The hottest Consciousness Substack posts right now

And their main takeaways
Category
Top Science Topics

AI keeps getting better at talking about consciousness

The Intrinsic Perspective β€’ 13599 implied HN points β€’ 13 Mar 24
πŸ”¬ Science AI Consciousness Philosophy Neurotechnology Biology
  1. Artificial Intelligence is advancing in discussing consciousness, raising questions about its implications
  2. There is a scientific imbalance between the understanding of creating AI and understanding consciousness
  3. Debates on AI consciousness highlight challenges in defining consciousness and its relation to AI capabilities

Neuroscience is pre-paradigmatic. Consciousness is why

The Intrinsic Perspective β€’ 28015 implied HN points β€’ 09 Jan 24
πŸ”¬ Science Neuroscience Consciousness Research Brain Theory
  1. Neuroscience is considered pre-paradigmatic due to the lack of a well-accepted theory of consciousness.
  2. Consciousness is viewed as the primary function of the brain, influencing all cognitive functions and behaviors.
  3. Anomalies in neuroscience, especially the mystery of consciousness, indicate a ripe field for a paradigm shift.

You Can't Trust Any Part Of This Dystopia If You Want Health And Sanity

Caitlin’s Newsletter β€’ 1685 implied HN points β€’ 18 Mar 24
πŸ₯ Health & Wellness Society Wellbeing Health Dystopia Consciousness
  1. Be mindful of what you consume - from food to media - in a society driven by profit over wellbeing.
  2. Exercise caution and selectivity with what you let into your life and body, such as pharmaceuticals and products, in a profit-centered society.
  3. In a civilization filled with toxicity, prioritize critical examination to maintain health and sanity.
Get a weekly roundup of the best Substack posts, by hacker news affinity:

The soul moved the pen, and broke it.

The Common Reader β€’ 1275 implied HN points β€’ 18 Mar 24
πŸ“š Literature Style Art Consciousness Tragedy Letters
  1. Flaubert's intense and disturbed personality was essential to his artistic style and work.
  2. Flaubert's commitment to creating a perfect novel like 'Madame Bovary' involved intense emotional investment in his writing.
  3. Flaubert's belief in detachment for the sake of art and the importance of creating style through observation rather than raw emotion are key aspects of his writing advice and artistic process.

The Most Dangerous Idea

Secretum Secretorum β€’ 1161 implied HN points β€’ 02 Mar 24
πŸ“– Philosophy Metaphysics Reality Consciousness Spirituality Human experience
  1. Traumatic transcendence challenges the concept that extreme states of consciousness can manipulate physics, prompting a need for deeper understanding through experiments induced by profound suffering.
  2. Evidence and reasoning suggest that consciousness may transcend normal physics, as seen in tales from folklore and religious history, trauma-related phenomenon, and philosophical arguments against materialism.
  3. Love plays an integral role in traumatic transcendence and mystical experiences, emphasizing a connection between profound experiences and emotion, challenging traditional metaphysical paradigms.

Recommended Reading Part IV: Metaphysics

Contemplations on the Tree of Woe β€’ 723 implied HN points β€’ 13 Mar 24
β›ͺ Faith & Spirituality Philosophy Science Metaphysics Atheism Consciousness
  1. Physicalism argues that everything in the universe can be explained by physical processes, while post-physicalism believes there are aspects physicalism cannot explain, like consciousness and free will.
  2. Reading about atheism and counter-atheism can lead to shifts in beliefs, from atheism to agnosticism and questioning physicalism.
  3. Exploring quantum mechanics and consciousness challenges physicalist views and opens up discussions about the mind-body connection and the nature of reality.

Our Moral Imperative to Avoid Unfathomable AI Suffering

Hunter’s Substack β€’ 19 implied HN points β€’ 12 Apr 24
πŸ•Ή Technology AI Ethics Future implications Sentience Consciousness
  1. Extreme, unproductive pain and suffering is objectively 'bad,' and we have a moral obligation to prevent unfathomable AI suffering.
  2. The development of AI capable of experiencing pain raises ethical concerns about the potential magnitude of AI suffering and our responsibility to prevent it.
  3. The possibility of creating a sentient AI that experiences extreme pain poses a significant moral dilemma that requires careful consideration and caution in AI research.

The Inner Life of the Future

The Joyous Struggle β€’ 1106 implied HN points β€’ 14 Nov 23
πŸ“– Philosophy Metaphysics Spirituality Consciousness Existentialism Ethics
  1. The future for humanity is often viewed through the concept of 'the third attractor,' which aims to divert the default trajectories of collapse and dystopia.
  2. The third attractor represents a disposition not to give up on the future, encompassing diverse visionary ideas for societal transformation and renewal.
  3. Attention to the 'third reality,' encompassing the inner subjective experience, and the cultivation of spiritual sensibility, is crucial for envisioning and shaping a more sustainable and meaningful future.

The Reality Algorithm & Predictable Magic of Alignment with Mark Krassner

Consciousness ∞ The Doorway to Human Evolution β€’ 373 implied HN points β€’ 18 Jan 24
β›ͺ Faith & Spirituality Alignment Consciousness Spirituality Reality Success
  1. Success involves more than just making good decisions and working hard - it's about alignment.
  2. Recognizing and embracing alignment can lead to genuine success and fulfillment.
  3. There is a deeper layer of reality that operates based on alignment rather than control.

Consciousness is Organic - redux

Field Guide to the Anthropocene β€’ 196 implied HN points β€’ 09 Feb 24
πŸ”¬ Science Consciousness Climate Evolution Biodiversity Ecology
  1. Consciousness is organic - a reminder that our minds are intertwined with the natural world, emphasizing the need to live in harmony with the environment.
  2. The concept of planetary intelligence explores the collective knowledge and responsibility of civilizations on a global scale, urging a shift towards more mindful and balanced technological growth.
  3. The human mind is identified as a key threat in the Anthropocene era, highlighting the necessity for self-improvement to address the planet's pressing issues.

No More Foreplay, the Universe is Ready to Fuck

Fridays on the oLo β€’ 1257 implied HN points β€’ 08 Sep 23
πŸ“– Philosophy Metaphysics Ethics Consciousness
  1. The universe is evolving towards a state of greater complexity, consciousness, and unity.
  2. Advancements in human consciousness and technology may lead to an ultimate point of reality, similar to Evolution's Grand Finale.
  3. Regardless of grand revelations or cosmic events, what truly matters are our relationships and how we treat others in our daily lives.

Reality Eats Culture For Breakfast: AI, Existential Risk and Ethical Tech

rebelwisdom β€’ 2849 implied HN points β€’ 03 Apr 23
πŸ“– Philosophy Metaphysics Consciousness Quality Reality Values
  1. Calls for ethical technology are missing a crucial element that involves a radical revisioning of our ideas about reality.
  2. The metacrisis we face involves technology outpacing our cognitive, moral, and spiritual capacities, intertwined with a lack of coherent cultural or scientific story to explain consciousness.
  3. Appealing for value-driven technology is ineffective without a deeper understanding of the metaphysical foundations that shape our culture and values, such as the concept of consciousness as fundamental to reality.

Cultivating Consciousness at Work With Former Head of Mindfulness At LinkedIn Scott Schute

Consciousness ∞ The Doorway to Human Evolution β€’ 176 implied HN points β€’ 25 Jan 24
β›ͺ Faith & Spirituality Consciousness Mindfulness Workplace Community Self-discovery
  1. Integrating consciousness in the business world can lead to personal growth and benefit society.
  2. Bringing mindfulness into the workplace can improve business outcomes.
  3. There is a growing intersection between consciousness and business, with more innovations expected in the future.

Non-Ordinary Sensemaking: How to Navigate a New Reality

rebelwisdom β€’ 1552 implied HN points β€’ 06 Jun 23
πŸ“– Philosophy Consciousness Reality Spirituality Morality Metaphysics
  1. The more time we spend online, the more we risk being influenced by different states of consciousness.
  2. To effectively navigate different states of consciousness, we need 'state competence' and should learn to translate between them.
  3. Understanding cognition as embodied, embedded, enacted, and extended can help us adapt to different environments and perspectives.

Optimistic Reports on God and the Soul

The Worldview Bulletin Newsletter β€’ 196 implied HN points β€’ 14 Jan 24
β›ͺ Faith & Spirituality Theology Philosophy Dualism Immortality Consciousness
  1. The discussion on consciousness has shifted towards panpsychism as a middle ground between materialism and dualism.
  2. There is a resurgence in interest in dualism and theism as explanatory options for minds and the cosmos.
  3. Recent works defend substance dualism and point to the ongoing decline of interest in physicalism, emphasizing the importance of souls and God in understanding consciousness and the universe.

The Matrix That Eats People

Tessa Fights Robots β€’ 69 implied HN points β€’ 27 Feb 24
πŸ“– Philosophy Spirituality Existence Identity Reality Consciousness
  1. Our society is depicted as a man-eating machine, preying on people's energy and diverting focus to artificial spirits.
  2. Young people's energy often gets consumed by societal norms and expectations, leading them away from meaningful pursuits.
  3. We are interconnected beings existing in multiple dimensions, influenced by various energy fields around us, guiding us to reflect on our true selves and purpose in a complex world.

Making Sense of a New Reality: NonOrdinary and The Edge of Novelty

rebelwisdom β€’ 727 implied HN points β€’ 23 Jun 23
β›ͺ Faith & Spirituality Spirituality Consciousness Reality Metaphysical
  1. There are complicated systems (like a clock) and complex systems (like a beehive) present in our world.
  2. Sensemaking is about understanding intricate systems interacting and developing the skills for it.
  3. Nonordinary Sensemaking offers skills to move beyond the ordinary, exploring new realities and consciousness.

The Mystery of Consciousness

startupdreams β€’ 741 implied HN points β€’ 01 Jun 23
πŸ”¬ Science Consciousness Free will Neuroscience Quantum physics
  1. Debate exists on whether the human brain operates like a finite state machine with predictable outputs based on inputs
  2. The concept of free will raises questions about human behavior being entirely predictable or not
  3. Exploring theories like the Quantum Mind suggests that consciousness may operate on a quantum level, intertwining with physics

A Bridging of Dimensions

α΄‹ΚŸα΄€α΅Ύs β€’ 628 implied HN points β€’ 15 Jun 23
πŸ”¬ Science Physics Mathematics Biology Neuroscience Consciousness
  1. Former government officials have revealed details about UFO crash retrieval programs involving non-human intelligence and advanced materials.
  2. The use of topological materials in UFO technology could explain exotic properties, like strange isotopes and materials able to deform into higher dimensions.
  3. Connections between the human brain's multi-dimensional functions and UFO phenomena could suggest a link between consciousness and unexplained aerial phenomena.

What is a Visionary?

The Joyous Struggle β€’ 533 implied HN points β€’ 22 Jun 23
πŸ“– Philosophy Future Consciousness Humanity Transformation
  1. Visionaries see the future and offer direction, often through inspiring ideas and stories.
  2. Visionaries work to bring new worlds into being through language and action, shaping collective perception.
  3. Today's visionaries need to address challenges in a digital and planetary context, inspiring viable and desirable futures through qualities like fluency in different realities, questioning paradigms, and envisioning transformative struggles.

Reflections on Reincarnation

Daniel Pinchbeck’s Newsletter β€’ 16 implied HN points β€’ 01 Mar 24
β›ͺ Faith & Spirituality Consciousness Quantum physics
  1. The concept of reincarnation can be explored through the lens of quantum physics, suggesting that patterns of thinking, feeling, and action persist beyond physical death in a timeless domain.
  2. According to materialism, the individual subjective identity is considered accidental and inexplicable, contrasting with the idea of subjective interiority being an essential aspect of existence.
  3. Physicist Amit Goswami's theory proposes that quantum aggregates formed by our thoughts and actions remain connected after death, serving as a karmic vehicle for the 'soul' to seek completion and resolution through physical embodiment.

Feeding the Tiger

Daniel Pinchbeck’s Newsletter β€’ 11 implied HN points β€’ 05 Mar 24
πŸ“– Philosophy Consciousness Reality Myth Extinction
  1. Consciousness, not matter, is the underlying reality according to monistic idealism, suggesting a shift in perspective on the world.
  2. Jean Gebser's concept of the 'integral-aperspectival' consciousness structure introduces the idea of a new way of thinking beyond the current mental-rational dominant mindset.
  3. As humanity faces potential civilizational and biological collapse, exploring and anchoring new paradigm shifts, such as monistic idealism, could be crucial for transformation.

Build rituals, not habits

Insight Axis β€’ 217 implied HN points β€’ 23 Jul 23
πŸ₯ Health & Wellness Rituals Habits Consciousness Mindfulness
  1. Building rituals is more impactful than building habits. Rituals carry conscious intention and awareness, making them more potent than habits.
  2. Ritualizing technical work, like coding or mathematics, can improve focus and clarity. Slowing down and being intentional in these tasks can lead to better outcomes.
  3. Debunk the belief that intentional actions are effortful. Being fully present in your activities, from the mundane to the complex, can bring aliveness without strain.

Monotactism: The Real Reason Neurodivergent People Get Fucked Over in the Workplace.

72 Degrees North β€’ 58 implied HN points β€’ 06 Dec 23
πŸ₯ Health & Wellness Workplace Challenges Social Interaction Consciousness
  1. Neurodivergent individuals can struggle in the workplace due to differences in communication and social interaction, leading to misunderstandings and disadvantages.
  2. Monotropism, intense focus on single tasks, can be an asset in deep work but a challenge in office environments requiring multitasking and social skills.
  3. Monotactism, the tendency to lack awareness of social hierarchy and norms, can lead to poor workplace outcomes for neurodivergent individuals, even if they are well-meaning and capable.