freedom.
  2. True community leaders listen and support people seeking guidance, creating meaningful connections. It's good to reach out to mentors or leaders when you're looking for direction.
  3. Managing health issues takes learning and adaptation, and it's important to verify information rather than just relying on labels. Taking care of ourselves and others is a journey, especially when it comes to health.
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Curator

Castalia • 99 implied HN points • 22 Jul 22
📖 Philosophy Ethics Literature Politics
  1. Some philosophers are questioning the moral grounds of monogamy, suggesting it could be seen as patriarchal or racist. However, this idea is debated, with many believing monogamy is more complex than that.
  2. There are three controversial ideas in modern philosophy: the denial of free will, the belief in dataism (that data is the best way to understand reality), and the simulation hypothesis (the idea that we might be living in a computer simulation). Each of these ideas downplays individual human experience and agency.
  3. The CIA secretly funded some prominent literary magazines during the Cold War, which raises questions about the independence of writers like Orwell and others. This connection highlights the influence money has on intellectual discussions and challenges the idea of pure, independent thought.

Liberalism Versus Democracy 2

From the New World • 32 implied HN points • 07 Feb 25
📖 Philosophy Political theory Ethics Social theory Liberalism Democracy
  1. Liberalism hides the political aspect of society instead of getting rid of it. It uses a way of talking about politics that keeps its true nature hidden.
  2. Polarization, or disagreement, helps people understand their true values. It's not about making people hate each other; it's about revealing differing opinions.
  3. Social harmony can sometimes be enforced in a way that isn't natural. When that enforced order weakens, people's honest disagreements come to light.

Reminder: Zoom discussion Monday

In My Tribe • 106 implied HN points • 06 Jan 24
📖 Philosophy Truth Belief
  1. Seeking truth often involves deciding who to believe in rather than just figuring out the world.
  2. The accuracy of someone's beliefs may not always determine if they are trustworthy.
  3. Participating in conversations that explore these ideas can be interesting and insightful.

Portubots and Englifleshes: Why comparative advantage won't ensure humans always have jobs

Philosophy bear • 92 implied HN points • 16 Mar 24
📖 Philosophy AI Economics Robotics
  1. Comparative advantage theory doesn't guarantee that humans will always have jobs, even if robots are better at everything.
  2. In a world where robots excel at tasks, they will specialize in areas of greater efficiency, leaving tasks with smaller disadvantages for humans.
  3. Human labor being displaced by machines poses challenges, and comparative advantage alone may not ensure employment for humans in all scenarios.

Holistic Ethics

Tom Thought • 19 implied HN points • 05 Dec 23
📖 Philosophy Ethics Policy Cooperation Character
  1. Moral questions are complex and involve considerations about goals, rules, obligations, praise, punishment, emulation, habits, and associations.
  2. Outcomes and rules are both important in ethics, with goals being critical for motivation and rules for guidance, but bad outcomes lead to the need to revise rules.
  3. Morality is a process involving preferences, policies, cooperation, values, character, rules, and actions, aimed at aligning behavior to produce beneficial outcomes.

What is Truth (Part 1: Defining Truth)

Ethics Under Construction • 10 implied HN points • 16 Aug 25
📖 Philosophy Ethics Metaphysics Epistemology Logic Ontology
  1. Truth is all about reasons. It means the explanations we have that help us understand and reduce doubt about things.
  2. Everything has a reason behind it. If something is true, there should always be a solid explanation why it's true.
  3. Understanding truth as just reasons makes it easier to see how everything connects. It’s not some mysterious thing; it’s just about having the right justifications for what we know.

A brief note on Newcomb's problem

Philosophy bear • 28 implied HN points • 02 Mar 25
📖 Philosophy Ethics Logic Epistemology Metaphysics Decision Theory
  1. Newcomb's problem involves two boxes: one potentially holds more money than the other based on what an oracle predicts you will choose. Choosing both boxes might seem smart since it guarantees some amount, but there's a deeper philosophical debate about the best strategy.
  2. Some people strongly believe that just picking the blue box (the one with the most potential money) is obviously the best choice, but it's unfair to call those who pick both boxes 'stupid' since their reasoning also makes sense.
  3. Ultimately, this problem raises important questions about decision-making and what it means to want something, suggesting that understanding our desires and decision strategies is complex and varies from person to person.

My Cup Runneth Over

Investing 101 • 46 implied HN points • 19 Oct 24
📖 Philosophy Beliefs Wisdom Learning Knowledge Decision-making
  1. It's really important to figure out what you believe and why you believe it. By understanding your beliefs, you can make better decisions in life.
  2. Learning isn't just good for personal growth; it's also important for keeping a free society. When people are informed, they can make better choices as citizens.
  3. When exploring ideas, try to do so based on your own research instead of just following popular trends. This way, you can discover unique insights that others might overlook.

Do the more rare thing

Sunday Letters • 79 implied HN points • 09 Oct 22
📖 Philosophy Decision-making Regret Choices Values
  1. When faced with tough decisions, you can simplify by ranking factors like academics or location. This helps you narrow down your choices.
  2. If two options seem equal, consider choosing the rarer one. It's often harder to get and might be better for you in the long run.
  3. Choosing something rare can protect you from regret. It makes you less likely to change your mind later since you might not have that option again.

Chapter 17, pp.346-351 - Reading Club posting 62

Journal of Gurdjieff Studies • 19 implied HN points • 01 Dec 23
📖 Philosophy Self-Improvement Mind-Body Connection Control Practices Human nature
  1. Gurdjieff emphasizes the necessity of schools in working on oneself due to man's inability to keep watch on all aspects of himself without assistance.
  2. Man is described as the slave of his body, highlighting the importance of controlling muscular tension and the need for schools to help in this effort.
  3. Control over the body starts with acquiring control over muscular tension, beginning with the relaxation of facial muscles according to Gurdjieff's teachings.

When the Conceivable Fails

Daniel Pinchbeck’s Newsletter • 10 implied HN points • 09 Aug 25
📖 Philosophy Metaphysics Ethics Epistemology Mind Consciousness
  1. There are many things in the universe that go beyond what we can understand with traditional science. This invites us to think outside the box.
  2. Exploring substances like DMT can change how we see the world, opening our minds to new ideas and possibilities.
  3. Some experts believe there's a deeper purpose to our exploration of these substances, suggesting they could lead us to a greater understanding of life.

A bear is confused about desire

Philosophy bear • 92 implied HN points • 22 Feb 24
📖 Philosophy Existence Desire Life Suffering Acceptance
  1. Existence involves desire and dissatisfaction, driving us to act and change things.
  2. While seeking equilibrium is important, it's crucial to differentiate between beneficial dissatisfaction that leads to growth and harmful sorrow caused by unmet needs.
  3. Striving for a balance where we can embrace life's joys and sorrows without clinging too tightly, seeking a state of desirelessness without losing the essence of existence.

Dandelions

Sunday Letters • 39 implied HN points • 14 May 23
📖 Philosophy Life lessons Problem Solving Nature Engineering Mindfulness
  1. Don't get too caught up in your goals. Sometimes, focusing too much on a single goal can lead to missing out on other enjoyable aspects or better solutions.
  2. Like trying to fight dandelions in a lawn, we can get fixated on solving problems the wrong way. It's important to recognize when a goal isn't worth the struggle.
  3. Regularly step back and assess if you're on the right path. Taking a moment to rethink can often reveal simpler and more effective options.

Neutrality

Rough Diamonds • 40 implied HN points • 13 Nov 24
📖 Philosophy Ethics Metaphysics Political theory Social Philosophy Epistemology
  1. Neutrality is about treating all opinions equally, which helps people work together despite their differences. It’s important for creating spaces where cooperation can happen without conflict.
  2. Our current systems often lack trust and a shared understanding, making it hard for people to agree on basics. Building new systems of trust is crucial for moving forward.
  3. Institutions need to be more than just neutral; they should create a framework that supports healthy discussions and diverse viewpoints. This way, people can feel both included and understood.

What Do I Think Now?

Daniel Pinchbeck’s Newsletter • 11 implied HN points • 23 Jul 25
📖 Philosophy Consciousness Ethics Metaphysics Politics Culture
  1. There are two extremes we might face: chaos or authoritarian control. We need a third option that's empowering and hopeful to prevent these two paths.
  2. Our society is in a state of collapse, but there is potential for regeneration and healing through community cooperation and caring actions.
  3. Technology, like AI, holds possibilities for creating participatory systems that can help us connect and build a better future if used thoughtfully.

The Priest in the Arena

Breaking Smart • 165 implied HN points • 01 Apr 23
📖 Philosophy Ethics Religion Ideologies Power Society
  1. The man in the arena archetype involves individuals taking risks and making decisions in challenging situations, with potential for great rewards or losses.
  2. Priests in the arena engage in theocratic capture campaigns, seeking to wield unaccountable authority based on supposed privileged knowledge.
  3. Identifying and stopping theocratic capture involves recognizing the influence of cults that demand unquestioning deference and monopolize conversations and institutions.

The Black Swans are Overhead

What's Important? • 35 implied HN points • 26 Dec 24
📖 Philosophy Existentialism Ethics Metaphysics Consciousness Spirituality
  1. Black swan events are unexpected occurrences that have never happened before. They can significantly impact our world in surprising ways.
  2. There's a growing belief that non-human intelligence might be trying to help humanity avoid self-destruction with technology. This raises questions about what we could learn from it.
  3. The concept of collective consciousness, driven by love and self-awareness, is becoming more important. This idea suggests we are evolving and learning from our experiences together.

Most general advice is bad: A conjecture

Philosophy bear • 92 implied HN points • 02 Feb 24
📖 Philosophy Advice Behavior
  1. General, non-specific advice can often lead people to extreme behaviors.
  2. Platitudinous advice might unintentionally encourage individuals to avoid questioning their actions.
  3. Many times, individuals who already lean towards a certain extreme are more likely to resonate with advice that supports that extreme.

Inferential Appearances

Fake Noûs • 82 implied HN points • 16 Mar 24
📖 Philosophy Epistemology Inference
  1. The post discusses how inferential justification is obtained through appearances.
  2. Explicitly inferring a belief from a premise is highlighted as a method of gaining this justification.
  3. The post is for paid subscribers, with the option to subscribe or sign in for those already subscribed.

Apprentice, Partner, Mentor, Monk

Vic's Verdict • 1 implied HN point • 19 Jan 26
📖 Philosophy Ethics Virtue ethics Moral Psychology Social Philosophy Personal Identity Religion
  1. Duty is an active form of love that pulls people into four archetypal callings—apprentice (serving elders), mentor (serving dependents), partner (serving peers), and monk (serving strangers).
  2. How you best serve others depends on your toolkit—body, mind, heart, or soul—and each mode has strengths and risks if overused, from burnout to emotional vampirism or authoritarianism.
  3. You must regularly check your motives to tell angelic duty from its selfish impostors, because true duty is a way of being beyond a job and needs to be balanced with personal desires.

Language, Understanding and Medicine

Journal of Gurdjieff Studies • 39 implied HN points • 01 Jan 23
📖 Philosophy Language Medicine Understanding Consciousness Healing
  1. Language plays a significant role in understanding and medicine according to Gurdjieff's teachings, suggesting that understanding is dependent on language.
  2. Gurdjieff's exploration of language, human mentation, and understanding is closely linked to his teachings on medicine, hypnotism, and consciousness.
  3. The concept of understanding is viewed as a form of medicine, serving as a harmonizing factor in our lives.

Somin on Conformism: A Reply

Bet On It • 85 implied HN points • 27 Feb 24
📖 Philosophy Conformity Tradition Experts Intellectuals
  1. Conforming to majority intellectual trends on certain issues may be a strategic choice to avoid unnecessary conflicts.
  2. While adhering to certain traditions may hold valuable wisdom, being open to questioning and evolving traditions is important.
  3. Balancing deference to experts with critical thinking is crucial, especially in situations where expert views are likely to be reliable.