The hottest Consciousness Substack posts right now

And their main takeaways
Category
Top Science Topics

Build rituals, not habits

Insight Axis • 217 implied HN points • 23 Jul 23
🏥 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.

The Dance of Light and Dark

Clinsights • 294 implied HN points • 20 Apr 23
📖 Philosophy Consciousness Truth Enlightenment
  1. Combining all colors of light creates white, while combining paint colors makes black.
  2. The dance of energy and matter in the universe is a constant transformation from light to dark and back.
  3. While our bodies return to chaos, our minds and consciousness trend towards increasing order and light.

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

72 Degrees North • 58 implied HN points • 06 Dec 23
🏥 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.

The Case for Embracing A "Choose Your Own Adventure" Philosophy

America 2.0 (by Gary Sheng) • 235 implied HN points • 28 May 23
📖 Philosophy Peace Individuality Diversity Free will Consciousness
  1. Embracing a 'choose your own adventure' philosophy promotes acknowledging and appreciating differences.
  2. Allowing people to choose their own paths leads to self-organization without the need for central planning.
  3. Celebrating diverse ways of living can create a more peaceful and flourishing future.
Get a weekly roundup of the best Substack posts, by hacker news affinity:

Feeding the Tiger

Daniel Pinchbeck’s Newsletter • 11 implied HN points • 05 Mar 24
📖 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.

A review of "Don’t forget the boundary problem..."

Unstabler Ontology • 19 implied HN points • 08 Feb 24
🔬 Science Consciousness Brain Physics Cognitive Science Metaphysics
  1. The article discusses the binding problem in consciousness theories, which is about combining different features into a unified awareness.
  2. Functionalism is challenged by the boundary problem, questioning why there are limits to our conscious experiences.
  3. Electromagnetic theories of consciousness are explored, considering the role of EM fields in demarcating conscious entities and potential solutions using field topology.

Psychedelics and Climate Change

Daniel Pinchbeck’s Newsletter • 20 implied HN points • 04 Feb 24
🏥 Health & Wellness Psychedelics Climate change Consciousness Philosophy Science
  1. The psychedelic movement is being assimilated by mainstream institutions and corporate structures, losing its original depth and spontaneity.
  2. Contemporary Western society often strips away the soul and spirit from encounters, leaving behind desiccated husks.
  3. Analytic idealist philosophy suggests approaching the world as a system of allegories, laden with meaning, similar to how animist ancestors and indigenous people viewed it.

The World You See Is The Myth You Are In

Daniel Pinchbeck’s Newsletter • 11 implied HN points • 19 Feb 24
🎭️ Culture Philosophy Politics Technology Occult Consciousness
  1. The book delves into themes of consciousness, technology, and the occult, emphasizing humanity's interconnectedness and the importance of our choices as a species.
  2. The author challenges the reader to consider freedom beyond mere physical liberty, encouraging a deeper exploration of individual and societal beliefs.
  3. Critiques in the book include the need for a systemic analysis of issues like post-industrial capitalism and the importance of addressing hidden aspects of reality, such as the esoteric and occult.

Models of Humans

10-year Horizon • 157 implied HN points • 24 Apr 23
📖 Philosophy Mind Consciousness Self Reality Existence
  1. Learning often involves modeling others' behaviors, beliefs, and ways of thinking. We unconsciously create mental models of people we admire or learn from.
  2. Our brains and AI models share similarities in how they learn and adapt, going through training phases to recognize patterns and predict outcomes.
  3. Exploring and understanding our inner sub-personalities through techniques like Internal Family Systems can help us manage relationships with these models for personal growth.

Why and How to Identify your Purpose

The Leadership Lab • 59 implied HN points • 05 Oct 23
🏥 Health & Wellness Purpose Consciousness Emotional Intelligence
  1. Purpose is not a fixed lifelong quest, but can change based on where you are in life; it's about living with intention.
  2. Identifying your purpose provides a bigger anchor beyond daily success, keeping you focused on living it each moment.
  3. Purpose involves who you are, what you do, and how you impact the world; it's a holistic journey, not just a destination.

The United States Of You

Weekly Wisdom • 79 implied HN points • 20 Jul 23
⛪ Faith & Spirituality Consciousness Philosophy Mysticism Teachings Human nature States
  1. States of consciousness include waking, dreaming, and deep sleep, each corresponding to different aspects of the self.
  2. Emotional states can be categorized based on valence and physiological arousal, affecting decision-making and interactions.
  3. Align your physiological, emotional, and motivational states for optimal performance and well-being.

The Shadow of Action

Orbis Tertius • 86 implied HN points • 17 Apr 23
📖 Philosophy Consciousness Free will Dualism
  1. Our choices are often influenced by external factors we may not realize, such as preferences or mood.
  2. The concept of free will is deeply intertwined with the mysterious nature of consciousness.
  3. The experience of free will may be more complex and ambiguous than we commonly perceive.

Why dream?

Nick Merrill • 58 implied HN points • 14 Jul 23
📖 Philosophy Dreams Consciousness Technology Spirituality
  1. Ancient beliefs about dreams varied - some thought they were divine visitations, others viewed them as projections of the unconscious.
  2. Modern computational theories of dreaming focus on adaptiveness and imagination, suggesting dreams help learning and problem-solving.
  3. Computational accounts of dreams may overlook the importance of reflective consciousness in understanding the mind.

Curiouser and curiouser

Charles Eisenstein • 5 implied HN points • 20 Feb 24
⛪ Faith & Spirituality Beliefs Authenticity Love Narrative Consciousness
  1. Reality can be perceived differently by different people - bifurcation of reality is a concept to consider.
  2. Beliefs and perceptions can shape the reality we experience - choosing the beliefs that resonate with the best parts of ourselves can be empowering.
  3. In times of societal fragmentation, creating pockets of coherence and love can help in reuniting fractured perspectives and narratives.

Song Feature: Waverunner

Litverse • 119 implied HN points • 15 Dec 22
🎶 Music Bands Albums Consciousness Philosophy
  1. Job Creators is a math rock band formed by two long-time friends with a unique musical journey that evolved over the years.
  2. Their music explores themes like consciousness, love, and the human experience in the digital age through their albums like 'Systems Online' and 'Dream Harvest'.
  3. The single 'Waverunner' by Job Creators is a blend of upset optimism and features a sample from philosopher Alan Watts, capturing the essence of consciousness and living in the present moment.

On Differentiation

Autoscriptorium • 59 implied HN points • 09 Apr 23
📖 Philosophy Self Consciousness Identity
  1. Understanding differentiation of self is complex and challenging, with the concept of a unified consciousness being debated in modern philosophy.
  2. In certain environments, individuals may suppress their ego and hide their true selves for self-preservation, sometimes avoiding standing out to maintain a sense of security.
  3. The existence of one's 'I' is questioned in a world where many people shape the surroundings, leaving individuals to ponder the significance of their own identity.

Chapter 15, pp.304-310 - Reading Club posting 55

Journal of Gurdjieff Studies • 19 implied HN points • 13 Oct 23
📚 Literature Reading Evolution Consciousness Humanity Philosophy
  1. The evolving part of organic life is humanity, but it seems to be at a standstill, leading to a circular path of progress and downfall.
  2. Humanity can only change its course at certain 'crossroads' or pivotal points, and if these opportunities are missed, changes may become impossible.
  3. While there may be a conscious force working against humanity's evolution, a small group of about two hundred conscious individuals could potentially transform life on earth.

Between human and non-human

The Strategy Toolkit • 43 implied HN points • 21 Apr 23
📖 Philosophy Strategy Philosophy Consciousness Ethics Happiness
  1. The post discusses the relationship between human and non-human entities in the context of philosophy and strategy.
  2. Individuals running companies and organizations are influenced by philosophy, guiding decision-making and strategy.
  3. Philosophical concepts such as consciousness, free will, morality, and value play a crucial role in strategy and decision-making.

Ego Death by Any Other Name

Superb Owl • 4 HN points • 28 Jan 24
🏥 Health & Wellness Consciousness Meditation Psychedelics
  1. Experiencing ego death can involve shifts in perception and a dissolution of the sense of self.
  2. During ego death, one may experience proprioceptive distortions, spatial distortions, and immersion in sensations, leading to a sense of losing track of reality.
  3. De-reification plays a role in ego death, where concepts become fuzzy, reality is questioned, and a sense of self dissolves into the surroundings.

Meditations on Consciousness

Tom Thought • 39 implied HN points • 28 Apr 23
📖 Philosophy Consciousness AI
  1. Our belief in consciousness is deeply tied to our own experiences, making it hard to determine the consciousness of others or non-human entities.
  2. Determining the consciousness of AI is important as it could impact how we view and treat these entities.
  3. Our tendency to assign moral worth based on anthropic similarity raises questions about how we extend moral consideration to non-human entities.

Commentary on Orage's "HOW TO LEARN TO THINK"

Journal of Gurdjieff Studies • 19 implied HN points • 15 Aug 23
⛪ Faith & Spirituality Gurdjieff Meditation Consciousness Energy Philosophy
  1. The essay 'How to Learn to Think' by Orage focuses on developing concentration and 'thought-power' rather than giving instructions on thinking techniques.
  2. Orage emphasizes the importance of efficiently using mental energy through short concentration exercises, even for just a few minutes at a time.
  3. Rest from active mentation is crucial for mental relaxation and accumulating different kinds of energy, as explained by Gurdjieff and reflected in Orage's teachings.

The Shadow of Man and Nations: A Jungian Perspective

Based Meditations • 19 implied HN points • 13 Aug 23
📖 Philosophy Psychology Archetypes Consciousness Individuality Society
  1. The shadow, based on Carl Jung's theory, is the unconscious mind we are unaware of, containing repressed emotions and instincts.
  2. Archetypes like the hero or the shadow are universal human themes found in all cultures and time periods, helping us understand common behavioral patterns.
  3. Integrating and understanding our shadow - both individually and as nations - is crucial for psychological harmony and societal progress.

A review of Principia Qualia

Unstabler Ontology • 19 implied HN points • 29 Jun 23
🔬 Science Consciousness Quantum Neurobiology Philosophy Artificial Intelligence
  1. The paper discusses the motivation behind bottom-up physicalist consciousness theories and the importance of studying valence for determining the goodness or badness of an experience.
  2. A review of Integrated Information Theory (IIT) along with its variants and criticisms is presented, highlighting the complexities surrounding defining consciousness.
  3. The proposal of symmetry as a theory of valence is critiqued for potentially oversimplifying the complexities of consciousness and valence, emphasizing the need for a more comprehensive understanding.

Language, Understanding and Medicine

Journal of Gurdjieff Studies • 39 implied HN points • 01 Jan 23
📖 Philosophy Language Medicine Understanding Consciousness Healing
  1. Language plays a significant role in understanding and medicine according to Gurdjieff's teachings, suggesting that understanding is dependent on language.
  2. Gurdjieff's exploration of language, human mentation, and understanding is closely linked to his teachings on medicine, hypnotism, and consciousness.
  3. The concept of understanding is viewed as a form of medicine, serving as a harmonizing factor in our lives.

Who Are You?

Weekly Wisdom • 39 implied HN points • 12 Oct 22
📖 Philosophy Identity Mind Awareness Consciousness
  1. Reflection on personal identity is complex and goes beyond just a name or profession. It involves deep introspection and questioning.
  2. Through self-inquiry practices like meditative questioning, one can uncover layers of identity and explore the nature of the mind.
  3. Identity is a fluid concept, influenced by societal norms, personal experiences, and the mind's tendency to categorize and label aspects of the self.

What’s the Point?

What's Important? • 21 implied HN points • 25 Mar 23
📖 Philosophy Meaning Consciousness Evolution Reality Wisdom
  1. The universe is moving toward greater complexity, and our consciousness plays a significant role in this evolution.
  2. The emerging worldview integrates scientific reductionism with a drive towards greater complexity, providing clues on how to lead a meaningful life.
  3. Seeking information that makes us more conscious and using our unique skills to contribute to the evolving story of the universe can lead to personal evolution and fulfillment.

The Illusionist's Quest

DecafQuest's Newsletter • 19 implied HN points • 18 May 23
📖 Philosophy Consciousness Metaphysics Perception
  1. The article discusses the Illusionist perspective on consciousness, which challenges the traditional Cartesian view.
  2. Illusionism posits that consciousness is an evolutionary trick, creating the illusion of a 'ghost' directing our actions.
  3. Understanding consciousness as an illusion can revolutionize how we study and perceive subjective experiences.