Arjun Panickssery

Arjun Panickssery's Substack explores the intersections of philosophy, strategy, writing techniques, and critical analysis of social norms and systems. It features critiques of moral philosophies and political theories, advice on communication and learning methods, discussions on games and predictions markets, and experiments in community engagement and funding.

Philosophy Political Theory Writing Techniques Social Norms Learning Methods Games and Strategy Community Engagement

The hottest Substack posts of Arjun Panickssery

And their main takeaways

More Hyphenation

98 implied HN points • 07 Feb 24
📚 Literature Grammar Writing
  1. Using hyphens for compound modifiers is important for readability.
  2. There is a trend to reduce hyphen usage in modern language.
  3. Hyphens can improve the speed at which text is understood.

Running a Prediction Market Mafia Game

98 implied HN points • 30 Jan 24
  1. In a prediction market mafia game, players participate in markets to identify mafia members instead of voting for execution.
  2. Town players, mafia players, and spectators are involved, each with different goals.
  3. Considerations include managing rapid trading activity, allowing speculators to bet on markets, and restricting dead players from joining speculators.

"Model UN Solutions"

157 implied HN points • 08 Dec 23
🚌 Education Solutions Debate Critical Thinking
  1. Model UN committees simulate countries passing resolutions on predetermined topics.
  2. In Model UN discussions, participants may aim to impress with vague or generic statements.
  3. Empty Model UN solutions exist, lacking specificity or considering trade-offs.
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Dominant Assurance Contract Experiment #2: Berkeley House Dinners

78 implied HN points • 05 Jul 23
💼 Business Finance Venture Entrepreneurship Investing Contracts
  1. The writer experimented with a Dominant Assurance Contract, but didn't reach the required number of funders and lost money.
  2. The writer is trying a real-world Dominant Assurance Contract for hosting weekly dinners, where participants can pay to attend.
  3. Participants in the dinner contract can pay at least $20, with the writer hosting the dinners if $700 is raised, or providing a partial refund if the target is not met.

Stuff I Recommend You Use

98 implied HN points • 07 Feb 23
  1. The author recommends using em dashes frequently in your writing.
  2. Custom Chrome search engines can make searching faster and more efficient.
  3. Keychain products like portable chargers and tools can be practical for daily use.

[Review] Move First, Think Later: Sense and Nonsense in Improving Your Chess

39 implied HN points • 18 Sep 23
🚌 Education Chess Learning Reading Problem Solving
  1. The book challenges traditional chess teaching methods by emphasizing pattern recognition over structured thinking.
  2. Verbal descriptions may not be effective in teaching chess moves, as examples show that pattern familiarity is crucial.
  3. The effectiveness of absorbing chess patterns quickly is compared to language learning, emphasizing the importance of practical application.

Play My Futarchy/Prediction Market Mafia Game

78 implied HN points • 04 Apr 23
  1. Host a game of mafia with a live prediction market instead of voting.
  2. The game will last about a week with day and night cycles.
  3. Looking for 24 players to participate in the game.

A Spaced Repetition Reading List

58 implied HN points • 04 Mar 23
🚌 Education Learning Techniques
  1. Free-recall questions are better than multiple-choice for effective learning
  2. Automating basic facts through rote memorization can decrease the load on working memory and aid in understanding complex ideas
  3. Using spaced repetition systems can be beneficial for understanding and retaining knowledge in various fields

Just Say No to Utilitarianism

137 implied HN points • 03 Jun 22
  1. Deontological libertarians base their political beliefs on a single moral rule called the non-aggression principle.
  2. Utilitarians believe in maximizing happiness as the ultimate goal, but face challenges with real-life ethical dilemmas that contradict their principles.
  3. It's important to rely on common sense and moral intuitions when making ethical decisions, rather than forcing complex rules or theories onto every situation.

Effective Altruists Should Read More Moral Philosophy

58 implied HN points • 26 Aug 22
  1. Effective altruists should spend time reading moral philosophy to make better ethical decisions.
  2. Career decisions are significant, and investing time in preparation and exploration can have compounding benefits.
  3. It's important for effective altruists to be well-informed about moral theories in order to make optimal choices and achieve their goals.

Highlights from The Problem of Political Authority by Michael Huemer

58 implied HN points • 25 Aug 22
  1. The concept of political authority is challenged as a moral illusion by Huemer
  2. Defenders of authority believe in conditions beyond just government commands for legitimacy
  3. Anarchists face difficulty being taken seriously due to misconceptions about their beliefs

[Review] The Problem of Political Authority by Michael Huemer

58 implied HN points • 16 Aug 22
  1. Huemer argues that political authority is a moral illusion and citizens aren't obligated to obey the state's commands.
  2. Anarchism faces resistance due to misunderstandings but Huemer challenges common justifications for political obligations.
  3. Huemer explores the idea that essential government functions can be privatized in an anarcho-capitalist society.

The Biggest Problem with Deontology: The Aggregation Problem

58 implied HN points • 13 Aug 22
  1. Weak deontology faces the Aggregation Problem where two impermissible acts can become acceptable when combined
  2. Huemer highlights a contradiction between moral principles and examples like Torture Transfer, implying weak deontology's falsehood
  3. Objections to the Aggregation Problem reveal challenges in justifying the combination of impermissible actions

Debate with Matthew Adelstein on Utilitarianism (1/5)

39 implied HN points • 25 Jul 22
  1. Utilitarianism is broken down into three parts: consequentialism, hedonism or preferentism, and impartiality.
  2. The weakest part of utilitarianism is impartiality, as it conflicts with the idea that people have specific obligations to certain individuals.
  3. Critics of utilitarianism argue against decision-making solely based on consequences and point out the limitations of considering only pleasure as a moral good.

Moral Progress Isn't Just Moral Circle Expansion

39 implied HN points • 02 Jul 22
  1. Historically, moral progress is linked with expanding the moral circle.
  2. Moral progress can also involve contracting the moral circle, not just expanding it.
  3. Moral circle expansion does not always equate to moral progress.

Big EA and Its Infinite Money Printer

39 implied HN points • 29 Apr 22
  1. The funding for the new student group is closely related to Big EA, which is not deemed suspicious despite providing significant funding.
  2. Involvement in quiz bowl tournaments revealed a dynamic where money influences participation and perceptions of funding sources.
  3. There is a spectrum of involvement in EA, ranging from true believers to literal grifters, with concerns about optics and authenticity.

Debate with Matthew Adelstein on Utilitarianism (2/5)

19 implied HN points • 28 Jul 22
  1. Debate about reasons for moral actions vs. correctness of moral theories
  2. Impartiality in decision-making can differ in individual cases vs. collective scenarios
  3. Challenge to the idea that rights are solely based on happiness and hedonic considerations

Initial Thoughts on Bughouse Chess Openings

0 implied HN points • 07 Feb 24
  1. In bughouse chess, normal openings might not work well due to pawn drops
  2. Key principles include not castling, protecting the c-pawn and f-pawn, and using knights effectively
  3. Consider strong openers like 1. e4 Nf6 2. e5 d5! in bughouse chess for a secure environment