Doc Hammer's Anvil

Doc Hammer's Anvil explores societal, economic, and philosophical issues while occasionally delving into personal projects and craftsmanship. The blog critiques cultural phenomena, discusses morality and justice, evaluates economic concepts, and reflects on personal development and societal norms through practical craftsmanship and analytical essays.

Societal Critique Economic Theory Philosophy and Morality Personal Craftsmanship Cultural Observations Mental Health and Extremism Justice and Law Technology and Culture Parenting and Education

The hottest Substack posts of Doc Hammer's Anvil

And their main takeaways

From Propriety to Extremism

216 implied HN points • 29 Jan 24
📖 Philosophy Morality Behavior Reality Mental Illness Social norms
  1. Mental illness isn't necessary for spiraling into extremism, but it can play a role in exacerbating the process.
  2. Human judgment of behavior is based on societal norms and personal perceptions of propriety, praise-worthiness, blame-worthiness, reward-worthiness, and punishment-worthiness.
  3. Low costs and high benefits can lead to purity spirals, where society's expectations become more demanding, driving behavior towards extremism.

Smithing, Adequately and Poorly

176 implied HN points • 23 Jan 24
🎨 Art & Illustration Crafting
  1. Sometimes projects in smithing go well, and sometimes they don't.
  2. Creating useful and functional tools requires practice and patience.
  3. Failure is a part of the learning process, providing experience and lessons for improvement.

Buckley and Friedman: 1968

176 implied HN points • 13 Jan 24
💾 History Events Personalities
  1. Buckley and Friedman discussed the negative income tax in 1968.
  2. The term 'classical liberal' was used to describe right-leaning libertarians in 1968.
  3. The author had a cataract removed and is adjusting to the changes in vision.
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The Hearth and the Wild Wood

452 implied HN points • 04 Feb 23
  1. The concept of 'tonic masculinity' is gaining interest as a response to 'toxic masculinity'.
  2. Parents play different roles in guiding children from a safe environment to facing the world's challenges.
  3. Children must learn to face reality on its own terms as they venture into the 'Wild Wood'.

Back to the Forger

275 implied HN points • 11 Jun 23
🎨 Art & Illustration Woodworking Crafting
  1. The author shared about making tiny Christmas hammers for their children using spring steel and oak wood handles.
  2. They also worked on creating an ax from a circular saw blade and steel strap, giving it to their dad as a display piece.
  3. Lastly, the author moved to a new place and engaged in projects like crafting door latches and long squirrel cookers with the help of their daughter.

Culture and Kit

294 implied HN points • 16 Mar 23
🎭️ Culture Society Technology Social media Behavior
  1. Different opinions on the impact of technology and culture are causing discussion.
  2. The evolution of technology has changed cultural activities and interactions.
  3. Excessive use of smartphones and social media can lead to a dangerous and isolating culture.

Evolutionary Ethics

255 implied HN points • 13 May 23
📖 Philosophy Ethics Evolution Morality Culture
  1. Morality is subjective but also objective in extremes, with the real debate lying in the middle ground.
  2. Societies with dysfunctional morality can be seen as sick due to cultural contagion, but can also experience evolutionary changes.
  3. Evolutionary processes differ from human incremental changes, resulting in species adapting to different environments and niches.

Book Series Review: Undying Mercenaries

176 implied HN points • 18 Jul 23
📚 Literature Science fiction Book review
  1. The book series "Undying Mercenaries" is described as a solidly mediocre pulp sci-fi series that can still be fun and interesting to read.
  2. The story follows humanity being annexed by a Galactic Empire and using revival machines for immortality in a world of callous aliens and constant danger.
  3. Despite its flaws like plot holes, unlikable characters, and continuity errors, the series can still be worth a read for some light entertainment.

On Justices

216 implied HN points • 09 Mar 23
📖 Philosophy Justice Virtue Ethics Moral Philosophy Social Interaction
  1. Many fundamental moral and philosophical concepts have been lost in modern times, requiring a rediscovery and clarification of ideas.
  2. Justice is a crucial virtue that allows for moral compulsion through force, and it is important to differentiate between Commutative Justice (CJ) and Distributive Justice (DJ).
  3. Commutative Justice (CJ) involves actions that can be enforced through coercion without violating the perception of justice in the eyes of others, while Distributive Justice (DJ) focuses on the becoming use of what is our own and involves a constant debate on what is considered good.

And Gifts from the Flames

137 implied HN points • 12 Jun 23
🎨 Art & Illustration Crafts DIY
  1. The author made a bottle opener karambit from old wrenches, practicing his skills.
  2. A Mother's Day dinner bell was crafted to round up kids for dinner, with various tones when struck.
  3. Current projects include making a spear socket jig and working on crafting pila.

Been a Bit Slow

157 implied HN points • 26 Apr 23
  1. The author has been busy with life events like moving houses and a new job offer
  2. Undertook a challenging home improvement project involving serious insulation work
  3. Encountered unexpected difficulties and obstacles but persevered to complete the project

RealFemSapien Podcast

157 implied HN points • 05 Mar 23
🎙 Podcasts Discussion
  1. RealFemSapien Podcast is about tonic masculinity and societal issues.
  2. The podcast featured guests discussing what went wrong in the world and how to address it.
  3. The discussion was held live on Youtube with several participants.