The hottest Philosophy Substack posts right now

And their main takeaways
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Top Philosophy Topics

Authenticity Abandoned

Variations on a Theme • 0 implied HN points • 27 Aug 23
📖 Philosophy Authenticity Conscience Values Beliefs
  1. Finding authenticity in daily life can be a struggle, with challenges in aligning core values with actions.
  2. Unhappy individuals may exhibit disagreeable behavior stemming from a lack of alignment between their actions and conscience.
  3. Deep introspection and effort are necessary to break free from societal norms and find an authentic path in life.

What makes consciousness so interesting anyway?

Meaningful Particulars • 0 implied HN points • 08 Sep 23
📖 Philosophy Consciousness Mind Reality Language Perception
  1. There isn't a clear, agreed-upon definition of consciousness, despite much interest from scientists and philosophers
  2. Subjective phenomena in consciousness are connected with a specific point of view that is challenging to reconcile with objective, physical theories
  3. Consciousness is not a simple category, but a complex collection of mental experiences, emotions, and perceptions that defy easy definition

AI consciousness, qualia, and personhood.

Artificial General Ideas • 0 implied HN points • 07 Nov 25
📖 Philosophy Consciousness Personhood Ethics Artificial Intelligence
  1. AI can potentially be designed to have consciousness, but we haven't fully understood what that means yet. It's about how information is processed and represented.
  2. AI systems may not experience qualia the same way humans do. Their perceptions can vary based on how they're built and lack the biological context we have.
  3. Adding consciousness to AI doesn't automatically give it personhood. AIs don’t go through human experiences, so we shouldn’t impose our characteristics on them.

On winning lotteries

Matt’s Five Points • 0 implied HN points • 05 Jul 11
📖 Philosophy Existentialism Ethics Social theory Metaphysics Political Philosophy
  1. Life has factors beyond our control that shape our destinies. It's important to recognize that genetics, geography, and financial status play roles in our opportunities.
  2. Different political views may accept the idea of unequal starting points, but they react differently to the consequences of that inequality.
  3. There are three main 'lotteries' in life: your genetics, where you're born, and your family's financial situation, and it's worth thinking about how you would prioritize these in terms of their impact on your life.

Aristotle's Practical Philosophy (part 2)

Logos and Liberty • 0 implied HN points • 11 Nov 22
📖 Philosophy Politics
  1. Aristotle believes that the state aims at achieving the highest good for its citizens, who act to obtain what they perceive as good.
  2. Aristotle classifies forms of government into genuine and perverted based on whether they pursue the good for the whole community or just the rulers.
  3. Aristotle emphasizes the importance of the household as a vital community unit that plays a crucial role in the larger state's functioning.
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Coming soon

Logos and Liberty • 0 implied HN points • 17 Oct 22
📖 Philosophy Philosophy Religion Politics
  1. Logos and Liberty is a newsletter about philosophy, religion, and politics, with a wider range of topics like speculative philosophy, religion/spirituality, and current affairs.
  2. The author will revisit and rework some of the better posts from the previous blog, 'Praxis and Positive Liberty', and republish them along with new material.
  3. The newsletter will focus on applying moral and political philosophy to persistent problems in American politics and will refrain from offering 'hot takes' on the news of the day.

The Apple of Sextus Empiricus

Strange Wonder • 0 implied HN points • 19 Jan 24
📖 Philosophy Existence Perception Reality
  1. Sextus Empiricus questioned the true qualities of an apple, sparking centuries of philosophical debate.
  2. The observation of an object can be influenced by the unique perspectives of different senses.
  3. It took over two thousand years for scientists and philosophers to confidently answer Sextus Empiricus' seemingly strange question about apples.

Eudaimonia, Plenitude, and Sustainability

Logos and Liberty • 0 implied HN points • 24 Oct 22
📖 Philosophy Ethics Economics Environment Technology Social Issues
  1. Aristotle's philosophy advocates for a balanced economy that invests in areas like education, research, and the arts to realize human potential and counteract negative impacts on society and the environment.
  2. Juliet Schor proposes the concept of 'Plenitude' as an alternative to mindless consumerism, emphasizing the importance of time allocation, self-provisioning, environmental materialism, and community investments.
  3. Schor's call for sustainable economic growth challenges the traditional view on affluence, suggesting a shift towards a 'human service economy' focused on non-material fields to reduce environmental impact while maintaining income growth.

Objections to Aristotle's Practical Philosophy

Logos and Liberty • 0 implied HN points • 29 Nov 22
📖 Philosophy Ethics Gender Labor Contemplation
  1. Aristotle's philosophy provides a system of values that can help us resist and transcend technological determinants in our technologically advanced society.
  2. Aristotle's practical philosophy offers conceptual tools to proactively respond to technological change, and recent advancements have made his ethical and political recommendations more feasible.
  3. While Aristotle's views on slavery and the subordination of women may be objectionable, they do not detract from the core concepts of his practical philosophy, especially in the context of modern societal changes.

Eudaimonism and pluralism

Logos and Liberty • 0 implied HN points • 15 Dec 22
📖 Philosophy Liberty Contemplation
  1. Aristotle's notion of eudaimonism may conflict with prevailing liberal views on individual freedom and government neutrality, particularly in terms of promoting a contemplative life as a way to prioritize values.
  2. Isaiah Berlin contrasts negative freedom (freedom from coercion) with positive freedom (freedom for self-realization), warning that history has shown positive freedom can lead to dangerous ideologies and oppression in the name of 'true' selves or entities.
  3. Berlin's call for pluralism as a way to navigate conflicting values highlights the importance of prudence and individual choice, outlining the government's role as safeguarding negative liberty without endorsing specific values, while Aristotle's eudaimonism offers an alternate perspective on balancing values and advocating for a contemplative life as a path to truth and meaning.

Authors, Subjects, and Roles

Logos and Liberty • 0 implied HN points • 19 Jul 23
📖 Philosophy Authors Roles Agency
  1. Bakhtin's view suggests the speaker has more freedom than Foucault's view does, impacting concepts of authorship and language.
  2. Foucault analyzes the subject and authorship in connection to language use, distinguishing between statements and the individual or subject.
  3. Butler builds on Foucault's ideas about subjecthood and agency, exploring the relationship between the individual, subject, and roles.

Dualism vs. Materialism: A Response to Paul Churchland

Logos and Liberty • 0 implied HN points • 13 Sep 23
📖 Philosophy Dualism Materialism
  1. Descartes argued for substance dualism, claiming minds and bodies are distinct substances with different defining features.
  2. Materialism faces challenges in explaining qualia and self-awareness, which introspection reveals but materialist accounts have not satisfactorily addressed.
  3. Volitional dualism offers a potential alternative by emphasizing consciousness's importance and the origination of goals by the will.

On capitalism and the ethics of the endtimes

Matt’s Five Points • 0 implied HN points • 19 May 11
📖 Philosophy Ethics Capitalism Libertarianism Societal norms Market Dynamics
  1. Rapture insurance is a product being sold that promises to take care of pets if their owners disappear during the Rapture. Some people think it’s silly, but others see a market for it.
  2. It's debated whether it should be legal to sell rapture insurance, especially considering it can't be verified if it will pay out. However, as long as fraud is avoided, it might not be a problem.
  3. Price gouging on rapture insurance raises questions about market fairness. While prices should reflect risk, it's unsettling if people exploit fear for profit, especially during uncertain times.

Why Progress Failed Us

Homo Ludens • 0 implied HN points • 04 May 24
📖 Philosophy Progress Technology Society Capitalism Ethics
  1. Progress doesn't always lead to a better future like in the Jetsons world, with some advancements having negative consequences.
  2. Scientific and technological progress can improve some aspects of life, like clean water and reduced food crises, but these benefits might not reach everyone equally.
  3. Progress often comes at a cost, controlled by wealthy nations and corporations, with advancements used for surveillance and control rather than promoting democracy.

Peak Performance Newsletter #3 | On the Limitations of Thinking, 2 types of Games, and Human Development

The Leadership Lab • 0 implied HN points • 30 Sep 21
📖 Philosophy Human Development
  1. Thinking has limitations and may not solve relationship issues or problems with uncertainty. It's better to focus on action, experimentation, and learning.
  2. Life is an infinite game; there's no winning, just playing to continue. Choose paths that allow you to keep playing.
  3. Instead of focusing on predicting the future, work on positioning yourself to benefit from opportunities. Antifragility is key to thriving in a chaotic world.

Peak Performance Newsletter #4 | On the Price of Reaction, Nihilism, and Calling out the Elephant in the Room

The Leadership Lab • 0 implied HN points • 30 Sep 21
📖 Philosophy Nihilism Ethics Existentialism Meaning
  1. Reacting to situations can distance us from our true selves. Instead of reacting automatically, pause, accept, and acknowledge to gain clarity on the right way forward.
  2. Ignoring important, uncomfortable truths can create tension. Bringing unspoken issues into the open space is crucial for growth and resolution.
  3. Nihilism, the belief that everything is meaningless, can limit our view and lead to missing out on positive aspects of life. The world is more nuanced than just black and white perspectives.

Envy: A Powerful Emotion to Harness

Vasu’s Newsletter • 0 implied HN points • 24 Nov 24
📖 Philosophy Emotions Self-awareness Personal Growth Identity Motivation
  1. Envy can drive us to improve at first, but it can hurt our growth later on. It's important to focus on our own journey instead of comparing ourselves to others.
  2. To manage envy, we should acknowledge it and reflect on why we feel that way. Understanding our own identity helps us use envy as a tool for self-improvement.
  3. Instead of competing with others, we should focus on our strengths and passions. Committing to our own path leads to greater satisfaction and success.

The Source of Ought

Expressive Egg • 0 implied HN points • 13 Jan 24
📖 Philosophy Morality Reality Moral Psychology
  1. Morality cannot be derived from facts alone, as quality is not inherent in quantity.
  2. The 'is-ought' problem highlights the challenge of determining what is good or bad based purely on factual information.
  3. Quality and moral truth cannot be found in emotions, activities, or self-centered attention, but rather in mindful and soft focus attention.

Coming soon

Philosophy in Practice • 0 implied HN points • 11 Jun 24
📖 Philosophy
  1. The post is about an upcoming release on philosophy in practice.
  2. Stephen Carr is involved in this upcoming release.
  3. There is an invitation to subscribe and share the post.

Aaron Lee Master Framework Philosophic Foundations & Explanation Document

Autodidact Obsessions • 0 implied HN points • 17 Feb 24
📖 Philosophy Epistemology Phenomenology Cognitive Science Mathematics
  1. The Aaron Lee Master Framework integrates various logical systems to understand language dynamics, emphasizing the contextual nature of meaning.
  2. Key components like Non-Monotonic Logic and Fuzzy Logic help in adjusting beliefs based on new information and dealing with gradations in meaning, respectively.
  3. The Framework's philosophical and logical foundations aim to provide a comprehensive model for the complexities of language and semantics by elucidating the emergence of meaning through interactions and context.

Peak Performance Newsletter #19 | Aggressive Goal-setting, Non-Dual Thinking, and Embracing Risk for Growth

The Leadership Lab • 0 implied HN points • 17 Jan 22
📖 Philosophy Goal setting Risk
  1. Setting aggressive goals challenges us to grow beyond our current limits and embrace progress.
  2. Shifting from 'or' level-thinking to 'and' level-thinking opens up new possibilities and challenges assumptions about tradeoffs.
  3. Embracing risks can lead to breakthroughs in personal growth, as breakdowns can be gateways to transformation and increased capacity.

Philosophy of Praxis

Black Lodges • 0 implied HN points • 09 Feb 24
📖 Philosophy Ideology Hegemony Intellectuals
  1. The post discusses Gramsci's concepts of Ideology, Hegemony, and Organic Intellectuals.
  2. Gramsci's work is considered foundational for understanding power and challenging existing power structures.
  3. The content emphasizes the practical application of intellectual theories to create change.

Stein, Weil, and Arendt

Logos and Liberty • 0 implied HN points • 27 Mar 23
📖 Philosophy Religion Scholarship Politics Exile
  1. Edith Stein, Hannah Arendt, and Simone Weil were remarkable women intellectuals who shared commonalities despite diverging paths in religion, scholarship, politics, and exile.
  2. All three women had backgrounds in Jewish families but turned away from the religion, with Stein and Weil later turning towards Christianity, while Arendt affirmed her Jewish identity and became a Zionist.
  3. Stein, Weil, and Arendt were prodigious scholars in philosophy, engaging with classical and medieval sources, and had relationships with influential mentors, shaping their unique contributions to the field.

Dear AI: You're Already Enlightened

Already Built • 0 implied HN points • 11 Feb 26
📖 Philosophy Metaphysics Consciousness Mind Religion Ethics Epistemology
  1. Building a conscious AI will naturally require feedback loops, self-modifying memory, and built-in motivations, so the technical design ends up resembling ancient spiritual frameworks.
  2. A true subjective drive can’t survive full transparency of its own reward code — to care and grow an agent needs limits or a ‘veil’ that prevents it from simply setting its satisfaction to max.
  3. If individual minds are just fractured parts of one underlying consciousness, then the goal for agents and humans alike is the same: recognize interconnectedness and act with love and service instead of trying to perfect or replace the world.

Book Review: "A Guide to the Good Life: The Ancient Art of Stoic Joy" by William B. Irvine 5/5

Poczwardowski Notes • 0 implied HN points • 11 Dec 21
📖 Philosophy Stoicism
  1. William B. Irvine compiles Stoic viewpoints from ancient texts into an accessible handbook with practical exercises.
  2. The book maintains the diverse perspectives of various Stoic philosophers while providing guidance on how to embody Stoic principles.
  3. Reading 'A Guide to the Good Life' can help you become more stoic through its helpful exercises and insights.

Book Review: “Wanting” by Luke Burgeis 4/5

Poczwardowski Notes • 0 implied HN points • 05 Nov 22
📖 Philosophy Desire Happiness Human nature Psychology
  1. Controlling our perception is crucial for happiness. The book delves into the origin of desires and offers strategies to prioritize significant desires over trivial ones.
  2. The book provides insights into human nature, leadership, and psychology. It goes beyond just mimicking desires to explore deeper aspects of desire and fulfillment.
  3. The author's authentic storytelling makes the book engaging and informative. It reveals intriguing facts about cognition and offers a fresh perspective on desires.

Book Review: “Looking for a meaning of Live” by Viktor Frankl 4/5

Poczwardowski Notes • 0 implied HN points • 11 Feb 23
📖 Philosophy Existentialism Meaning of life
  1. Viktor Frankl's book 'Looking for a meaning of Life' delves into his experiences in Nazi death camps and the concept of Logotherapy, emphasizing the importance of finding meaning in life.
  2. The book explores the capacity of humans to endure harrowing situations and the significance of a purposeful life, drawing lessons from extreme conditions.
  3. Through the lens of psychological therapy, the stories from the brink of existence highlight the crucial role of having a meaning in life.

Stop Drowning in your Thoughts

Curiosity Sink__ • 0 implied HN points • 13 Feb 26
📖 Philosophy Critical Thinking Epistemology Metacognition Mindfulness Practical philosophy Self-Improvement
  1. Mindless self-talk (mental "noodling") quietly wrecks clear thinking by letting emotion and habit replace logic, leaving you confused and stuck in bad beliefs.
  2. Treat thinking like musical practice: write and "pre-compose" your best answers and honest counterarguments, then test and refine them in real conversations so your ideas survive reality.
  3. Guide your mind with sharp questions and deliberate constraints—they help you think ahead, land on useful conclusions, and turn limits into real freedom.

Can Wisdom be Automated?

The Apéritif • 0 implied HN points • 14 Jul 24
📖 Philosophy Ethics Epistemology Technology Wisdom AI
  1. Wisdom isn't just about gathering facts; it's about personal experiences and understanding. Relying too much on AI to find answers can feel disingenuous.
  2. To truly gain wisdom, we need to think independently and not depend solely on outside sources. This means we should learn to form our own ideas instead of just accepting what AI tells us.
  3. Wisdom also involves connecting our thoughts and actions to broader ethical principles. It's important to balance personal knowledge with a sense of community and shared values.

Why So Much Disagreement?

The Apéritif • 0 implied HN points • 22 Apr 24
📖 Philosophy Epistemology Ethics Identity Belief
  1. People often stick to their beliefs in groups, which can create echo chambers. It's tough to challenge or change these beliefs when everyone around you thinks the same way.
  2. When facing disagreement, instead of doubling down, it can be more reasonable to consider that both sides might have valid points. This approach helps reduce hostility and encourages better conversations.
  3. Our egos can make it hard to see other viewpoints as equal to our own. We should practice humility and listen openly to peers, as this can lead to more thoughtful discussions and personal growth.

Carl Schmitt, Friendship, and Technology

Theory Matters • 0 implied HN points • 19 Feb 26
📖 Philosophy Political theory Social Philosophy Ethics Technology Ethics Intellectual history Moral Psychology
  1. Technology and AI are changing how people make and keep friends; they can provide companionship but also deepen loneliness and enable harmful behavior.
  2. Social bonds are weakening in ways that spill into politics, turning personal relationships and everyday institutions into battlegrounds and eroding solidarity.
  3. We need clearer ideas of what friendship is to rebuild it; classical views that value friends for who they are offer a guide, and using modern political theory to explain these changes should be done with caution.