The hottest Critical Thinking Substack posts right now

And their main takeaways
Category
Top Education Topics

The Knowledge Illusion

In Bed With Social • 416 implied HN points • 27 Oct 24
🚌 Education Critical Thinking
  1. AI can provide quick answers, but this doesn't lead to real understanding. It's important to engage in learning actively to truly grasp the knowledge.
  2. The value of knowledge is changing with technology. While access to information is easier now, it can lead to shallow thinking if we rely on AI too much.
  3. Learning should be about growth, not just getting answers. We should use AI to inspire deeper questions and foster our critical thinking instead.

There Are No Alternative Facts: Some Rules For Discerning Reality In This Hallucinogenic Hellscape of Misinformation

Welcome to Garbagetown • 1111 implied HN points • 10 Oct 24
🇺🇸 U.S. Politics Critical Thinking
  1. Misinformation can feel so real that it blurs the lines between fantasy and reality. It's important to recognize that not everything we hear is actually true.
  2. When evaluating bizarre claims, a good question to ask is if believing them would make life much easier or more exciting. If so, it's likely not true and just ridiculous.
  3. People may strongly believe in outrageous ideas and act seriously on them, but we should remain critical and cautious about what we accept as reality.

Open Thread: What Would You Teach Everyone?

Everything Is Amazing • 705 implied HN points • 03 Mar 26
🚌 Education Critical Thinking
  1. People from many different careers and life paths bring a huge range of expertise and perspective.
  2. That collective knowledge can surprise, delight, and teach others in ways a single person can't imagine.
  3. Asking everyone what they'd teach opens a simple, powerful way to share practical lessons and spread useful wisdom. It turns a community into a place where readers become teachers.

College-for-All Means Homework-for-All

Five’s Substack • 1358 implied HN points • 22 Jul 24
🚌 Education Critical Thinking
  1. Many college students have a lot of work and study to do outside of class, making their schedule very busy. It's common for students to work part-time or even full-time jobs while studying.
  2. Homework is really important for truly understanding subjects in college. Doing the readings and assignments helps students think on their own and learn more effectively.
  3. It's vital to protect students' time for learning, not just to earn degrees. Education should be about more than just getting a job; it should allow for real thinking and personal growth.

How to Keep an Open Mind

Remarkable People • 559 implied HN points • 31 Jul 24
🚌 Education Critical Thinking
  1. Challenge your beliefs and question what you think you know. This helps you grow and improve your decision-making.
  2. Listen actively to others instead of just waiting to talk. This helps you understand their perspectives better.
  3. Seek out different viewpoints and experiences. Engaging with diverse ideas can expand your thinking and understanding.
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The Anarchist and the Hockey Stick

Experimental History • 14669 implied HN points • 03 Dec 24
📖 Philosophy Critical Thinking
  1. Science doesn't follow a strict method; different ideas can lead to breakthroughs. This means that sometimes crazy or unconventional ideas can be just as valid as the more accepted ones.
  2. Not all scientific research that follows traditional rules leads to useful discoveries. In fact, some important breakthroughs came from researchers who ignored the 'rules' or took risks.
  3. It's important to question what we think we know about science. The process of discovery often involves challenging old beliefs and being open to new, even silly-sounding theories.

Cái chuông rè

Thái | Hacker | Kỹ sư tin tặc • 3474 implied HN points • 29 Dec 23
🎭️ Culture Critical Thinking
  1. Having a 'bullshit detector' or independent thinking mindset is crucial for evaluating information and avoiding deception.
  2. Questioning and independent thinking are essential for uncovering truth and preventing misinformation.
  3. Encouraging a culture of questioning and respecting those who ask questions can lead to a more informed and ethical society.

Socrates and Montaigne On the Internet

Life Since the Baby Boom • 1844 implied HN points • 31 Jul 25
📖 Philosophy Critical Thinking
  1. Knowing facts is not the same as having wisdom. Just being able to recite information doesn't mean you truly understand or can use it in real life.
  2. Education should help us develop good judgment, not just fill our heads with knowledge. It's important to learn how to think and make decisions based on experiences.
  3. The journey of seeking answers is more valuable than simply finding the answers. Understanding the process helps deepen our comprehension and wisdom.

In The Age Of AI, We Each Have To Choose How Much Of Our Humanity We Want To Keep

Caitlin’s Newsletter • 1662 implied HN points • 09 Jul 25
🕹 Technology Critical Thinking
  1. We now have to decide how much we want to rely on AI for our everyday tasks, from thinking and writing to art and relationships. Each choice we make has an impact on our human experience.
  2. Engaging deeply with our emotions and creativity is important. We need to think about how much we are willing to trade for convenience and ease in our lives.
  3. This new era makes us question what aspects of our humanity we are willing to give up. It's essential to reflect on what we value and how we want to connect with the world around us.

A place where knowledge is ours for the taking.

The Common Reader • 3508 implied HN points • 24 Jan 25
📖 Philosophy Critical Thinking
  1. Socrates had doubts about his life's work before he died, showing that even great thinkers question their choices. This makes us think about whether we feel we are doing enough in our own lives.
  2. Agnes Callard emphasizes the importance of dialogue and inquiry in understanding life. She believes that discussing tough questions helps us live better and make meaningful choices.
  3. Living philosophically means constantly examining our beliefs and decisions. This can be hard for people to accept, especially when those beliefs challenge what’s considered normal.

Curing Ultracrepidarianism

Polymathic Being • 61 implied HN points • 08 Feb 26
🚌 Education Critical Thinking
  1. People often make confident, authoritative claims outside their knowledge, and when experts do this they can spread serious misinformation by forcing their field's model onto everything else.
  2. Exploring multiple fields isn’t the same as being ultracrepidarian; the difference is approaching new areas with humility, curiosity, and a willingness to learn, unlearn, and reframe ideas.
  3. The cure is not censorship but practicing humility, insatiable curiosity, and intentional reframing so people genuinely expand their expertise before making authoritative pronouncements.

Yes, Arguments Stand Or Fall Based On Their Merits But The Messenger Still Matters And If You Allow Resentful People Into Your Head, You’ll Be Fooled Into Carrying Their Rage As Your Own

Rob Henderson's Newsletter • 1496 implied HN points • 04 Jun 25
📖 Philosophy Critical Thinking
  1. Arguments should be evaluated based on their strength, but who presents them also matters. It's important to think about the source of the message.
  2. If you let angry or resentful people influence you, you might start to feel their anger too. It's easy to take on emotions that aren’t yours if you’re not careful.
  3. Being mindful of who you listen to can help you avoid unnecessary negativity. Surrounding yourself with positive influences can lead to a healthier mindset.

How to evaluate statistical claims

The Counterfactual • 199 implied HN points • 27 Jun 24
🚌 Education Critical Thinking
  1. Always look at the whole distribution of data, not just the average. The average can be affected by extreme values, so it's crucial to see the bigger picture to understand what the data really tells us.
  2. Consider the baseline or reference point when evaluating numbers. Knowing how a number compares to others helps us understand if it's large or small, which gives us better context.
  3. Understand the story behind the data-generating process. This means recognizing the factors that led to the results we see, which helps in identifying possible biases or alternative explanations.

Cowen's First Law is an epistemological superpower

inexactscience • 539 implied HN points • 27 Mar 24
📖 Philosophy Critical Thinking
  1. Cowen's First Law suggests that every argument has weaknesses. Understanding these flaws helps you think more critically.
  2. You can test how honest someone is by checking if they mention their arguments' weaknesses. If they don't, that's a sign to be cautious.
  3. It's important to recognize that not every argument is wrong. Some things, like basic logic, can be completely accurate. Balance is key to understanding knowledge.

Trying Again On Fideism

Astral Codex Ten • 12319 implied HN points • 15 Feb 23
📖 Philosophy Critical Thinking
  1. Conspiracy theories can sound convincing and everyone is susceptible to them, even smart people.
  2. Trusting experts is important, but also recognize their fallibility and biases.
  3. Developing critical thinking skills and being open to challenging beliefs can help navigate conspiracy theories.

Unpsyopable

thestoa • 589 implied HN points • 03 Feb 24
📖 Philosophy Critical Thinking
  1. Psyops are techniques used to influence minds with varying degrees of transparency and deception.
  2. In today's world, psychological manipulation is pervasive, and being aware of it is crucial to personal sovereignty.
  3. Engaging in philosophical inquiry can help individuals become less susceptible to psyops and actively construct their reality.

David Friedman vs. Michael Huemer

In My Tribe • 546 implied HN points • 05 Jul 25
📖 Philosophy Critical Thinking
  1. It's important to think critically and understand arguments for yourself, instead of just trusting experts.
  2. Picking the right expert to trust is hard because different experts can have different opinions on the same issue.
  3. When choosing an expert, look for someone who thinks in a way that makes sense to you and can clearly explain their views.

My Number One Issue

In My Tribe • 1655 implied HN points • 07 Nov 24
🚌 Education Critical Thinking
  1. Higher education is facing an anti-intellectual trend. Many students are taught to think simply about identity, rather than critically.
  2. The growth of colleges and universities has led to a decline in intellectual quality. More students don't necessarily mean better thinking; it can create mediocrity.
  3. There's a need for new educational institutions for young people. Current colleges may not be fixable, and we need alternatives to support thoughtful learning.

The Map is not the Territory

do clouds feel vertigo? • 59 implied HN points • 20 Jul 24
🚌 Education Critical Thinking
  1. Understanding the difference between perception and reality is important. Different people have various ways to see the world, and it helps to have multiple perspectives.
  2. Mental models are valuable thinking tools that can help us make sense of complex situations. Organizing these models by subject can guide our decision-making.
  3. Learning about complex adaptive systems can provide a solid foundation for understanding how different parts of a system interact. It's a good starting point for anyone new to the topic.

What makes a woke theory "Critical?"

Keep your Wokal_distance • 845 implied HN points • 30 Mar 23
🚌 Education Critical Thinking
  1. Critical Social Justice Theorists focus on being 'critical' to analyze concepts and theories within the realm of wokeness.
  2. The term 'critical' holds different meanings in the enlightenment liberal tradition of critical thinking and the woke social justice tradition of critical theory.
  3. Woke activists view truth and knowledge through the lens of power dynamics and social inequalities, rather than objective reality.

Student Assessment in the Age of AI

In My Tribe • 501 implied HN points • 12 Jun 25
🚌 Education Critical Thinking
  1. AI can help monitor student assessments and make cheating harder. By having someone supervise, universities can ensure students aren't using AI to cheat during tests.
  2. Interviews can be a better way to assess students than traditional exams. They allow professors to see how well students understand important concepts and let students explain their reasoning.
  3. Using AI to conduct these interviews can be efficient and consistent. This way, professors can evaluate a large number of students fairly without getting overwhelmed by grading.

The easiest person to fool

Tolu’s Newsletter • 11 implied HN points • 11 Feb 26
📖 Philosophy Critical Thinking
  1. Question your default beliefs and the views you pick up from the people and place around you; decide for yourself what to accept.
  2. Don’t let what you want to be true drive your conclusions — check if your beliefs make logical sense, consider who benefits from a claim, and look for reliable sources and supporting implications.
  3. Write down your beliefs and revisit them so you can spot mistakes, admit when you’re wrong, and update your views over time.

The Vanishing Hardy Boys

Variations on a Theme • 159 implied HN points • 25 Apr 24
🎭️ Culture Critical Thinking
  1. The concept of the Renaissance Man, with its emphasis on broad knowledge and skills, is fading in our society as specialization becomes more prevalent.
  2. Apathy can lead to a lack of critical thinking and embracing the easy path of leisure, hindering personal and intellectual development.
  3. Specialization can create barriers to entry in professions, leading to credentialism and potential dismissal of alternative expertise, while being a generalist can offer a unique perspective and a wide range of problem-solving abilities.

overeducating the midwits

bad cattitude • 284 implied HN points • 24 Jul 25
🚌 Education Critical Thinking
  1. Education has changed to be less about critical thinking and more about memorization, leading many to believe they are smarter than they really are.
  2. People who think they are educated but aren't can become very defensive when their ideas are challenged, which makes them resistant to new information.
  3. The current education system tends to promote mediocrity by giving degrees to those who cannot think critically, and we may need to rethink or even dismantle it to improve learning.

What is an ad hominem attack?

News from Those Nerdy Girls • 314 implied HN points • 02 Feb 24
🚌 Education Critical Thinking
  1. Ad hominem attacks insult a person's motive or character instead of addressing the content of an idea or argument.
  2. Ad hominem attacks create distrust of the individual and divert attention away from the actual issue.
  3. To combat bias from ad hominem attacks, focus on facts, recognize diversion tactics, and practice self-reflection.

25 Useful Ideas for 2025

The Prism • 877 implied HN points • 02 Jan 25
🚌 Education Critical Thinking
  1. Being too focused on what we hate in politics makes us unhappy. Instead, we should think about what we stand for and what we can support positively.
  2. Markets and services can start off great for users but may turn worse as they become more focused on profits over their customers. We should be aware of this shift in priorities.
  3. To truly learn something well, we should try to teach it. Teaching others helps deepen our understanding and makes information stick better.

9 ways to spot falsehoods

Your Local Epidemiologist • 1105 implied HN points • 30 Oct 24
🏥 Health Politics Critical Thinking
  1. Check the basic logic of claims before sharing. If something sounds outrageous, take a moment to think it through.
  2. Follow the money behind the claims you see. If someone profits from spreading a story, be cautious about believing it.
  3. Stay skeptical and ask questions. The more you look into a claim, the better you'll understand its truth.

Good Memory

The Memory Palace • 79 implied HN points • 11 Jun 24
📖 Philosophy Critical Thinking
  1. Memory is often seen as less reliable than other ways of knowing, like perception. It doesn't create new knowledge but relies on what it's given, so it might forget important details.
  2. When we remember things, we can also remember them incorrectly or distort them. This means that sometimes memory can lead us to feel certain about things that are actually wrong.
  3. Despite its flaws, memory still plays an important role in how we understand our experiences. It can help us organize our memories, but we should be careful not to trust it too much.

Private Philosophy > Public Philosophy

thestoa • 294 implied HN points • 16 Jan 24
📖 Philosophy Critical Thinking
  1. Public philosophy is engaging in philosophical discourse with the general public outside of academic environments.
  2. Private philosophy is crucial for nurturing autonomy of thoughts without succumbing to societal pressures.
  3. Balancing private and public philosophy practices is essential for genuine philosophical inquiry.

Why Going with Our Gut is Not Enough: Critical Thinking and the Art of Mindfulness

Humanities in Revolt • 319 implied HN points • 21 Dec 23
📖 Philosophy Critical Thinking
  1. Our thoughts shape our world: The power of critical thinking and mindfulness is evident in how our thoughts influence our experiences and actions.
  2. Mindfulness over gut reactions: While automated thinking can be useful, critical thinking requires self-awareness to assess situations, especially new and unfamiliar ones.
  3. Interpretation and critical thinking: Understanding how interpretation and inference impact our understanding of the world is crucial for developing critical thinking skills and constructing meaningful beliefs.

Free Subscriptions for College Students

Common Sense with Bari Weiss • 1752 implied HN points • 19 Feb 24
🚌 Education Critical Thinking
  1. Free speech is crucial for a free society and intellectual growth, but is often viewed as political in the current era.
  2. Campus culture sometimes discourages questioning and different perspectives, leading to fear of being judged for holding alternative views.
  3. Reading independent journalism and engaging in conversations can inspire critical thinking, challenge beliefs, and empower individuals to speak up for what they believe in.

Lazy Brain

We're Gonna Get Those Bastards • 6 implied HN points • 08 Feb 26
🚌 Education Critical Thinking
  1. People are increasingly using AI as a shortcut to avoid hard mental work, and that trend risks weakening our capacity to reason and think deeply.
  2. AI can be a useful tool for tasks like searching or coding, but it shouldn’t replace developing real thinking skills or the unique value of human, artisanal creativity.
  3. Education’s main purpose is to build the mental muscles needed for professional and civic life, so relying on AI instead of practicing reasoning will leave people ill-prepared for complex roles.

Knowing When the Sky Isn't Falling: What an Ancient Fable about the End of the World Teaches Us About Critical Thinking

Humanities in Revolt • 279 implied HN points • 29 Dec 23
🚌 Education Critical Thinking
  1. Both the Chicken Little and Buddhist fables warn about the dangers of group-think and decision-making guided by fear.
  2. Critical thinking involves mindfulness and self-awareness to avoid falling into irrational traps fueled by fear.
  3. The lion in the Buddhist fable demonstrates that critical thinking should be infused with ethical considerations and compassion for others.

Thinking for Ourselves: The Good Life and the Art of Critical Thinking

Humanities in Revolt • 359 implied HN points • 10 Nov 23
🚌 Education Critical Thinking
  1. Living a good life involves more than just acquiring material possessions; it requires good thinking and the practice of critical thinking
  2. Critical thinking is a skill that requires intentional development through practice, study, and conscious effort
  3. Critical thinking goes beyond intelligence and involves ethical considerations, reasoning, and striving for wisdom rather than just seeking knowledge

The structure of #DiedSuddenly

The End(s) of Argument • 99 implied HN points • 28 Apr 24
🚌 Education Critical Thinking
  1. Arguments on Twitter hashtags are part of ongoing debates that involve presenting evidence over time to strengthen a case.
  2. Building an argument involves linking grounds, examples, and backing to support a central claim.
  3. Examining the structure of an online argument can reveal weaknesses in the evidence presented and help move beyond misinformation.

Reflections on Ethical Vegetarianism, Part 2

Bet On It • 191 implied HN points • 23 Jul 25
📖 Philosophy Critical Thinking
  1. Many people find ethical vegetarian arguments hard to understand. This might be because philosophy can be tricky, and most people don't have great responses to common issues.
  2. Common sense really matters in philosophy. When people doubt basic ideas about the world, appealing to common sense can help clear up confusion.
  3. Eating meat and treating animals differently isn't seen as absurd to many people. It's okay to think this way, especially when there are bigger issues, like helping hungry humans.