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

My roleplaying setting scrapbook part 1

57 implied HN points • 30 Nov 21
  1. Setting to be post-scarcity with unique magic system and complex politics
  2. Uses D&D's alignment grid for cosmology to add dramatic tensions
  3. Designed for high-level play, with powerful NPCs and factions with unique philosophies

Where Philosophy Bear stands on Transgender issues

57 implied HN points • 02 Nov 21
  1. Transgender people face challenges and should be treated with empathy and respect.
  2. The debate around transgender issues should focus on ethics, not semantics or metaphysics.
  3. Personal opinions on transgender individuals should not be influenced by stereotypes or memes.

Survey (Repost due to error)

7 implied HN points • 08 Feb 24
  1. Philosophy Bear is conducting a survey on political and ethical attitudes.
  2. The survey data will be used for analysis on the author's blog.
  3. Participation in the survey is voluntary and some questions may be distressing to some.

Some preliminary notes towards a *real* Cost-Benefit analysis of prisons

21 implied HN points • 18 Mar 23
  1. Cost-Benefit Analysis assesses the costs and benefits of programs by looking at what supporters and opponents would pay.
  2. There is a lack of thorough Cost-Benefit Analyses of incarceration, often excluding costs to prisoners.
  3. Approaching the analysis of incarceration from a utilitarian perspective involves measuring aggregate preference fulfillment and considering all significant costs and benefits.

Hypocrisy and violence- a brief comment

57 implied HN points • 28 Aug 21
  1. Hypocrisy can often be driven by violence and rage.
  2. People's principles can be compromised when fueled by hurt and shame.
  3. Rage stemming from a wounded self can lead individuals to betray their own values.
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Some slapdash notes on making Analytic Political Philosophy relevant

21 implied HN points • 21 Feb 23
  1. Democratic experimental philosophy (DEP) can apply experimental philosophy to political questions to show the undemocracy of unfair structures.
  2. Cost-benefit analysis is a specific mathematical and economic apparatus used in decision-making that may not align with democratic principles.
  3. Human rights encompass both negative and positive aspects, challenging the traditional distinction and emphasizing the historical struggle for rights as concessions won by the oppressed.

What the virus taught us

57 implied HN points • 06 Aug 21
  1. The world was not ready to handle a serious pandemic.
  2. Mistakes were made in mask advice and aerosol transmission.
  3. Global vaccination efforts and public trust in governments were lacking.

Donations to the "Freedom Convoy" a statistical overview

42 implied HN points • 14 Feb 22
  1. Total of 91,845 donations made to the 'Freedom Convoy'.
  2. Total amount donated was $8,421,807 with an average donation of $92.
  3. Majority of donations were from the United States, but Canadians contributed over half of the funds.

The Antinomies of Welfare Economics

42 implied HN points • 12 Feb 22
  1. Welfare economics is essential but often overlooked
  2. Cost-benefit analysis can lead to conflicting premises in government spending decisions
  3. Unweighted cost-benefit analysis is commonly used despite controversies around its fairness

Some very important blog updates plus verbal parity forecasting

21 implied HN points • 01 Dec 22
  1. Important blog updates include a rescheduled in-person event on December 18, 2022.
  2. Philosophy Bear is exploring verbal parity and forecasting, focusing on AI's ability to respond like a human to written inputs.
  3. Efforts to predict the achievement of verbal parity are underway, with proposed criteria including AI-authored novels and academic papers.

Voter centrism versus politician centrism

42 implied HN points • 04 Nov 21
  1. Voter centrism is different from politician centrism in its views on various issues like death penalty, prison system, and government policies.
  2. Voter centrism wants tough talk on welfare but ultimately does not want anyone to starve, advocating for a 'human' and less bureaucratic system.
  3. Voter centrism supports unions passively but believes in addressing inequality targeted at big players like oligarchs, not affecting people they know.

The Romance of Quantum Archaeology

42 implied HN points • 23 Sep 21
  1. In the afterlife, people find solace and happiness, free from pain and filled with warmth.
  2. Resurrected historical figures interact and entertain audiences in unique ways in the afterlife.
  3. There are discussions and attempts at justice in the digital afterlife to deal with wickedness and cruelty from the past lives.

For the working class, real weekly wages haven't risen in 55 years.

35 implied HN points • 10 Jan 22
  1. Real weekly wages for the working class have not increased in 55 years.
  2. Hourly pay for private sector workers hasn't improved much in real terms either.
  3. Despite real GDP per capita nearly tripling, wages for the working class have stayed stagnant.

Confessions: A psychological and intellectual autobiography

35 implied HN points • 03 Jan 22
  1. The author delves into their core psychopathology, including fears of harming others and a strong desire for honesty.
  2. They share personal reflections on identity, self-image, and struggles with vanity and metacommentary.
  3. The piece touches on a range of philosophical reflections, political views, and futuristic inclinations, emphasizing a belief in human potential and the importance of building community.

Democracy as ritualized civil war: A metaphor I like

35 implied HN points • 15 Nov 21
  1. Democracy can be seen as a ritual replacing civil war by deciding based on the majority's vote.
  2. The metaphor highlights the importance of forming coalitions in democracy.
  3. The metaphor serves as a reminder of democracy's complexities and the need to embrace it in its entirety.

Draft zero of my PhD thesis

28 implied HN points • 07 Feb 22
  1. The author shared the 0th draft of their PhD thesis.
  2. They are seeking feedback on the topic of judging policy effects on welfare.
  3. Readers are encouraged to provide feedback by clicking the provided link.

A novel I wanted to write: The Honesty Contagion

35 implied HN points • 19 Aug 21
  1. The novel's main plot revolves around a woman who gains the power to make people unable to lie.
  2. The story explores the repercussions of spreading this truth-telling power to others.
  3. The narrative presents a scenario where the world is transformed by the contagious impact of honesty, leaving the reader to ponder its consequences.

Seeing like a communist

28 implied HN points • 13 Nov 21
  1. Grasping a weltanschauung involves rearranging our understanding into a new pattern.
  2. Our society's organization is shaped by power, resources, and the dominant ideas reflecting the interests of the powerful.
  3. Producing for exchange, not use, can lead to inefficiencies, inequality, and a self-moving logic of capitalism that can subvert principles and moral considerations.

Utilitarianism is an egalitarianism

28 implied HN points • 04 Sep 21
  1. Utilitarianism can be seen as highly egalitarian in practice, embracing the idea of maximizing overall welfare for all people.
  2. Cost-benefit analysis can sometimes confuse efficiency with equity, leading to misunderstandings about utilitarianism's focus on distributive efficiency.
  3. Utilitarianism aligns closely with other egalitarian philosophies in practical terms, showing strong support for wealth redistribution and similar outcomes.

My roleplaying setting scrapbook part 2

21 implied HN points • 04 Feb 22
  1. Define the philosophy of the setting by leaning into classic D&D tropes in a high-powered, mythopoetic world
  2. Introduce Gestalt rules for character leveling and explore the impact on character design and gameplay
  3. Create a complex world with interconnected biomes, a spirit-haunted climate, and a diverse ecology of dragons

Does anyone really respect democracy?

21 implied HN points • 14 Nov 21
  1. Respecting democracy means accepting decisions even when you disagree
  2. Respecting democracy should extend to serious decisions, not just minor ones
  3. Debates about democracy and rights can be complex and subjective

Go my friends write a book and bring back the tradition of the pamphleteers

21 implied HN points • 27 Oct 21
  1. It's important for thoughtful people to start writing, even if just setting up a blog.
  2. Writing a book can have a significant impact on readers and can contribute to social transformation.
  3. Writing a book brings personal benefits and is a persistent achievement that helps combat the feeling of not having done enough.

Pre-registering some brief guesses about the future of Large Language Models

7 implied HN points • 23 Apr 23
  1. There is still room for scaling Large Language Models, but other methods of improvement are becoming equally important.
  2. Large Language Models are like the CPU of a new kind of computer, with potential for mimicking human cognitive faculties.
  3. Mistaking the end of scaling for the end of the Large Language Model boom is shortsighted; there's still much potential for applications.

Three things I think you should read

21 implied HN points • 15 Sep 21
  1. One takeaway is about the importance of using intelligence to help others, not to feel superior.
  2. Another takeaway is an article about political philosophy of taxation worth reading.
  3. The last takeaway is about the case of Lamar Johnson, which is highlighted as an outrageous situation.

Pathological fear is, in a real sense, cancer

5 HN points • 13 May 23
  1. Pathological fear can be compared to cancer in the way it grows and spreads within us.
  2. Fearful thoughts evolve and seek attention to survive and multiply.
  3. Understanding the evolutionary model of anxiety within individuals can help comprehend the development of ideas.

Psychometrics as a solution to many traditional problems of applied welfare economics, a thesis precis

14 implied HN points • 10 Oct 21
  1. Psychometrics can offer an alternative paradigm for solving problems in applied welfare economics
  2. Interpersonal aggregation, the comparison of mental states, and the role of values are key challenges in welfare economics
  3. Using psychometric measures of subjective wellbeing can provide more reliable and ethical ways to infer welfare compared to revealed preferences

Brief note against bipartisanship

14 implied HN points • 08 Oct 21
  1. There are two species of bipartisanship: accidental and deliberate.
  2. Deliberate bipartisanship aims to achieve consensus for perceived importance.
  3. Bipartisanship can limit voter choice and be a way for elites to avoid democracy.

A change in how we've thought about the afterlife, and what it might mean

14 implied HN points • 14 Sep 21
  1. Many extinct pagan religions believed in a dismal afterlife resembling a Sheol-like stasis.
  2. Living major religions today generally believe in a blissful afterlife, unlike some extinct religions.
  3. There may have been a historical trend towards more optimism about the afterlife influenced by societal power dynamics.

Choices

7 implied HN points • 23 Aug 22
  1. Consider writing a fan fiction project set in the Star Wars Universe with different options
  2. Choose the best cover design for a book keeping in mind Amazon ad clicks and purchases
  3. Gather reader preferences and feedback on creative choices for the blog

That some emotions are wrong

5 HN points • 01 Dec 22
  1. Some emotions can be wrong and invalid.
  2. We have some degree of control over our emotions, even in the moment.
  3. Recognizing that some emotions can be wrong gives respect to the role of emotions in thought.

The greatest potential for censorship is in the algorithm, not in the bans

7 implied HN points • 02 Feb 22
  1. The main threat of censorship lies within algorithms, not bans.
  2. Algorithmic censorship operates subtly by curating what content users see.
  3. Algorithmic censorship challenges traditional liberal concepts and mainly impacts those on the left side of the political spectrum.

A challenge for AI sceptics

1 HN point • 14 Feb 24
📖 Philosophy AI Mind Debate Critiques
  1. Being an AI skeptic involves questioning the significance of current machine learning research compared to its hype.
  2. Critiques of contemporary machine learning models often involve concerns about their lack of explicit processing, grounding of symbols, and theoretical basis.
  3. The challenge presented is to define a task that current large language models cannot perform, with specific criteria to avoid loopholes or biased assessments.

Rationalism and social rationalism

2 HN points • 10 Mar 23
📖 Philosophy Rationalism Belief Epistemology
  1. It's more important for society to get questions right than for individuals to be right, especially for political, existential risk, scientific, technological, and ethical questions.
  2. Different aspects of belief can go in different directions within a single person, and collective rationality can differ from individual rationality.
  3. Advocating beliefs should consider the gap between personal belief and societal belief, and focus on contributing unique information to enhance public reason.

The tragedy of the artistic intellect and artificial intellect

2 HN points • 05 Dec 22
  1. AI art is not simply copying from human art, it involves a complex process of creation.
  2. Understanding the differences between human and neural network mediation is challenging.
  3. The structural issues in compensating artists under capitalism are reflected in the problems created by AI art.

Join my chat

0 implied HN points • 22 May 23
  1. Philosophy bear has started a subscriber chat for exclusive conversations with subscribers.
  2. To join the chat, subscribers need to download the Substack app on iOS or Android.
  3. Once the app is downloaded, subscribers can access the chat and participate in discussions with Philosophy bear.