What Is Called Thinking? $5 / month

What Is Called Thinking? explores the intersections of philosophy, religion, culture, and technology, questioning modern conventions and encouraging deep reflection. It discusses the impacts of societal shifts, the relevancy of liberal arts, the challenges of secularism, and the essence of human action and belief, influenced by thinkers like Heidegger.

Philosophy Religion Culture Technology Liberal Arts Secularism Human Action Intellectual Virtues

The hottest Substack posts of What Is Called Thinking?

And their main takeaways

Priest vs. Prophet

42 implied HN points • 25 Jan 24
⛪ Faith & Spirituality
  1. Leaders often hold conflicting roles and responsibilities, like priests, prophets, and kings.
  2. Priests focus on peace-making and entertainment, seeking compromise and moderation.
  3. Prophets engage in truth-telling, often with a challenging message and a unique style.

Religion is Social

120 implied HN points • 15 Nov 23
⛪ Faith & Spirituality Religion Conversion Meaning Judaism Christianity
  1. Aayan Hirsi Ali converted to Christianity for cultural and civilizational reasons, not just doctrine or creed.
  2. Religion can be based on social and relational motivations, like the story of Ruth converting to Judaism.
  3. Conversion to a religion can involve a combination of reasons, such as societal threats and the need for a way of life.
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The Liberal Arts Are Dying Because Liberalism is Dying

189 implied HN points • 03 May 23
🎭️ Culture Liberalism Education Philosophy Identity
  1. Negative capability, the ability to entertain doubt and uncertainty, is a virtue crucial for understanding and self-improvement.
  2. Liberal arts decline is linked to the unfashionability of liberalism, impacting the promotion of open-mindedness and critical thinking.
  3. True thinking and poetizing require clandestine nurturing, not easily measured by traditional standards, acknowledging the elusive nature of cultivating deeper intellectual virtues.

Love The Work

74 implied HN points • 11 Sep 23
⛪ Faith & Spirituality Spirituality Religion Philosophy
  1. Loving work means valuing work for its own sake, not for status or power.
  2. It's important to care about the outcome of your efforts, not just the process.
  3. Work can be any activity that betters your situation, not just what you do for pay.

Curation Over Creation

101 implied HN points • 12 Jun 23
🎭️ Culture Art Literature Philosophy Religion Life
  1. In a world where AI can generate content, the value is in curating and arranging information.
  2. The importance of arrangement and curation in art, history, and literature is highlighted.
  3. Creating a meaningful life is about curating experiences and arranging them into an anthology.

AI as Long Wall

128 implied HN points • 27 Mar 23
📖 Philosophy Technology Ethics Culture History
  1. AI will have a significant cultural and technological impact in the upcoming years.
  2. The risk of over-reliance on AI is the potential loss of diverse skills and knowledge.
  3. Diversification of skills and knowledge is essential to counterbalance the potential negative impacts of AI.

The Limits of Strategy

136 implied HN points • 28 Feb 23
📖 Philosophy Self-help Strategy Life
  1. Strategy has its limits because achieving goals can lead to an infinite regress.
  2. Avoid placing too much focus on short-term wins and instead consider long-term, noble aims.
  3. Inner peace and self-knowledge are essential to navigate the uncertainties of life strategies.

All is Water

80 implied HN points • 13 Feb 23
📖 Philosophy Metaphysics Existentialism Ethics Epistemology Religion
  1. There used to be a quest for a grand theory of everything, but that's less common now.
  2. Philosophy needs to remain tentative and open to falsification.
  3. Different thinkers approach the idea of totalizing theories in various ways, from seeking consensus to celebrating uniqueness.