The hottest Agency Substack posts right now

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After Orthogonality: Virtue-Ethical Agency and AI Alignment

The Gradient • 33 implied HN points • 19 Feb 26
📖 Philosophy Agency
  1. Rational human action isn’t mainly about chasing fixed final goals. Instead, people act by aligning with practices — networks of actions, habits, standards, and resources that shape and sustain good activity.
  2. If AI are to genuinely support, collaborate with, or comply with people, their reasoning needs the same practice-based structure; they should think in terms of norms, skills, and evolving standards rather than optimizing static goals.
  3. So AI alignment should focus on building agents that learn, participate in, and help cultivate human practices — a virtue-ethical, eudaimonic form of rationality — rather than assuming arbitrary objective functions.

On things happening "to" you

The Stoic Journal • 66 implied HN points • 28 Jan 26
📖 Philosophy Agency
  1. Seeing events as happening with you instead of to you turns you from a passive victim into an active participant in your life.
  2. Life’s challenges are not random mistakes but are matched to your capacity and growth, so they fit your path even when they cause pain.
  3. That shift moves you from asking “why me?” which leads nowhere, to asking “what now?” which opens up choices and action toward growth.

Spiritedness and self-reliance

Archedelia • 1277 implied HN points • 09 Jan 24
📖 Philosophy Agency
  1. Spiritedness promotes a spirit of inquiry and self-reliance.
  2. Pride in fixing one's own belongings goes beyond monetary value and challenges economic views.
  3. Consumerist material culture can limit the experience of direct responsibility and agency.

On Wise Agency, Part 1 | #315

Boundless by Paul Millerd • 211 implied HN points • 01 Dec 25
📖 Philosophy Agency
  1. Agency can be wise or foolish: wise agency means experimenting and choosing a sustainable, genuine path, while foolish agency is doingwhatever it takes to get ends without regard for consequences.
  2. People often move through phases — mastering career 'hoop-jumping' that masks insecure agency, then 'blowing up' their life — and the danger is trading one identity for another or making rejection your new personality.
  3. To become more wisely agentic, surface and question your unconscious scripts by noticing which beliefs trigger strong reactions, and allow yourself to get lost and experiment instead of seeking quick belonging or monetizing uncertainty.

On Wise Agency, Part 2 | #316

Boundless by Paul Millerd • 194 implied HN points • 02 Dec 25
📖 Philosophy Agency
  1. Occasional breaks from steady work and intentionally getting "lost" help you rewire your identity and grieve your old achievement-driven self. Feeling the uncomfortable emotions fully is part of moving forward.
  2. Don’t turn wandering or healing into permanent escapism—use travel, spiritual practices, productivity tools, or therapy as temporary ways to learn and then leave them behind. Be wary of groups or quick fixes that promise belonging or an easy path.
  3. Wise agency comes from knowing yourself through facts, other perspectives, practical skills, and, most importantly, participation—making small generous offerings or "posting" and showing up to test what matters. Avoid shortcuts, keep showing up, and treat success lightly while you learn.
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the self as a governance unit

Brain Pizza • 662 implied HN points • 02 Jul 25
📖 Philosophy Agency
  1. Democracy works better when we see each person as a self-governing individual, not just a voter. This means everyone can actively shape their identity and choices in public life.
  2. Mindfulness and how we understand our moral identity help us become better citizens. When people are aware of their values and emotions, they make wiser decisions in a democracy.
  3. Just like democratic institutions can change, so can individuals. By reflecting on our experiences and values, we can build our identities and improve our roles in society.

Facing Your Demons

Polymathic Being • 58 implied HN points • 04 Jan 26
📖 Philosophy Agency
  1. You are often your own worst enemy — you actively hold yourself back, so personal responsibility and agency are the first steps to change.
  2. Action beats perfection: jump into the unknown with intention and guardrails, and favor slow, steady progress (slowmentum) over staying stuck.
  3. Treat failure as information: name and contextualize your fears, take baby steps, invert tired advice, and keep learning, unlearning, and relearning to get stronger.

Mixing Mental Arts

Polymathic Being • 56 implied HN points • 21 Dec 25
📖 Philosophy Agency
  1. Slowicism blends Stoicism and Taoism: tame your emotions with reframing and use Wu Wei, or intentional non-action, to stop automatic reactions.
  2. Slowing down and refusing to react to every outrage or piece of information clears space to think more deeply and prevents cascading bad outcomes.
  3. You need steady practice because these habits build flow, restore your agency, and create compounding improvements that make life calmer and more effective.

Some recommended links

In My Tribe • 303 implied HN points • 10 Jul 25
🇺🇸 U.S. Politics Agency
  1. The economy has many goods and services we can measure, but online activities often lack clear measurements like quantities or prices.
  2. Having a steady job can help support creative pursuits, balancing the need for financial stability with one's passion.
  3. Technology, especially in trucking, can drastically reduce costs and reshape how goods are transported, but it may also lead to job losses in the sector.

Better.

The Future Does Not Fit In The Containers Of The Past • 49 implied HN points • 16 Nov 25
🎭️ Culture Agency
  1. Focus on making the best choice you can at any moment. It's more important to act now rather than dwell on past mistakes.
  2. Try to leave every interaction, place, or task better than you found it. Helping others and improving your surroundings can make you feel good too.
  3. Aim to be better than your past self every day. Small daily habits can lead to big improvements over time.

Understanding Luigi Mangione

Philosophy bear • 500 implied HN points • 12 Dec 24
📖 Philosophy Agency
  1. Luigi Mangione's journey shows how complex a person's beliefs can be. He seemed to struggle with various political ideas throughout his life, often changing directions.
  2. People often don’t think strictly in political terms, but rather look for answers to different issues independently. This highlights the difficulty in fitting people into rigid ideological boxes.
  3. Luigi's story underlines the importance of feeling included in communities, especially for those wanting to make the world a better place. A lack of belonging can lead to frustration and misguided actions.

Making Sense of Consciousness Part 7: Volition

Rough Diamonds • 9 implied HN points • 24 Nov 25
📖 Philosophy Agency
  1. We feel like our actions are our own when we can see and understand the choices we make. If we can't perceive our decision-making process, we may feel a loss of control.
  2. There's a time right before we move where our brain shows readiness for action, which is called W-time. This moment is closely linked to when we consciously feel that we have decided to move.
  3. People with certain conditions, like schizophrenia or motor disorders, can experience distorted perceptions of their own actions. They might struggle to sense control over their movements, feeling like some actions aren't truly theirs.

Finding Stoicism

Polymathic Being • 75 implied HN points • 23 Feb 25
📖 Philosophy Agency
  1. Stoicism is about understanding and managing emotions, not suppressing them. It's important to feel and appreciate our emotions rather than act like they don't matter.
  2. Many people struggle with anxiety because they lack challenges in life, feel pressured to blame others, and often ignore their own ability to take control. Stoicism helps address these issues by teaching personal responsibility.
  3. To practice Stoicism, focus on yourself, take ownership of your actions, and avoid getting distracted by others' problems. By doing this, you can find balance and improve your mental well-being.

Not Just a Camera, Not Just an Engine

Breaking Smart • 36 implied HN points • 14 Jun 25
🎭️ Culture Agency
  1. We often feel trapped between two narratives: one where people are blindly building without seeing reality, and another where people feel helpless and see a bleak future. Both views are inadequate.
  2. There are stories that help us see and do at the same time. It's important to find a balance between understanding the situation and taking action.
  3. Some narratives not only observe but also help shape reality, which can inspire us to navigate complex contexts in a more powerful way.

Roads to self-employment and beyond

Kenny’s Sub • 19 implied HN points • 21 Dec 23
💼 Business Agency
  1. Many people move from a steady job to freelancing, then to running an agency or creating products. This path allows them to gain independence and explore new opportunities.
  2. Freelancing offers flexibility but can feel like juggling multiple smaller jobs. It's important to find a balance and not get stuck doing client work forever.
  3. Building in-demand products is a key goal for many freelancers. This helps them earn more and reduces their reliance on client work.

A Whole New Cope

Breaking Smart • 107 implied HN points • 21 Oct 23
📖 Philosophy Agency
  1. Thanks to globalization and the internet, we now feel more involved in global events.
  2. Our reactions to distant events can be influenced by a sense of general disequilibrium in the world.
  3. The balance between constraint and agency in our lives can be disrupted by external factors, leading to heightened reactions.

The Delusion Factor

Malt Liquidity • 10 implied HN points • 17 Jul 25
📖 Philosophy Agency
  1. Balancing between focusing on the present and planning for the future is important. It's okay to take things as they come, but you also need to work towards your goals.
  2. Understanding people’s motivations can help differentiate between conservative and liberal thinking. Conservatives tend to limit risky behavior while liberals focus on resolving negative situations.
  3. Success and achievements can feel unsatisfying if not connected to deeper personal fulfillment. It’s essential to look beyond accomplishments to find lasting happiness in life.

intelligence != consciousness

Joshua's Notes • 19 implied HN points • 26 Jul 23
🕹 Technology Agency
  1. Human consciousness is still a mystery and we're far from replicating it in AI.
  2. AI is a sophisticated tool, but it lacks true consciousness.
  3. Agency in AI is not the same as consciousness - artificial intelligence lacks true independence.

Clock time or rock time?

lifeboat • 19 implied HN points • 03 May 23
📖 Philosophy Agency
  1. Time is weirder than we think, with deep connections to the past and future.
  2. Different cultures have different ways of understanding time, like the concepts of Chronos and Kairos.
  3. Changing how we perceive time can shift our sense of agency and possibility, moving us from despair to action.

Agency vs. Addiction

Polymathic Being • 68 implied HN points • 10 Mar 24
🏥 Health & Wellness Agency
  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.

The Morality Paradox

Who is Robert Malone • 18 implied HN points • 30 Nov 24
📖 Philosophy Agency
  1. High-agency people have the ability to shape their own lives and pursue their goals actively. They take control and create opportunities instead of just waiting for them.
  2. Being goal-oriented is important, but high-agency individuals also display qualities like resilience, discipline, and creativity. They aren't just about making plans; they push through challenges.
  3. While high-agency behaviors can lead to great achievements, they may also come with a lack of empathy or ethical considerations. It's crucial for these individuals to balance ambition with integrity.