The hottest Philosophy Substack posts right now

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Conceptual shapes and quantifying nebulosity

Meaningness • 0 implied HN points • 04 Sep 20
📖 Philosophy
  1. The newsletter by David Chapman started as a basic notification system but evolved into something much more intriguing.
  2. The content discusses conceptual shapes and the complexity of nebulous concepts.
  3. The recent posts are restricted to paid subscribers, showing a focus on offering exclusive content.

Unfortunately, there is no National Omelet Registry

Meaningness • 0 implied HN points • 11 Sep 20
📖 Philosophy
  1. The post discusses reframing 'aboutness' as a practical issue instead of a philosophical one.
  2. It highlights the importance of how organizations handle and use records about individuals.
  3. The concept is illustrated by the example of a bank interacting with a customer's account information.

With the assistance of cannibal witches

Meaningness • 0 implied HN points • 02 Oct 20
📖 Philosophy Rationalism Logic
  1. The post discusses the end of logic and the challenges that logical rationalism faces due to limited knowledge.
  2. The chapter explores how we don't know everything, which poses a significant difficulty for rationalism.
  3. The post is part of a series that covers logical rationalism and probabilistic rationalism, with this chapter focusing on the concept of incomplete knowledge.

All Life is a Stage

Journal of Gurdjieff Studies • 0 implied HN points • 09 Nov 23
📖 Philosophy Existentialism Self Epistemology
  1. The post discusses the concept that all life is like a stage, implying that our lives are like a performance that we play out.
  2. The content assumes that readers have a basic understanding of fourth way literature, suggesting a specific level of familiarity required for engaging with the material.
  3. Access to the full post is limited to paid subscribers, highlighting the exclusive nature of the content.
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Are “Unconscious” People conscious?

Splattern • 0 implied HN points • 20 Dec 23
📖 Philosophy Consciousness Ethics Neurology Cognition Existentialism
  1. Scientists can now better tell if people in vegetative states are aware of their surroundings or can regain consciousness. This helps distinguish between those who can't react at all and those who have some mental activity.
  2. Consciousness is linked to specific brain activities. Researchers can use tools like EKGs and MRIs to recognize these brain patterns that indicate someone is conscious.
  3. Future technology might allow people with locked-in syndrome to communicate or control devices just by thinking. This could be a major breakthrough for better understanding and helping these patients.

The Cerebellum or Centre #4

Journal of Gurdjieff Studies • 0 implied HN points • 25 Jul 23
📖 Philosophy Gurdjieff Studies Medicine
  1. The post discusses Gurdjieff's perspective on the cerebellum as a crucial center, supported by references and quotations.
  2. The content seems to be reserved for paid subscribers, indicating a focus on providing exclusive information to a select audience.
  3. Readers interested in exploring more about the topic are encouraged to subscribe to access the full article and references.

Error Correction

Splattern • 0 implied HN points • 08 Jul 21
📖 Philosophy Epistemology Cognition Human behavior Self-awareness Learning Theory
  1. The Alexander Technique helps improve body awareness and sensitivity. This means becoming more in tune with how your body actually moves versus how you think it moves.
  2. Our understanding can be limited by our habits and experiences. Sometimes, a new perspective or outside influence can help us see things differently.
  3. Often, people don't act incorrectly on purpose. We can misjudge our actions because we don't have the right information or awareness about what we are doing.

Fragments, Chapter 9, pp.188-193 - Reading Club posting 34

Journal of Gurdjieff Studies • 0 implied HN points • 19 May 23
📖 Philosophy
  1. When we remember ourselves, our impressions are intensified, leading to a deeper level of self-awareness and emotional exploration.
  2. Alchemy metaphorically describes the transformation of coarse substances into finer substances in the human body through conscious efforts and emotional transmutation.
  3. By creating conscious shocks and emotional transmutations, the human organism progresses through three stages of evolution, enhancing its capacity for growth and self-realization.

Fragments, Chapter 7, pp.124-30 - Reading Club posting 24

Journal of Gurdjieff Studies • 0 implied HN points • 03 Mar 23
📖 Philosophy
  1. The seven-tone scale in music reflects a cosmic law applied by ancient schools to various vibrations like sound, light, heat, and more.
  2. The law of octaves explains how intervals or deviations in vibrations lead to changes in direction and development forces in various aspects of life.
  3. Life is a constant cycle of development or decline along ascending or descending lines of octaves, with fluctuations, rises, and falls happening throughout.

Confrontation, contact and blending of functionings

Journal of Gurdjieff Studies • 0 implied HN points • 01 Jan 23
📖 Philosophy Language Understanding Medicine
  1. The post discusses confrontation, contact, and blending of functionings, highlighting the interconnected nature of these elements.
  2. It appears to be a part of a series exploring language, understanding, and medicine, building upon previous articles on abnormality.
  3. The content seems to cater to paid subscribers, suggesting exclusive access to more in-depth discussions and insights.

Fragments, Chapter 4, pp.77-81 Reading Club posting 15

Journal of Gurdjieff Studies • 0 implied HN points • 16 Dec 22
📖 Philosophy Metaphysics Cosmology Spirituality Existence
  1. Every phenomenon results from the meeting of three opposing forces: active, passive, and neutralizing - the Law of Three.
  2. Understanding the Law of Three helps in self-reflection and grasping the dynamics of change and growth in individuals and groups.
  3. The 'ray of creation' concept explains the formation of worlds and a hierarchy of forces, highlighting our place in the universe.

Will I regret this decision when I die?

Tech Ramblings • 0 implied HN points • 29 Jan 23
📖 Philosophy Existentialism Decision-making Life choices Risk-taking Personal Growth
  1. Most decisions in life are simple and don't have significant consequences. It's okay to make mistakes on these easy choices.
  2. A small percentage of decisions are really important and can change your life. These are the choices that we should think about carefully.
  3. To live a fulfilling life, it's better to take risks and reduce regrets. Choosing what excites you is key to avoiding a life full of 'what ifs.'

Godel and Chabad

Splattern • 0 implied HN points • 07 Jul 21
📖 Philosophy Mathematics Religion Infinity Spirituality Existence
  1. Chabad believes that God is everywhere and always present. This idea emphasizes that God existed even before the universe began.
  2. Godel's proof suggests that any system can't truly understand itself from the inside. To gain insight, you have to look at a bigger system, but then you're still in the same situation.
  3. Math and religion share thoughts about infinity, but in math, it's a puzzle to solve, while in religion, it's essential for understanding existence. This might be the deeper connection explored in the book G.E.B.

Fragments, Chapter 4, pp.72-7 - Reading Club posting 14

Journal of Gurdjieff Studies • 0 implied HN points • 09 Dec 22
📖 Philosophy Metaphysics Epistemology Ethics Ontology Aesthetics
  1. Man and all his manifestations are divided into seven categories, from learning based on instincts to objective and practical knowledge
  2. The division of man into different categories also applies to art, religion, and other aspects of life, showing different levels of understanding and expression in each category
  3. The term 'world' can have varied meanings depending on one's perspective, ranging from religious, philosophical, scientific, astronomical views to the concept of 'All' encompassing everything

Fragments, Chapter 3, pp.53-9 - Reading Club posting 10

Journal of Gurdjieff Studies • 0 implied HN points • 11 Nov 22
📖 Philosophy Human nature Consciousness Evolution Individuality Knowledge
  1. Man is not a singular entity but a collection of changing 'I's, each with its own characteristics and tendencies.
  2. The evolution of man involves conscious struggle and development of untapped potential, rather than a predetermined, mechanical process.
  3. Individual human evolution is possible through self-realization and growth, but mass evolution is not in nature's interest and may be hindered by external forces.

The Soft and Slippery Something - Slugs, Worms and Slipperiness (2)

Journal of Gurdjieff Studies • 0 implied HN points • 11 Jun 22
📖 Philosophy Existence Nature Humanity
  1. The post discusses the concept of 'change of presence', confusion, animation, and illogical manifestations in relation to slugs and worms
  2. It mentions the tendency to laziness represented by the word 'sluggard' and its reflection in human nature
  3. The post is for paid subscribers, implying exclusive content for a specific audience

A snoozy bat and a weasel-word

Meaningness • 0 implied HN points • 28 Aug 21
📖 Philosophy Meaning Nihilism Implications
  1. Nihilizing is when we ignore meanings that are right in front of us because we don't want to face their implications.
  2. The promise of nihilism is that it offers a way out where you don't have to care about things.
  3. It's possible to delve deeper into the nihilist stance which can lead to further disengagement from caring about certain aspects of life.

Complex Systems and You

The Unabashed Observer • 0 implied HN points • 15 Mar 24
📖 Philosophy Knowledge Perception Society Existence
  1. Complex systems are beyond individual understanding, and simplification is necessary for comprehension in various disciplines.
  2. Human perception is limited by biology, leading to incomplete understanding of the world around us.
  3. Specialization in society leads to interdependence and the need for trust and humility in leveraging diverse skills for progress.

Follow your gut ?

Eddie's startup voyage • 0 implied HN points • 05 Feb 24
📖 Philosophy Decision-making Intuition Reason Values Metaphors
  1. Consider balancing rational thinking with gut instinct in decision-making, especially in situations with limited data or inconclusive information.
  2. Use mental models like Jeff Bezos' 1-way vs 2-way door decisions to navigate choices. For irreversible decisions, follow your gut if it strongly signals a direction; for reversible decisions, consider both rational and instinctive inputs.
  3. Understand the interplay between Daniel Kahneman's System 1 and System 2 thinking in decision-making, and learn to appropriately calibrate analytical and intuitive processes to make better choices.

Ryan Seffinger: The Creative Spirit and the Horizon of the Possible

Do Not Research • 0 implied HN points • 15 Sep 21
📖 Philosophy Political Philosophy Social Critique Existentialism
  1. The left must be wary of getting caught up in protests and demands without a clear alternative political-economic model to capitalism.
  2. Engaging with capitalism while criticizing it creates a paradox - we need to deeply understand and question the systems we're part of.
  3. To envision true innovation beyond the constraints of capitalism, we must broaden our collective imagination and seek solutions outside the current system.

The Gravity of Immortality: Exploring the Human Drive for Power and Transcendence

Based Meditations • 0 implied HN points • 01 Sep 23
📖 Philosophy Power Transcendence Mortality Consciousness Existence
  1. Humans are driven by the fear of death and the desire for power and control, seeking to conquer mortality and transcend their limits.
  2. Consciousness drives humans to envision a future beyond their current state, leading to technological advancements and societal contributions.
  3. In the grand scheme of influence and power dynamics, humans seem to follow a natural order of gravitational forces, seeking immortality through contributions to society and future generations.

Because we do do that

Meaningness • 0 implied HN points • 04 Sep 21
📖 Philosophy Meaning Nihilism
  1. Lite nihilism aims to deny big meanings like God and morality, providing an overview of these ideas.
  2. Nihilism rejects overblown eternalistic claims about ultimate, objective, transcendent, and cosmic meanings.
  3. The post is for paid subscribers and discusses how to go beyond lite nihilism.

Meaningless day job

Meaningness • 0 implied HN points • 30 Oct 21
📖 Philosophy Nihilism Existentialism
  1. Sometimes we choose to ignore inconvenient meanings and pretend not to notice. This is a form of nihilizing.
  2. We may try to justify our nihilizing behavior by coming up with rational reasons to believe that everything is meaningless.
  3. The concept of a meaningless day job is explored, shedding light on the fallacies linked to meaninglessness.

Becoming vaster than ideology

Meaningness • 0 implied HN points • 12 Dec 21
📖 Philosophy Ideology Relationships Power Health
  1. The post discusses moving past narrow ideologies to develop more accurate and powerful relationships with various belief systems.
  2. It mentions the concept of being vaster than ideology and how it can help in stopping blind allegiance to religions, scientism, political ideologies, and psychological theories.
  3. By becoming vaster than ideology, individuals can work towards cultivating healthier and more nuanced perspectives on ideologies.

Stoicism: The Timeless Philosophy That Shapes Our Lives

Wayne's Earth • 0 implied HN points • 11 Oct 23
📖 Philosophy Stoicism Life philosophy
  1. Stoicism is a way of life originating from ancient Greece that teaches us to embrace challenges and focus on what we can control.
  2. In today's world filled with distractions, Stoicism serves as a compass guiding us toward contentment, resilience, and rationality.
  3. Key Stoic principles include understanding the dichotomy of control, valuing virtue over worldly pleasures, and embracing challenges as opportunities for growth.