De Pony Sum

De Pony Sum addresses ethical, political, and societal questions, analyzing current events, academic practices, and philosophical theories. It dives into issues like the Israeli-Palestinian conflict, societal inequities, self-improvement philosophies, and the implications of AI. The Substack embraces a critical, often left-leaning perspective on global injustices, academia's shortcomings, and the search for a better world.

Current Events Ethics and Philosophy Political Analysis Societal Injustices Academic Critique Artificial Intelligence Self-Improvement Indigenous Rights Technology and Society

The hottest Substack posts of De Pony Sum

And their main takeaways

The Room and Matt Christman

412 implied HN points • 27 Sep 23
📖 Philosophy Existentialism Ethics Morality Politics Metaethics
  1. Matt Christman deserves appreciation for his understanding of societal injustices and the need for change.
  2. The analogy of a room with limited democracy, resources, healthcare, and foreign policy mirrors the inequalities present in the world.
  3. The message conveyed by Christman emphasizes the importance of solidarity, shared humanity, and the power to create a better world.

Gaza

314 implied HN points • 18 Oct 23
🌍 World Politics Conflict Human Rights Oppression Revolution Power Dynamics
  1. View the Israeli-Palestinian conflict as a long-term issue of power dynamics, not just current events.
  2. Consider all preventable deaths, not just the obvious ones, in evaluating the situation.
  3. Focus on present suffering and power dynamics rather than historical arguments over indigenous status.
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Behold the dreamer

255 implied HN points • 23 Oct 23
📖 Philosophy Ethics Humanity Forgiveness Suffering Gratitude
  1. Goodness is often based on moral luck, where circumstances may lead anyone to do wrong.
  2. It's challenging to categorize people as good or bad, making it important to choose how to view humanity as a whole.
  3. Forgiveness and gratitude are crucial, especially in recognizing human struggles and efforts to do good amid suffering.

The cupboards of perfection

294 implied HN points • 19 Sep 23
📖 Philosophy Self-Improvement Perfection Identity Ethics
  1. The concept of perfect self-improvement cupboards is explored, where individuals step in to be improved in different ways.
  2. Different versions of the cupboards were created to address issues like changing preferences and ensuring consent at each stage of improvement.
  3. Ultimately, a MetaUltimate cupboard was designed, allowing individuals to go through their preferred self-improvement process, raising questions about what the perfect self-improvement process truly is.

The view from utopia

255 implied HN points • 23 Sep 23
📖 Philosophy Ethics Aesthetics Metaphysics
  1. Think about what kind of world you would create in different scenarios of power and capacity
  2. Challenge traditional theories of the good life by considering extreme scenarios
  3. Imagine creating a complex and diverse utopia with opportunities for growth and experience

Why I'm voting for the voice

255 implied HN points • 17 Sep 23
🇺🇸 U.S. Politics Philosophy Media Society
  1. Making an honest effort to persuade is important in advancing ideas.
  2. Indigenous people in Australia face significant challenges like lower income, shorter life expectancy, and overrepresentation in the prison population.
  3. Supporting The Voice referendum in Australia can help draw attention to indigenous issues and bring about progress.