Philosophy bear

Philosophy Bear, initially de Pony Sum, explores a diverse range of subjects spanning philosophy, politics, psychology, and more, with a critical lens on current societal issues, ethical considerations, and future implications. It examines AI development, self-promotion, existential risks, self-defense, and the dynamics of societal standards and behaviors, offering insights into human morality, political economy, and the interplay between technology and society.

Philosophy Politics Psychology Ethics Artificial Intelligence Societal Issues Economic Theories Human Behavior Technological Implications Moral Philosophy

The hottest Substack posts of Philosophy bear

And their main takeaways

Yelling into the storm- a protest against mental agony

71 implied HN points • 05 Jun 23
📖 Philosophy Mental health Existentialism Society Ethics Pain
  1. Sometimes, we don't have as much control over our lives as we think we do, and that realization can be scary.
  2. Mental pain is often overlooked and not given the urgent attention it deserves by society and healthcare systems.
  3. The belief that pain is character-building or insignificant unless it has noticeable effects is a harmful societal lie; we must prioritize abolishing mental agony.

Is there good reason to forgive off-color jokes when they're especially funny?

57 implied HN points • 14 Jul 23
📖 Philosophy Ethics Humor Sociology Culture Comedy
  1. Forgiving off-color jokes if they are exceptionally funny is a common norm, even among morally strict individuals.
  2. The defense for this principle includes arguments like the 'enough value' defense and the 'net benefits to the victims' view.
  3. There are downsides to leniency for off-color jokes, such as built-in motivation for comedians, inherent prejudices, and hypocrisy among people.
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"Mid" is unfalsifiable

64 implied HN points • 18 May 23
📖 Philosophy Concepts Reasoning Reality Ethics
  1. Calling someone 'mid' is unfalsifiable because it's hard to prove you're not just average.
  2. Labeling someone as 'mid' can lead to implications similar to being called 'ugly'.
  3. The concept of 'mid' has become popular due to unrealistic expectations and fear of commitment in relationships.

Bleeding hearts and bleeding backs: Why we shouldn't be so quick to eliminate beatings from the labour market

57 implied HN points • 24 Jun 23
📖 Philosophy Ethics Political Economics
  1. Employers can legally include beatings in employment contracts, which some argue benefits marginal employees.
  2. Banning workplace beatings may lead to unintended consequences like increased unemployment among vulnerable workers.
  3. Advocates for allowing beatings argue that it is a private transaction and suggest implementing Pigouvian tax if externalities are a concern.

Concentric circles of morality

50 implied HN points • 03 Aug 23
  1. Morality has different levels of avoidance, from personal to public condemnation to making things illegal.
  2. Internet moralism can lead to confusion between personal views and societal standards.
  3. Being mindful of judgment and making allowances for mistakes can protect reputation and prevent hypocrisy.

Hitler's jig and two types of people

64 implied HN points • 30 Apr 23
📖 Philosophy Ethics Thought Morality Belief Metaphysics
  1. There is a divide between people who react calmly to controversial statements and those who get upset or angry.
  2. The case of Hitler's jig can be a test to learn more about people's tolerance and reactions to provocative ideas.
  3. Engaging in discussions about challenging topics can reveal different thinking styles and levels of openness.

Depression drugs might work better than we think (or worse) because depression scales have a severe flaw

57 implied HN points • 03 Jun 23
  1. Depression scales may not accurately measure the severity of symptoms due to the varied and arbitrary nature of the questions.
  2. The gaps between answers in depression scales could impact the estimation of the effectiveness of drugs and therapies.
  3. Using core questions with clearer scales could provide a more intuitive way to understand the impact of treatments on depression.

There is no right to dislike people

50 implied HN points • 09 Jul 23
  1. Disliking someone without good reason may harm them and hurt their feelings.
  2. It's possible to acknowledge and try to change our wrongful dislikes.
  3. Easily disliking others can lead to alienation from oneself or humanity.

A prison skeptic's manifesto

71 implied HN points • 05 Feb 23
  1. Prison skepticism is about questioning the current system while acknowledging the necessity of containment for violent individuals.
  2. Concern for prisoners should be based on recognizing their humanity and the misfortunes many have faced.
  3. Thinking about utopian alternatives to prisons, such as advanced technologies for intervention and treatment, is essential for progress.

Verbal disputes over logic

42 implied HN points • 06 Aug 23
  1. Logic can be influenced by how we interpret 'true' and other terms
  2. Partial interpretation of sentences can lead to statements that are both true and false
  3. Debates over fuzzy versus binary truth can be just a matter of semantics

Questions on death- reading Mortals: Part 1

50 implied HN points • 30 May 23
  1. Consider if you care more about being remembered or impacting the world after you're gone
  2. Reflect on how you fear death and the absence of opportunities it creates
  3. Think about striving for immortality through various means and if it hurts or helps you

Is there scope for a left rationalism?

78 implied HN points • 24 Nov 22
  1. Left rationalism can offer a unique intellectual niche for informed speculation and open discourse.
  2. Engaging with existing and future technologies critically is crucial for a left rationalist movement.
  3. A left rationalist project could help bridge the gap between political ideologies, focus on effective altruism in political causes, and address risks in AI research with a broader perspective.

Racism, "Prejudice plus power" and the semantics/pragmatics divide in language

50 implied HN points • 05 May 23
  1. The definition of racism as 'prejudice plus power' may not capture the complexities of how racism operates in society.
  2. There is a need to understand the ideological function of language, separating pragmatics from semantics when discussing sensitive issues like racism.
  3. Personal racism against white people may not be as significant on a societal scale compared to racism against oppressed racial groups.

The color of obligation

42 implied HN points • 29 Jun 23
  1. Matthew and Nathan have differing approaches to addressing world issues
  2. Elise and Celine hold different beliefs on morality but find strength in their perspectives
  3. The story discusses various philosophical perspectives and how they influence individuals' actions

That Law and Economics is an ideologically captured discipline

50 implied HN points • 24 Apr 23
  1. Efficiency in economics needs to go hand in hand with redistribution for real social welfare.
  2. Increasing efficiency without redistribution often leads to more money going to the rich.
  3. There are obstacles to both harming the poor for efficiency and redistributing wealth, and the public and elites have different views on redistribution.

What would go through my head if I found out aliens were visiting us

42 implied HN points • 07 Jun 23
  1. The post discusses the possibility of aliens visiting us and explores different scenarios such as alien craft and biological entities.
  2. It questions the motives of potential alien visitors, analyzing the actions taken by the supposed extraterrestrial beings.
  3. There is skepticism about the benevolence of aliens and considerations about their possible interactions with humanity.

A brief case for wild research

35 implied HN points • 02 Aug 23
  1. Some disciplines depend on prior work and are ranked based on cumulativity.
  2. In non-cumulative disciplines, wild research is encouraged as there's less harm in being wrong.
  3. Wild research can have long-lasting impact and be more influential in the growth of knowledge.

Kindness, mitigation

35 implied HN points • 24 Jul 23
  1. Mitigation of difficult circumstances can provide a partial excuse for wrongdoing.
  2. Kindness and empathy towards everyone can prevent contributing to oppression.
  3. Reputation is a complex concept - people often deserve a better reputation than their known deeds might suggest.

Misc musings

42 implied HN points • 20 May 23
  1. Orcas attacking boats might be protesting against harm caused by humans
  2. Selective policing can weaken your own side in moral debates
  3. Great works might be greater than their authors; don't expect authors to embody greatness

A time to reflect

21 implied HN points • 11 Dec 23
  1. The author's blog activity will be reduced until at least the new year due to their PhD deadline
  2. The author notes that this reflective season may spark new ideas and asks for suggestions on what readers would like to see more of in their future posts
  3. The author is open to feedback and engagement from readers on the content they want to read

A metaphilosophy

35 implied HN points • 17 Jul 23
  1. Philosophy often focuses on outcomes rather than agentive actions, which can limit its impact on real-world issues.
  2. Oral discussions in philosophy help avoid siloing and provide a space for bold and speculative ideas.
  3. Existentialism can play a vital role in adding meaning to life and bridging the gap between aesthetics, ethics, and philosophy.

FYI on comments

42 implied HN points • 02 May 23
  1. The Substack editor may default to 'only paid subscribers can comment', but the blog welcomes everyone to comment and read.
  2. Subscribing is voluntary and based on whether you feel you benefit from the blog's content.
  3. The author may have accidentally set a default that implies only paid subscribers can comment.

Moral wiggle room and tender consciences

35 implied HN points • 30 Jun 23
  1. Sometimes whether an action is considered right or wrong can depend on the individual's belief about it.
  2. There are moral grey areas where actions may be perceived differently by different people.
  3. One's conscience can influence whether an action is deemed wrong, leading to what is termed as tender conscience wrongdoing.

There is utility

35 implied HN points • 22 Jun 23
  1. Pain and discomfort are qualitatively different, and pain is generally worse.
  2. Discomfort can still be traded off for pain within an individual, even if they are distinct.
  3. There may be a common currency of 'goodness' and 'badness' in the brain, reflecting utility.

On the right to steal for dignity and the preservation of life

42 implied HN points • 17 Apr 23
  1. Individuals have the right to steal to achieve dignified subsistence if the government fails to provide it.
  2. Society should ensure everyone has access to dignified subsistence for a fully human life.
  3. Stealing for dignified subsistence must be non-violent, proportional, and from those with lesser need.