The hottest Consciousness Substack posts right now

And their main takeaways
Category
Top Science Topics

The Phenomenological Statespace

Through the Looking Glass • 2 HN points • 12 Jun 24
📖 Philosophy Consciousness Reality Experience Imagination Exploration
  1. William James proposed two types of consciousness: rational waking and a 'special' hidden consciousness.
  2. The Phenomenological Statespace (TPS) represents all possible brain activations unique to an individual, crucial for exploring consciousness.
  3. Exploration of consciousness can occur through means like dreams, movies, hallucinogens, travel, and music.

Fragments, Chapter 7, pp.116-20 - Reading Club posting 22

Journal of Gurdjieff Studies • 19 implied HN points • 17 Feb 23
📖 Philosophy Consciousness Self-awareness Reality Existence Mind-Body Connection
  1. Consciousness is a property that changes, not always present, with different degrees and levels, challenging to define scientifically or philosophically.
  2. Self-remembering is emphasized as a crucial aspect of self-observation, where individuals need to actively remember themselves to truly observe and understand their actions.
  3. Dividing attention between observing external phenomena and focusing on oneself, known as self-remembering, leads to unique sensations and enhanced perception, unlocking rare experiences in everyday life.

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.

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.
Get a weekly roundup of the best Substack posts, by hacker news affinity:

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.

Where Does the World Happen?

Cybernetic Forests • 19 implied HN points • 27 Nov 22
🎨 Art & Illustration Art Creativity Psychology Consciousness Ecosystems
  1. Redefining relationships to the rest of existence is crucial for survival and progress. Adapting our understanding and connection to the world is essential for moving forward.
  2. Worlding involves exploring the emergent place-making between subjects and the quality of relationships within that space. It's about the relationships built through interactions, perspectives, and scales.
  3. Questioning the extractive nature of capitalism and technology is vital. Recognizing the interactivity with the world and challenging extractive consciousness through new perspectives are key to fostering more respectful and sustainable relationships.

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.

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.

Ego Death by Any Other Name

Superb Owl • 4 HN points • 28 Jan 24
🏥 Health & Wellness Phenomenology 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.

What makes consciousness so interesting anyway?

Meaningful Particulars • 0 implied HN points • 08 Sep 23
📖 Philosophy Consciousness Mind Reality Language Perception
  1. There isn't a clear, agreed-upon definition of consciousness, despite much interest from scientists and philosophers
  2. Subjective phenomena in consciousness are connected with a specific point of view that is challenging to reconcile with objective, physical theories
  3. Consciousness is not a simple category, but a complex collection of mental experiences, emotions, and perceptions that defy easy definition

A mythology of progressing intelligence

Meaningful Particulars • 0 implied HN points • 24 Nov 23
🔬 Science Language Intelligence Artificial Intelligence Philosophy Consciousness
  1. Condillac's fable illustrates the origins of language through natural cries associated with objects.
  2. Herder disagreed, emphasizing that language involves intention and understanding, not just responses to signs.
  3. Human intelligence is qualitatively different due to reflective self-awareness and language, challenging the idea of a ladder of progress.

Consciousness in one forward pass? An inconvenient thought experiment

Boris Again • 0 implied HN points • 07 Mar 24
🔬 Science Consciousness Neural Networks
  1. LLM, or large language models, like a calculator, perform sequential operations and don't have memories or reflections like humans do
  2. This thought experiment questions at what point a being loses consciousness when subjected to memory wipes and repetitive questions, similar to how LLM operates
  3. This experiment raises the question of when a rational being transitions to a machine-like 'calculator' state

Are LLMs like bees?

Boris Again • 0 implied HN points • 09 Mar 24
🔬 Science Animals Consciousness Artificial Intelligence Language Communication
  1. Bees use a complex non-verbal language to communicate precise information like the location of food.
  2. Bees can operate with complex concepts but do not understand their essence or think abstractly like humans.
  3. The comparison between LLMs and bees raises questions about whether LLMs operate with concepts but lack true understanding or deep knowledge.

The Gravity of Immortality: Exploring the Human Drive for Power and Transcendence

Based Meditations • 0 implied HN points • 01 Sep 23
📖 Philosophy Power Transcendence Mortality Consciousness Existence
  1. Humans are driven by the fear of death and the desire for power and control, seeking to conquer mortality and transcend their limits.
  2. Consciousness drives humans to envision a future beyond their current state, leading to technological advancements and societal contributions.
  3. In the grand scheme of influence and power dynamics, humans seem to follow a natural order of gravitational forces, seeking immortality through contributions to society and future generations.

The Microcosm

Based Meditations • 0 implied HN points • 08 Aug 23
⛪ Faith & Spirituality Meditation Consciousness Interconnectedness
  1. Exploring the microcosm of our thoughts and experiences can lead to a greater understanding of the interconnected universe around us.
  2. Each person has their own undiscovered territory within their mind, representing an infinite path sculpted by time and constant morphing.
  3. Consciousness reflects the chaotic order of nature, with internal fluctuations akin to the constant movement of the ocean, showing life as a journey through varied conditions.

how we are born

the rohn report • 0 implied HN points • 01 Jun 21
🏥 Health & Wellness Pregnancy Development Consciousness
  1. The process of how we are born starts with the joining of our mother's egg and father's sperm, and it is a journey of growth and development that happens in phases within the womb.
  2. As we grow in the womb, our cells multiply exponentially, forming different body parts like our central nervous system, arms, legs, and heart, showing a miraculous and intricate process of creation.
  3. After birth, we transition from a state of interconnectedness within the womb to an independent being, gradually developing a sense of identity, consciousness, and awareness of the world around us.

Conscience

Neosapien’s Newsletter • 0 implied HN points • 03 Jul 23
📖 Philosophy Consciousness Thought Language Creativity
  1. Consciousness involves a continuous flow of intermingling ideas that can lead to self-reflection.
  2. The human mind's ability to concentrate on specific thoughts within this mental chaos helps individuals make choices.
  3. Language plays a crucial role in transforming abstract sensations into concrete ideas, enabling communication and complex thinking.

Fragments, Chapter 14, pp.293-298 - Reading Club posting 53

Journal of Gurdjieff Studies • 0 implied HN points • 29 Sep 23
⛪ Faith & Spirituality Teachings Symbolism Art Consciousness Mysticism
  1. The enneagram is a universal symbol that can contain all knowledge and be interpreted; the ability to use it grants great power, representing perpetual motion and the philosopher's stone.
  2. Experiencing the enneagram through movement is important for understanding it fully, with exercises connected to the 'movement of the enneagram' aiding comprehension and tapping into necessary ideas.
  3. Distinguishing between objective art (where the artist consciously creates and transmits specific ideas) and subjective art (where art manifests 'accidentally') is crucial; objective art needs flashes of objective consciousness and inner unity for proper understanding.

Fragments, Chapter 14, pp.278-282 - Reading Club posting 50

Journal of Gurdjieff Studies • 0 implied HN points • 08 Sep 23
⛪ Faith & Spirituality Teachings Symbols Self-awareness Consciousness Spiritual growth
  1. Objective truths can be challenging to explain in ordinary language due to the complexity of conveying unity in diversity.
  2. Ancient methods like myths, symbols, and verbal formulas were used to transmit objective knowledge and higher consciousness ideas.
  3. Understanding and applying the symbolism of duality, trinity, and harmony among the five centers in oneself can lead to transformative inner growth and connection to higher consciousness.

Fragments, Chapter 8, pp.141-5 - Reading Club posting 27

Journal of Gurdjieff Studies • 0 implied HN points • 24 Mar 23
⛪ Faith & Spirituality Consciousness Self-awareness Awakening
  1. There are four states of consciousness for man, with most living in the lowest two: sleep and the waking state, but the higher states are where true awakening and self-awareness lie.
  2. Self-remembering or self-consciousness is crucial for real awakening, breaking free from the 'sleep' of everyday life, and seeing things objectively.
  3. Achieving higher states of consciousness and self-awareness requires inner growth, self-development, and often external guidance or help to break the cycle of 'sleep' that most people live in.

Joscha Bach on Synthetic Intelligence [lightly annotated]

Engineering Ideas • 0 implied HN points • 02 Mar 23
🕹 Technology Artificial Intelligence Ethics Consciousness Embodiment
  1. Sentience is the ability to make sense of the world; consciousness involves real-time self-reflexive attention.
  2. Alignment with AI may require love rather than coercion for sustainable collaboration.
  3. Building a society of minds requires balancing internal regulation, interaction, goal rationality, and cooperation.

CxD 📚'23 #11: ⭐️⭐️⭐️🌓 Other Minds: The Octopus, The Sea, and the Deep Origins of Consciousness

CxD Newsletter • 0 implied HN points • 28 Feb 23
🔬 Science Consciousness Evolution Marine life
  1. The book explores how animals predict sensory consequences of their actions to tell apart self from environment, leading to inner language and thoughts.
  2. The central concept: 'The sea is the origin of mind.'
  3. The octopus brain is compared to a conductor and its arms to jazz players in an analogy.