Polymathic Being

Polymathic Being explores a wide range of topics, intertwining insights from technology, innovation, philosophy, psychology, and more, with a focus on counterintuitive perspectives. It delves into societal behaviors, leadership strategies, the impact of technology and AI, personal development, and the intersection of science with everyday life.

Technology and Innovation Philosophy and Psychology Environmental Issues Leadership and Management Social and Economic Behaviors Artificial Intelligence and Machine Learning Health and Nutrition Personal Growth Cultural Studies Science and Engineering

The hottest Substack posts of Polymathic Being

And their main takeaways

Agency vs. Addiction

68 implied HN points • 10 Mar 24
🏥 Health & Wellness Addiction Agency Regulation Exercise Relationships
  1. Personal agency is key in resisting external influences and making independent choices.
  2. Addiction can extend beyond traditional vices like drugs and alcohol to include positive behaviors as well.
  3. Past attempts at regulation, like Prohibition and the War on Drugs, have often failed, highlighting the importance of personal agency in combating addiction.

Turtles All The Way Down

54 implied HN points • 17 Mar 24
⛪ Faith & Spirituality Science Belief Philosophy Religion
  1. In science, we often reach a point where we must make a statement of faith or accept an axiom to progress, similar to the concept of 'Turtles All the Way Down.'
  2. The idea of infinite regress, like 'Turtles All the Way Down,' highlights the need for statements of faith in science to avoid getting lost in an endless loop of explanations.
  3. Recognizing and accepting statements of faith, axioms, or first principles is crucial for progress in our complex world, as long as we prevent them from turning into rigid religious beliefs.

Polymaths Unite

61 implied HN points • 03 Mar 24
⛪ Faith & Spirituality Mindset Community Learning Interaction
  1. Being a Polymath is achievable for anyone, not just mythical geniuses. It's about having curiosity, humility, and broad thinking.
  2. Interacting with Polymaths can be an adventurous and non-linear experience, with discussions weaving diverse topics effortlessly.
  3. Embrace the Polymathic mindset by uniting, conversing, challenging, and continuously learning. Join the community of counterintuitive thinkers.

The Dirty Secret of Recycling

104 implied HN points • 04 Feb 24
🌞 Climate & Environment Recycling Plastics Waste Management Environmental Impact Sustainability
  1. Only 10% of plastic put in recycling bins is actually recycled.
  2. Recycling can have high contamination rates and often leads to materials being shipped overseas or dumped in landfills.
  3. To improve recycling, focus on reducing and reusing materials, design products for better recycling, and address the psychological aspect of recycling habits.

Don't Trust AI... Entrust It

65 implied HN points • 25 Feb 24
🕹 Technology AI Autonomy Trust Ethics Frameworks
  1. AI should be entrusted rather than blindly trusted, with clearly defined tasks and limitations.
  2. The concept of entrustment offers a more actionable approach than the vague, subjective concept of trust when dealing with AI and autonomous systems.
  3. Measuring trust through a framework that considers ethics and assurance helps in determining the boundaries within which AI can be entrusted with responsibilities.
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Steelman

70 implied HN points • 18 Feb 24
🚌 Education Persuasion Critical Thinking Problem Solving Dialogue Learning
  1. Being a Steelman means strengthening your arguments and understanding others' perspectives.
  2. Steelman is the superhero antidote to Strawman, who misrepresents arguments.
  3. Steelman approach brings benefits like improved dialogue, deeper learning, and avoiding unnecessary conflicts.

Chaos and Order

59 implied HN points • 11 Feb 24
⛪ Faith & Spirituality Psychology Archetypes Gender Dynamics Balance Mythology
  1. Ancient archetypes depict the feminine as chaos and the masculine as order, challenging our bias towards masculine order.
  2. In psychology, the feminine is linked to creativity and intuition, representing chaos, while the masculine is associated with logic and structure, representing order.
  3. Balancing the feminine chaos and masculine order is crucial for creating antifragile systems and achieving a dynamic and flexible equilibrium.

Acknowledge and Ignore

87 implied HN points • 14 Jan 24
🚌 Education Leadership Problem Solving Manipulation
  1. Acknowledging and ignoring can be a powerful tactic when dealing with poor leaders.
  2. Timely decision-making in leadership requires adaptability and making smart choices under pressure.
  3. Some leaders may prefer being acknowledged but then ignored, leading to better outcomes in certain situations.

Rediscovering the Goddess

65 implied HN points • 28 Jan 24
⛪ Faith & Spirituality Feminism Gender Roles
  1. The current feminist movement often overlooks the importance of embracing the feminine aspect.
  2. Society tends to value masculine traits over feminine qualities, leading to a devaluation of the feminine divine.
  3. It is essential to reclaim and appreciate the unique power and contributions of the feminine, rather than imposing masculine standards on women.

Amazon Exposed!

94 implied HN points • 31 Dec 23
💼 Business E-commerce Logistics Marketplace Publishing Monopoly
  1. Amazon's strength is in revolutionizing supply chain logistics, not in direct selling.
  2. Amazon's marketplace allows small businesses to thrive alongside larger competitors.
  3. Amazon has democratized software development, resale, and publishing making entry easier for new businesses.

Nuclear Meltdown

66 implied HN points • 21 Jan 24
🔬 Science Nuclear power Energy Production
  1. Nuclear energy has advanced significantly in safety and technology, offering powerful environmental benefits.
  2. Outdated fears surrounding nuclear energy are based on events from half a century ago and misunderstandings of current reactor designs.
  3. Innovations like small modular reactors and new fuel sources are making nuclear energy safer, more efficient, and versatile in various applications.

Clothing and Sex

58 implied HN points • 07 Jan 24
🪞 Fashion & Beauty Fashion Beauty Sexuality Clothing
  1. The clothing we wear communicates complex signals about our sexuality, intentionally or unintentionally.
  2. Human biology plays a significant role in how male and female bodies advertise sexuality.
  3. It's important to be aware that what we wear communicates to others and to understand and be prepared to deal with the responses it may elicit.

An Ode to Beer

65 implied HN points • 10 Dec 23
🍲 Food & Drink History Science Culture Ingredients Brewing
  1. Beer has a long and significant history, dating back thousands of years before the invention of writing.
  2. Modern beer only consists of four main ingredients: malted barley, water, hops, and yeast, which play a critical role in creating diverse beer varieties.
  3. The regional variations in beer styles are influenced by factors like water pH, malt selection, hops, and yeast strains, showcasing the scientific complexity behind brewing.

The Uterine Lottery

66 implied HN points • 03 Dec 23
📖 Philosophy Evolutionary biology Economics Geopolitics Sociology
  1. Our existence is not entirely random; it is influenced by mate selection, education, health, and life decisions passed down through generations.
  2. Economic and geopolitical factors contribute to inequality, with the Pareto Principle indicating that a small percentage holds a majority of wealth and success.
  3. Sociological structures, traditions, and decisions made by our ancestors play a significant role in shaping who we are today.

Capture Your Imagination

54 implied HN points • 17 Dec 23
📚 Literature Fiction Character development Imagination
  1. Good fiction should be rooted in solid facts for a more engaging story.
  2. Plot development in writing can vary, from detailed world-building to a loosely coupled plot with surprises along the way.
  3. Character and dialog development are key in crafting a compelling narrative and engaging the reader's imagination.

Looking Into a Mirror

68 implied HN points • 15 Oct 23
⛪ Faith & Spirituality Psychology Behavior Reflection Morality Self-awareness
  1. People often project their own behaviors and beliefs onto others, leading to misunderstandings in conversations.
  2. Understanding that others may be reacting based on their own fears or insecurities can help you navigate and contextualize online arguments.
  3. By reflecting on your own tendencies and biases, you can improve empathy, communication, and ultimately influence others positively.

The Dream Cake

53 implied HN points • 08 Nov 23
🍲 Food & Drink Recipes Cooking Baking Desserts
  1. Serendipity can lead to unexpected and delicious outcomes, like a unique cake recipe.
  2. Being open to unusual ideas and chance encounters can result in fun and memorable experiences.
  3. Sharing experiences and recipes with friends can create long-lasting connections and traditions.

The Beauty Quandary

77 implied HN points • 17 Sep 23
🎭️ Culture Beauty Evolutionary Psychology Societal norms Gender Studies Perception
  1. Beauty is a complex topic that influences various aspects of our lives, from societal perceptions to evolutionary biology.
  2. Looking good involves presenting ourselves in a way that signals health, status, and genetic viability.
  3. Our appearance can impact our social and economic outcomes, and understanding these dynamics can help us address biases and stereotypes.

Not So Idolatrous

39 implied HN points • 26 Nov 23
⛪ Faith & Spirituality Theology Religious texts
  1. The story of the Golden Calf from the Bible is not as simple as it seems and has layers of cultural and historical context.
  2. The Bible was compiled from different sources, including the Yahwist, Elohist, Deuteronomist, Priestly, and other writings.
  3. The use of the Golden Calf as an idol by the Israelites had a symbolic connection to their beliefs and was not entirely illogical.

Money Burn

66 implied HN points • 24 Sep 23
💰 Finance Wealth Spending Charity Psychology Support
  1. We tend to hesitate to give fair prices to those in need while easily overpaying for unnecessary luxury items.
  2. We often show generosity to those who don't require it, while driving a hard bargain with those in need.
  3. Our spending behaviors are driven by the dopamine hits we get from scoring bargains and splurging on luxuries; it's about reframing our perspective to support those in need more.

Exegesis: A Powerful Analytical Tool

73 implied HN points • 10 Sep 23
⛪ Faith & Spirituality Religion Psychology Interpretation Analysis Systems Thinking
  1. Exegesis is a powerful analytical tool that helps shift perspective by digging deeper into topics.
  2. It contrasts with eisegesis, which involves reading into situations based on biases and interpretations.
  3. Exegesis can be applied to various subjects to challenge assumptions, promote critical thinking, and gain a better understanding of historical and contemporary contexts.

The No True AI Fallacy

46 implied HN points • 08 Oct 23
🕹 Technology AI Autonomy Collaboration
  1. Be cautious of constantly changing the criteria for what constitutes 'real AI'
  2. Avoid over-attributing capabilities to AI and focus more on what makes us human
  3. Critical thinking about AI development is a human superpower that we should leverage

Composable Architectures and Lego

56 implied HN points • 27 Aug 23
🕹 Technology Design Software Hardware
  1. Composability is a powerful capability in design allowing modular parts to be combined and recombined.
  2. Lego demonstrates the concept of modularity and reusability, showcasing fantastic opportunities for leveraging existing efforts.
  3. Balancing composability is key, requiring intentional design and identifying natural limits to adapt and pivot effectively.

Eliminating Bias in AI/ML

75 implied HN points • 09 Oct 22
  1. Eliminating bias in AI/ML involves understanding that AI/ML is intentionally encoded with bias
  2. There are three main definitions of bias: ethical bias, measurement/data bias, and mathematical bias
  3. To eliminate bias in AI/ML, it might require adding bias strategically to achieve desired outcomes

Who is Santa Claus?

51 implied HN points • 18 Dec 22
  1. Santa Claus reflects a fusion of cultural traditions over 2000 years, blending Saint Nicholas with Germanic and Norse customs.
  2. Christmas celebrations are not about historical accuracy but represent a mindset of sharing, family, and fun during the darkest time of the year.
  3. Embracing the spirit of Santa means embodying positive values and teaching children to be kind, rather than focusing on the historical accuracy of the figure.

When Does a New Year Start?

42 implied HN points • 01 Jan 23
  1. Traditions of celebrating the New Year are clustered around Vernal (Spring) and Autumnal (Fall) equinoxes or the Winter solstice.
  2. Different cultures have unique New Year celebrations not on January 1st, marked by historical, religious, and astronomical factors.
  3. Changes in calendars, like the transition to the Gregorian Calendar, have impacted the start of the year, led to day shifts, and influenced when various cultures celebrate New Year.

Stereotyping Properly

46 implied HN points • 04 Dec 22
  1. Stereotypes can be powerful social tools with both strengths and pitfalls.
  2. Stereotypes are essential for social functioning, allowing for quick adaptation and understanding in new situations.
  3. Negative aspects of stereotypes include intentional hostility, refusal to allow deviation, and risks with constantly changing stereotypes.

When Zero Food is Healthy

49 implied HN points • 16 Oct 22
  1. Our understanding of food and nutrition is based on inaccurate information and politics rather than science, leading to health issues like obesity and diabetes.
  2. Intermittent fasting has major health benefits and our bodies do not necessarily need three meals a day.
  3. Fat is actually good for us, helps with satiety, and our gut health is closely linked to our overall brain health.

Lazy Leadership

61 implied HN points • 24 Jul 22
  1. Lazy leadership can have benefits and be more effective than industrious leadership in certain scenarios.
  2. The dichotomy between clever and lazy leaders versus clever and industrious leaders highlights the importance of efficiency and delegation.
  3. Creating a culture of 'lazy leaders' involves valuing cross-disciplinary skillsets, focusing on long-term stabilization, and shifting from quick fixes to root cause analysis.