The hottest Academia Substack posts right now

And their main takeaways
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Top News Topics

Ancient Rome, Heavy Metal, and The Academy

Cosy Moments • 13 implied HN points • 07 Mar 24
🎭️ Culture Music Literature Academia Gender Entertainment
  1. The author reflects on how being a heavy metal guitar player shaped his dedication to mastering music, comparing guitar players to mythical figures like Hercules.
  2. An overview of the book 'Classical Antiquity in Heavy Metal Music' is shared, highlighting the intersection of classics and heavy metal as a topic of discussion in academia.
  3. Critiques are made on the analysis included in the book, questioning the focus on gender, political analysis, music lyrics, and the relevance of studying classics through the lens of modern music culture.

Harvard achieves scientific consensus by eliminating those who disagree

Steve Kirsch's newsletter • 12 implied HN points • 13 Mar 24
🇺🇸 U.S. Politics Policy Governance COVID-19 Academia Freedom
  1. Harvard achieves scientific consensus by eliminating dissenting voices, creating an atmosphere of intimidation and silencing.
  2. There is a lack of transparency at Harvard regarding decisions, like dropping the COVID vaccination mandate, leading to questions about accountability.
  3. The message from Harvard to their faculty is clear: Follow instructions without questioning to avoid repercussions, which raises concerns about academic freedom.

Academia as a Status Game

Center for the Study of Partisanship and Ideology • 15 implied HN points • 16 Aug 23
🇺🇸 U.S. Politics Academia Research Policing Social Sciences
  1. In academia, citations reflect what the industry values and can lead to grants, tenure, and status.
  2. Research on Black Lives Matter often focuses on promoting radical causes rather than saving lives directly.
  3. There is a need for a major reorientation in social science research to prioritize studies that can save lives, especially in law enforcement.

Who's Who in A.I.

Gradient Ascendant • 18 implied HN points • 01 Mar 23
🕹 Technology AI Tech Giants Startups Academia Biotech China
  1. OpenAI is a major player in the AI industry, led by controversial figures like Elon Musk.
  2. Microsoft has made a comeback in the AI field through partnerships and investments, notably with OpenAI.
  3. An increasingly vibrant AI ecosystem is emerging with startups, enthusiasts, and established companies all contributing to the field.
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Objectively Ranking the Presidents

Gideon's Substack • 3 HN points • 20 Feb 24
🇺🇸 U.S. Politics Presidents Ratings History Academia Political Ideology
  1. Presidential rankings can be subjective and change over time based on historical perspectives and societal values.
  2. Greatness in a president can be defined by their impact, leadership style, and ability to navigate complex political landscapes.
  3. Moderates may provide a more objective evaluation of presidents due to potentially weaker ideological filters.

Freaks of Nature

Some Unpleasant Arithmetic • 8 implied HN points • 03 May 23
🚌 Education Economics Academia Research Science Critique
  1. Freakonomics and SuperFreakonomics explore economic behavior in various aspects of life through vignettes.
  2. The books present controversial theories and findings, such as the impact of abortion legalization on crime rates and climate change cost-benefit analysis.
  3. Critics argue that while the books offer a unique perspective, they may lack rigor in answering complex economic questions.

Book Review: The Sacred Project of American Sociology

Symbolic Capital(ism) • 19 implied HN points • 07 May 20
🚌 Education Sociology Philosophy Academia Higher education Social Sciences
  1. American sociology is a political, sacred, and spiritual project with a specific goal of emancipation, equality, and moral affirmation of individuals.
  2. Sociology's sacred project aims to venerate, protect, and advance a specific Durkheimian sacred regarding human autonomy, equality, and identity.
  3. Sociologists must critically assess and make explicit the sacred mission of American sociology to better understand the discipline's impacts, costs, and tradeoffs on academia and society.

A Genealogy of the "Great Awokening"

Symbolic Capital(ism) • 19 implied HN points • 04 Oct 19
🎭️ Culture History Activism Education Academia Social Issues
  1. Many concepts and approaches in today's discourse about institutions of higher learning are not new, but have deep historical roots, often pre-dating recent controversies.
  2. Elite schools have played a significant role in shaping and promoting these ideas, setting trends that other institutions tend to follow.
  3. The institutionalization of social justice movements involved a deliberate, decentralized, and multi-faceted approach, including targeting education schools to influence primary and secondary education.

Xinh đẹp

Thái | Hacker | Kỹ sư tin tặc • 19 implied HN points • 19 Jun 15
🎭️ Culture Beauty Gender Society Academia Media
  1. The article discusses the concept of 'Xinh đẹp' which translates to 'beauty' or 'beautiful' in Vietnamese.
  2. The post mentions various professions followed by 'xinh đẹp', revealing a focus on describing individuals in those professions as 'beautiful.'
  3. It humorously suggests shifting focus from admiring beautiful women to admiring handsome male professors engaging in a conversation on the beach.

The CRU Scandals: A Reflection on Academia

Musings on Markets • 0 implied HN points • 28 Nov 09
🚌 Education Research Ethics Peer Review Data Integrity Academia Research Peer Review Ethics Bias
  1. Academic research often prioritizes getting published over exploring interesting questions. Researchers might choose to work on safe topics that are easier to publish instead of tackling big, challenging ideas.
  2. Bias can affect research outcomes. Researchers bring their own perspectives and preconceptions, which can influence what they study and how they interpret data.
  3. The educational background and connections of a researcher can greatly impact their chances of getting published. Those from elite institutions or who have influential mentors often have better success in the publishing world.

Ken Arrow: The Greatest

Joshua Gans' Newsletter • 0 implied HN points • 22 Feb 17
🚌 Education Academia Economics Philosophy Research Teaching
  1. Ken Arrow made significant contributions to economics and won the Nobel Prize in 1972, being one of the youngest recipients.
  2. Ken Arrow was known for his exceptional intelligence and quick thinking, leaving a lasting impact on economic science.
  3. Despite his brilliance, Ken Arrow remained humble, approachable, and had a humorous side, making him a unique and revered figure in the field.

Investing in gender-neutral pronouns

Joshua Gans' Newsletter • 0 implied HN points • 08 Oct 16
🎭️ Culture Language Gender Ethics Academia Diversity
  1. Gender-neutral pronouns can be a simple way to avoid unnecessary gender bias in writing and communication.
  2. It may be worth considering the moral argument for using gender-neutral pronouns, especially when gender identification is irrelevant.
  3. Starting to use gender-neutral pronouns at a young age can help reduce the associated costs and make it easier to make the change in communication style.

Devin Thomas O'Shea: /lit/

Do Not Research • 0 implied HN points • 15 Sep 21
📚 Literature Novels Authors Reading Academia
  1. The /lit/ board attracts a diverse group including thwarted academics, aspiring writers, and individuals seeking intellectual validation outside traditional institutions.
  2. Reading novels is still important because it provides a break from the attention economy and encourages active, empathetic thinking that is often lacking in late capitalism.
  3. The landscape of academia, especially in fields like English Literature, is changing with a shift towards areas like Ethnic Studies and a decline in traditional humanities departments.

Chariots of the Gods? Not Likely

Homo Ludens • 0 implied HN points • 22 Apr 24
🎭️ Culture History Colonization Academia Civilizations
  1. Euro-centrism has led to the unjust attribution of architectural and technological wonders to white Europeans, undermining the achievements of other civilizations.
  2. The propagation of Euro-centric narratives, such as the idea of aliens building ancient wonders, harms the recognition of the true creators and their agency in history.
  3. Academia and education systems need to address and move away from Euro-centric histories in order to respect the contributions and cultures of diverse civilizations worldwide.

Simulating the World (Pt. 3)

Homo Ludens • 0 implied HN points • 12 Mar 24
💾 History Military Gaming Training Simulation Academia
  1. Simulating the world through games and gaming is a distinguishing trait of humankind, separating us from animals.
  2. Academic interest in war games, especially traditional ones, has grown significantly in recent decades and offers valuable analytical tools for studying military history.
  3. War games have played a crucial role in the training of military officers throughout history, with a notable influence on strategy development and operational effectiveness.