Caleb’s Newsletter

Caleb's Newsletter explores the principles of Stoicism, its application to modern life, and critiques of contemporary culture and media. It incorporates insights from books, films, and philosophy to discuss self-improvement, ethics, societal norms, and the impact of digital age on human behavior and thought processes.

Stoicism Philosophy and Ethics Personal Development Film and Media Critique Book Reviews Societal Norms and Critiques Digital Culture and Technology Ancient Philosophies

The hottest Substack posts of Caleb’s Newsletter

And their main takeaways

Self-Defeating Targets

0 implied HN points • 08 Oct 20
  1. Some targets are easier to hit without being self-aware of aiming for them.
  2. Success and happiness are best achieved as unintended side-effects of personal dedication and actions.
  3. Instead of aiming for self-defeating targets like success and happiness, focus on external pursuits and self-sustaining goals.

On Reality-Centeredness

0 implied HN points • 01 Oct 20
  1. Reality-centeredness involves transcending the self to see the world as a whole and promote the good.
  2. The ability to make wiser decisions about others' affairs than our own is known as The Solomon Paradox.
  3. Being reality-centered means finding the balance between ego-centeredness and rootlessness, understanding our place in the world.

No Principled Constraints

0 implied HN points • 27 Aug 20
  1. Some philosophical arguments fail due to lack of clear constraints.
  2. Examples like reliabilism and Kantian ethics struggle with defining relevant processes or maxims.
  3. Challenges arise when trying to assign probabilities without clear guidelines, like in the principle of indifference.

Is Goodness Really So Far Away?

0 implied HN points • 13 Aug 20
  1. Becoming morally excellent isn't hard due to limitations like cognitive or physical skills.
  2. Being morally excellent doesn't require impossible cognitive or physical skills.
  3. Trying to be morally good is already halfway to moral excellence.
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Are Americans Becoming More Depressed?

0 implied HN points • 07 Aug 20
  1. Research shows that the prevalence of major depressive disorder in America has not significantly increased from the 90s to early 2000s.
  2. Studies suggest an increase in the prevalence of major depressive episodes in the US between 1991-1992 and 2001-2002.
  3. Overall, research findings vary, but current evidence shows that Americans may not be becoming more depressed as a whole.

Power Is All Around Us

0 implied HN points • 30 Jul 20
  1. Power is the ability to get things done, and everyone has things to do.
  2. Power changes can happen quickly, and being the first mover in a space can provide advantages.
  3. Building power involves providing value, being informed, and understanding informal interactions.

Against Obsession, in Defense of Obsession

0 implied HN points • 19 Jun 20
  1. Being obsessed with a single value can make your life unbalanced
  2. Obsession can lead to neglecting important aspects of life like relationships and health
  3. Having a barbell strategy in life, combining safe investments with risky moves, can lead to a more fulfilling and successful life

Meaning, Morality, and Obsession

0 implied HN points • 11 Jun 20
  1. It's important to invest time in doing good for the world.
  2. Being moral doesn't necessarily equate to living a fully meaningful life.
  3. Obsession, whether with morality or other pursuits, can lead to a lopsided existence.

You See the Territory or Nothing at All

0 implied HN points • 14 May 20
  1. There are two main views on perception: indirect realism sees a veil between perceiver and world, while direct realism perceives the world directly.
  2. The debate over the nature of perception can be purely conceptual, focusing on the object of perception and how it is perceived.
  3. Cognitive qualia highlight the subjective experience of different beliefs, emphasizing that beliefs have experiential significance beyond social and functional roles.

How Philosophy Will Influence Technological Development

0 implied HN points • 23 Apr 20
  1. Philosophical work can influence the rate of technological development through formal and predictive philosophy.
  2. Examples of influential philosophical work include computation, probability, and predictive philosophy.
  3. Promising areas of philosophy to influence technological development include formal philosophy (e.g., modeling agents, causation) and predictive philosophy (e.g., existential risk, artificial intelligence).

Thou Shalt Love the Lord Thy God; But Thou Shalt Not Know Thyself

0 implied HN points • 01 Apr 22
  1. G. K. Chesterton's 'Orthodoxy' explains why he is a Christian.
  2. Chesterton's work is not persuasive but shows good judgment in criticizing extreme skepticism, relativism, and existentialism.
  3. Reading 'Orthodoxy' can be a mix of superficial flippant moments and insightful incisive critiques.

A Merciful Face and a Wrathful Face

0 implied HN points • 01 Jul 22
  1. Islam emphasizes submission to God, faith in God, and worship of God as traits of continuous improvement.
  2. Islam's view of God as both merciful and wrathful is a unique aspect of the faith.
  3. The Hadith of Gabriel outlines the fundamental tenets of Islam: Islam, Iman, and Ihsan.

Notes on Depression

0 implied HN points • 01 Sep 22
  1. Depression is a complex disorder with different experiences like anhedonia and mental anguish.
  2. Depression can be difficult to convey to those who haven't experienced it, but can be shared through symptoms, biography, or art.
  3. Social construction plays a role in defining depression, and the disorder isn't solely an individual experience.

Being No. 51

0 implied HN points • 29 Sep 22
  1. The book 'China in 10 Words' explores daily life in China through ordinary events like street brawls and leaving hometowns.
  2. The concept of contingency is highlighted, showing how lives in China were uprooted by the cultural revolution and the fall of communism.
  3. Arbitrariness is reflected in the story of '51', a man who narrowly missed the chance to access non-Maoist books, showcasing the randomness of fate.

Stoicism in the Age of Fake News

0 implied HN points • 26 Jan 23
  1. It's challenging to determine what is true in today's information environment
  2. Stoicism offers techniques to change the way we relate to news
  3. Cultivating epistemic virtue can help navigate the prevalence of misinformation and disinformation

You Can’t Learn Anything About the World From Meditating

0 implied HN points • 21 May 20
  1. You can't learn deep truths about the world from mindfulness meditation.
  2. Meditation helps with focus and discipline, not necessarily discovering world truths.
  3. Meditation experiences are shaped by beliefs and concepts, affecting what one learns.

Virtue Signaling Is Underrated

0 implied HN points • 04 Jun 20
  1. Virtue signaling is more about looking moral than being moral.
  2. Virtue signaling, even the cheap kind, can be beneficial in communicating social norms.
  3. Virtue signaling can motivate positive actions and encourage others to do the same.

Into the Head, Out of the World

0 implied HN points • 29 Nov 20
  1. There is a shift from valuing external experiences to focusing more on internal feelings and thoughts.
  2. Modern culture emphasizes happiness as a subjective state that can be cultivated individually.
  3. The move towards internal focus is driven by factors like individualism, prosperity, mental health awareness, and technological advancements.

Ten Answers

0 implied HN points • 27 May 21
  1. Life is about having fun, feeling good, and being happy.
  2. Life has no grand meaning in the grand scheme of things.
  3. We are like artists crafting the story of our own lives.