Meaningful Particulars

Meaningful Particulars delves into the complexity of human thought, creativity, and existence, challenging mainstream perspectives on technology, consciousness, and ethical dilemmas. It emphasizes deep, analytical discussions on the interplay of culture, philosophy, and science, advocating for meaningful engagement over superficial consumption.

Writing and Creativity Philosophy and Ethics Technology and Society Human Consciousness Science and Understanding Art and Cultural Critique Personal Growth and Self-Understanding

The hottest Substack posts of Meaningful Particulars

And their main takeaways

The generative AI apocalypse turned out different

65 implied HN points • 13 Mar 24
🕹 Technology AI Internet Ethics Future Social media
  1. AI-driven algorithms provide more of what you've already liked, causing further optimization and less variety.
  2. Generative AI may not reach its full potential due to becoming incoherent when fed human responses, resulting in a lukewarm outcome.
  3. AI's development is not a straight path - it faces limitations, and changes in technology and society will alter its course.

To see clearly with universal indifference

65 implied HN points • 14 Feb 24
📖 Philosophy Self Reality Love Justice Morality
  1. The ego, while well-meaning, often leads to negative emotions like fear, anxiety, and criticism by exaggerating threats that no longer exist.
  2. Eastern traditions suggest silencing the ego by giving up worldly desires, while Western traditions propose 'unselfing' to gain a clearer understanding of reality.
  3. Artists, unlike the Buddhist advice to detach, become deeply involved in their work, showing that greater participation and attachment to reality can lead to a clearer perspective beyond the self.
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John Carpenter suspends natural law until the end of October

65 implied HN points • 27 Oct 23
🎭️ Culture Film Horror Art Science Literature
  1. John Carpenter's horror movies explore the theme of the absence of reasons, creating terror by challenging beliefs about reality and identity.
  2. Horror can work on three levels: gross-out, horror, and terror, with terror being the most powerful as it creates fear in the imagination.
  3. Carpenter's films, like Lovecraft's stories, confront the idea of a horrifying, incomprehensible universe, emphasizing the terror of the unknown.

The First One

163 implied HN points • 10 Jan 23
  1. Meaning is found in the details and specific moments, not in the general and abstract.
  2. The newsletter focuses on enduring ideas and slow, patient consideration, resisting fast trends.
  3. Ground rules for comments include no spam, trolling, conspiracy theories, or snark.

Three links for 2023-08-21

32 implied HN points • 20 Aug 23
🎭️ Culture Philosophy Technology Creativity
  1. Questioning the authority of health experts due to the rise of safetyism displacing other moral sensibilities.
  2. Exploring transhumanism as a literal interpretation of superhero powers through technology.
  3. Emphasizing the importance of focusing on creativity and sharing 'dope shit' with the world for standing out.

Three links for 2023-08-14

32 implied HN points • 14 Aug 23
📚 Literature Fiction Philosophy
  1. Giving a compelling tale can win people over, even if the facts are disregarded.
  2. Failure to deeply think can hinder meaningful arguments and discussions.
  3. Relying too heavily on generative AI may lead to unrealistic expectations.

What makes consciousness so interesting anyway?

0 implied HN points • 08 Sep 23
📖 Philosophy Consciousness Mind Reality Language Perception
  1. There isn't a clear, agreed-upon definition of consciousness, despite much interest from scientists and philosophers
  2. Subjective phenomena in consciousness are connected with a specific point of view that is challenging to reconcile with objective, physical theories
  3. Consciousness is not a simple category, but a complex collection of mental experiences, emotions, and perceptions that defy easy definition

Three links about fear

0 implied HN points • 30 Jul 23
📚 Literature Writing Authors Stories
  1. Working on a story means it's not finished, so there's no need to fear failure.
  2. Everyone has different tastes, so what you create won't please everyone.
  3. Surviving a risky situation puts other fears into perspective.

A mythology of progressing intelligence

0 implied HN points • 24 Nov 23
🔬 Science Language Intelligence Artificial Intelligence Philosophy Consciousness
  1. Condillac's fable illustrates the origins of language through natural cries associated with objects.
  2. Herder disagreed, emphasizing that language involves intention and understanding, not just responses to signs.
  3. Human intelligence is qualitatively different due to reflective self-awareness and language, challenging the idea of a ladder of progress.