The hottest Academic writing Substack posts right now

And their main takeaways
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Whatever happens, do not cry in the conference room

Wondering Freely • 853 implied HN points • 04 Oct 24
📖 Philosophy Academic writing Emotions Cultural Issues Professionalism Gender Studies
  1. In academia, showing emotions is often discouraged. People learn to hide their feelings and act confident even when they feel insecure.
  2. Criticism can be harsh in academic settings, making it hard to respond without getting upset. Many people try to maintain composure despite feeling overwhelmed.
  3. It's important to find a balance between professionalism and emotional expression. Emotions can be valuable in understanding and engaging with philosophical ideas.

The Braindead War on Perry Hendricks

Going Awol • 319 implied HN points • 20 Feb 24
📖 Philosophy Bioethics Abortion Ethics Race Academic writing
  1. Some academics criticized Perry Hendricks without fully reading his work, showcasing the importance of engaging with content before forming opinions.
  2. Hendricks presented a conditional argument about abortion being wrong and its potential benefits in preventing morally questionable actions.
  3. While controversial, Hendricks' views touch on complex ethical debates such as moral luck and the historical context of organizations like Planned Parenthood.

Why is Academic Writing so Bad?

Going Awol • 179 implied HN points • 28 Mar 24
🚌 Education Academic writing Philosophy
  1. One reason for bad academic writing is intentional complexity to ensure longevity and generate discussions and interpretations.
  2. Academic writing issues stem from language barriers, knowledge curse, insecurity, and lack of incentives for clear writing.
  3. Encouraging academics to focus on knowledge pursuit over personal legacy could help improve academic writing quality.

Box #3

What Is Called Thinking? • 24 implied HN points • 06 Dec 24
📚 Literature Philosophy Poetry Academic writing Cultural Commentary
  1. Many students at top colleges struggle to read whole books, which raises questions about education standards. This seems surprising since getting into these schools is harder than ever.
  2. Happiness often comes from focusing on relationships instead of chasing it directly. Helping others and being there for them can lead to your own happiness.
  3. Understanding complex topics, like philosophy or ethics, requires deep thinking over many years. The journey can be challenging, but it offers a chance to make insightful contributions.
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Risks to knowledge economies

imperfect offerings • 219 implied HN points • 10 Jan 24
🚌 Education Online Learning Academic writing
  1. Risks to knowledge economies are being highlighted in relation to generative AI and its potential impact on universities and academic practices.
  2. The use of generative AI platforms can lead to inequalities in knowledge production and amplification of existing biases and disparities.
  3. Open knowledge projects like Wikipedia are facing challenges from generative AI, with potential impact on diversity and community-driven content creation.

Before I reach my enemy, bring me some heads

Numb at the Lodge • 153 HN points • 14 Jan 24
📚 Literature Plagiarism Academic writing Originality
  1. Characters in the Book of Dede Korkut lack individuality and speak similarly, reflecting oral tradition storytelling.
  2. Academic writing is a bizarre system of repeated phrases and excessive referencing, leading to widespread plagiarism.
  3. Encouraging academic plagiarism and embracing orality could foster creativity and be more in line with true academic purpose.

Writing as academic practice in an time of Generative AI

imperfect offerings • 99 implied HN points • 28 Jun 23
🚌 Education Academic writing Technology Accountability AI writing
  1. Educators question the role of generative AI in student writing assignments, suggesting alternative tasks like critical evaluation of AI-generated text.
  2. Generative AI tools like ChatGPT are a part of a timeline that includes various writing tools like spell checkers and translation engines, impacting writing practices of students and academics.
  3. Students and educators should focus on accountable writing tasks that center aspects that AI technology may struggle with, such as developing original ideas, understanding audiences, and negotiating perspectives.