The hottest Critical Thinking Substack posts right now

And their main takeaways
Category
Top Education Topics

Sophistry & Over-Socialization

Becoming Noble • 398 implied HN points • 16 Jun 23
📖 Philosophy Critical Thinking
  1. The post discusses the 'respectability' debate involving Plato, Kaczynski, Strauss, and Peter Thiel.
  2. The conversation between Johann Kurtz and Brian C. Wilson emphasizes the idea of being less respectable.
  3. The essay encourages support for the project by leaving likes or considering paid subscriptions.

TBM 315: The Self-Sealing Argument Trap

The Beautiful Mess • 727 implied HN points • 13 Oct 24
📖 Philosophy Critical Thinking
  1. Self-sealing arguments trap you into a no-win situation. No matter how you respond, it feels like you lose.
  2. These arguments often happen in discussions where your personal beliefs are questioned. They can make it hard to express your true thoughts without feeling defensive.
  3. It's important to recognize when you're in these traps. Finding a different way to respond can help you avoid feeling stuck and give you a better chance for a positive outcome.

High-school debate: Pro

In My Tribe • 486 implied HN points • 22 Dec 24
🚌 Education Critical Thinking
  1. High school debate encourages students to think critically and understand both sides of an argument. This helps them learn how to engage in respectful discussions.
  2. Judging a debate focuses on the quality of arguments and how well teams respond to each other's points. This process is designed to improve speaking skills and critical thinking.
  3. AI could potentially be used to judge debates fairly by evaluating arguments based on set criteria. It seems feasible to train AI to understand the nuances of debate.

The cult of positive thinking comes for academe

The Recovering Academic • 356 implied HN points • 14 Feb 23
🚌 Education Critical Thinking
  1. Positive thinking originated as an antidote to Puritanism and is about trying to think positively as a practice or discipline.
  2. In academia, positive thinking can enable gaslighting where university leaders may manipulate or undermine faculty concerns to align with their personal visions.
  3. Negative thinking, while often seen in a bad light, can be essential for seeking truth and survival by challenging assumptions and serving as a tool for vigilantly assessing reality.
Get a weekly roundup of the best Substack posts, by hacker news affinity:

a brave new fahrenheit 1984

bad cattitude • 204 implied HN points • 21 May 25
🚌 Education Critical Thinking
  1. Education should focus on real learning instead of indoctrination. Many schools today seem to teach obedience rather than critical thinking.
  2. People in power often use social norms and control to suppress dissent and creativity. This can make it hard for individuals to think for themselves.
  3. Allowing more freedom in education and access to unfiltered information is important. Relying on the government to control what people learn may lead to biased and limited perspectives.

Essay Club: The Origins of Cognitive Thought by B. F. Skinner

Mind & Mythos • 199 implied HN points • 16 Dec 23
📖 Philosophy Critical Thinking
  1. Skinner believed that all behaviors, including thoughts and language, are learned through our environment. He claimed that we respond to rewards and punishments, shaping how we act and think.
  2. He thought that understanding our feelings and thoughts is best achieved by looking at the history and meaning of the words we use to describe them. The words we choose reveal a lot about our experiences and behaviors.
  3. Skinner emphasized the importance of focusing on observable behavior in psychology. He felt that many internal mental states are too complicated and not easily measurable, so we should concentrate on what we can see and test.

Against the Rowling Roll

De Pony Sum • 235 implied HN points • 02 Nov 23
📖 Philosophy Critical Thinking
  1. The Rowling Roll associates two things to create a negative connotation
  2. It can distort our perception of related matters and induce unjust hatred
  3. It's a strategic tactic that's difficult to push back against without looking like you defend the negative aspect

Do English professors think of themselves as priests?

The Recovering Academic • 237 implied HN points • 29 Aug 23
🚌 Education Critical Thinking
  1. English professors are encountering ideological shifts, with a significant decrease in conservative representation in the field.
  2. Debates about the importance of humanities education and literature often arise in the context of changing university priorities.
  3. There's a growing concern about the impact of identity politics and activism on literature education and the declining enrollments in humanities programs.

"Model UN Solutions"

Arjun Panickssery • 157 implied HN points • 08 Dec 23
🚌 Education Critical Thinking
  1. Model UN committees simulate countries passing resolutions on predetermined topics.
  2. In Model UN discussions, participants may aim to impress with vague or generic statements.
  3. Empty Model UN solutions exist, lacking specificity or considering trade-offs.

Skills for the Modern World

David Friedman’s Substack • 278 implied HN points • 24 Jan 25
🚌 Education Critical Thinking
  1. In today's world, it's really important to know how to find good information online and tell what's true from what isn't. Being able to filter through all the noise is a skill we need to learn.
  2. AI is a big part of our lives now, and we need to understand how to use it effectively and recognize when we're interacting with it. It’s also important to know how to protect ourselves from scams online.
  3. Learning how to navigate online spaces for socializing and education has become essential. Whether it's finding friends, dating, or learning new things, being savvy with technology and online interactions is key.

Disinformation & Why People Believe It

The Digital Anthropologist • 19 implied HN points • 03 Jul 24
📰 News Critical Thinking
  1. Disinformation and misinformation are unintended consequences of the early days of the Digital Age, impacting societies globally.
  2. Disinformation often revolves around storytelling, with different groups creating narratives to shape their reality.
  3. The spread of disinformation is fueled by the rapid dissemination of stories in our hyperconnected world, highlighting the need for critical thinking skills in education.

bell hooks’ Labors of Love: Taking Action, Thinking Critically

Humanities in Revolt • 179 implied HN points • 30 Apr 23
🚌 Education Critical Thinking
  1. Thinking critically is as important as physical action, according to bell hooks, as it leads to understanding and learning how life works.
  2. bell hooks challenges the societal norms that discourage critical thinking, arguing that it is a vital capacity for truth, authenticity, and autonomy.
  3. bell hooks emphasizes that critical thinking fosters self-knowledge, agency, and survival, going beyond being a mere academic expectation.

For Pushing Large Men Off Bridges

Fake Noûs • 271 implied HN points • 23 Nov 24
📖 Philosophy Critical Thinking
  1. Utilitarianism suggests that we should act in ways that maximize overall happiness. This means if you can save five people by sacrificing one, it might seem like the right choice to push the one off the bridge.
  2. Some arguments challenge the idea of not pushing someone off the bridge. For example, if pushing them means saving more lives, it may not be wrong to do so.
  3. The concept of 'undoing' actions also plays a role. If you push a person off the bridge but can pull them back before harm is done, it challenges whether that initial push was truly wrong.

17. Be Antifragile by Expanding Awareness

Insight Axis • 158 implied HN points • 18 Jul 23
📖 Philosophy Critical Thinking
  1. Antifragility is about gaining from stress rather than simply not breaking under it.
  2. Antifragility is a concept by Nassim Nicholas Taleb, explored in his various books like 'Antifragile' and 'The Black Swan.'
  3. Being antifragile involves thriving in a world full of unpredictable stressors by not predicting when events occur, but figuring out how to survive and benefit from them.

is clear writing clear thinking?

practiceprocesscraft • 157 implied HN points • 03 Apr 23
🚌 Education Critical Thinking
  1. Writing is different from thinking, it's a process of observing, clarifying, and developing thoughts.
  2. You can have clear thoughts but struggle to express them clearly in writing, it's a skill of translation.
  3. Clarity in writing is relative, it depends on the audience and purpose of the writing.

Well-framed problems

The Uncertainty Mindset (soon to become tbd) • 139 implied HN points • 01 Nov 23
🚌 Education Critical Thinking
  1. Framing problems well is important to find good solutions. It helps to balance being open to many ideas while also being clear about what is acceptable.
  2. Good problem framing encourages innovative thinking. A broad question can lead to more varied solutions than a narrow one.
  3. Making tradeoffs clear in problem framing helps focus the search for solutions. It saves time by pointing us toward the best options while avoiding distractions.

derangement syndrome as symptom of paradigm shift

bad cattitude • 212 implied HN points • 24 Dec 24
🇺🇸 U.S. Politics Critical Thinking
  1. Many people are becoming overly fixated on specific leaders or figures, leading to a broader lack of understanding and critical thinking about the issues at hand.
  2. The current education system often does not encourage true critical thinking, resulting in people who are more focused on memorizing slogans than engaging in meaningful discourse.
  3. There's a shift happening where social media is becoming a new space for open discussion and debate, moving away from traditional education institutions.

The case for narrow utilitarianism

inexactscience • 99 implied HN points • 08 Dec 23
📖 Philosophy Critical Thinking
  1. Utilitarianism is about making choices that increase overall well-being and treats everyone equally. It's a way of thinking that encourages using data and math to improve lives.
  2. While utilitarianism sounds good, taking it too far can lead to poor decisions and people justifying bad behavior. It's important to recognize our own biases and limits.
  3. Narrow utilitarianism suggests we apply these ideas only in clear situations where we understand the problems well. It's better to stay focused and cautious rather than trying to force comparisons between very different choices.

'Luckily, we love tedious work'

imperfect offerings • 119 implied HN points • 24 Aug 23
🚌 Education Critical Thinking
  1. Generative AI may impact the job market, emphasizing marketization over addressing economic and social challenges.
  2. Artificial intelligences may free humans from tedious tasks, but can also lead to uncreative and repetitive work.
  3. AI technologies are evolving, but their impact on graduate job market transformation may not align with initial expectations.

Nullius In Verba

Polymathic Being • 70 implied HN points • 22 Jun 25
📖 Philosophy Critical Thinking
  1. Always question the sources of information you receive. Don't just accept what others say; do your own research to find the truth.
  2. Balancing your emotions with rational thinking is important. Sometimes, our feelings can cloud our judgment when evaluating facts.
  3. Stay curious and be willing to learn, unlearn, and relearn. Embrace the idea that understanding can change and improve over time.

Tensions between different approaches to doing good

Understanding Social Change • 117 implied HN points • 18 Mar 23
📖 Philosophy Critical Thinking
  1. There are tensions between different approaches to doing good, like quantifying everything or embracing complexity.
  2. Quantifying impact is important to support evidence-based organizations for maximum effectiveness.
  3. However, focusing solely on quantifiable measures may overlook important indirect benefits, leading to a need for a balance between quantifiable and unquantifiable impacts.

Ready for anything

The Uncertainty Mindset (soon to become tbd) • 139 implied HN points • 09 Aug 23
🚌 Education Critical Thinking
  1. Students need to learn how to adapt to constant change, especially with the rise of digital technology. Traditional teaching methods focused on stable information aren't enough anymore.
  2. Digital proficiency isn't about mastering specific technologies but developing skills to understand and respond to changes. This means being able to identify problems, evaluate sources of information, and think flexibly.
  3. Teaching these skills effectively can happen in any subject, not just in standalone courses. Teachers can use creative methods to build critical thinking while covering standard curriculum content.

Just Don't Be Stupid

Polymathic Being • 65 implied HN points • 29 Jun 25
📖 Philosophy Critical Thinking
  1. Inversion is about looking at problems from a different angle to avoid mistakes. Instead of just chasing success, think about what could go wrong and how to prevent it.
  2. Applying inversion helps in both technology and psychology by allowing us to see potential failures. This way, we can develop better solutions and reduce fear of the unknown.
  3. A key part of inversion is acknowledging negative outcomes. By thinking about what we dread and planning for it, we can manage life's ups and downs better.

Living Truths and Dead Dogmas: How the Humanities Honors Freedom of Thought and Expression

Humanities in Revolt • 279 implied HN points • 08 Sep 22
🚌 Education Critical Thinking
  1. The humanities teach us not to judge something before we understand it, promoting open-mindedness, love for enemies, and freedom of thought and expression.
  2. Criticism of conventional schooling highlights the need for education that fosters critical thinking, independence, and a love for learning, rather than regimentation and conformity.
  3. Humanistic inquiry reinvigorates our understanding of beliefs, encourages critical examination, and emphasizes the ongoing effort necessary to maintain living truths instead of dead dogmas.

Career advice: Learn how to write

Wednesday Wisdom • 151 implied HN points • 04 Dec 24
🚌 Education Critical Thinking
  1. Writing is a valuable skill, even with AI around. Good writing helps you communicate better in teams and makes your work more effective.
  2. Practice makes perfect when it comes to writing. The more you write, the better you'll become at organizing your thoughts and expressing them clearly.
  3. Strong writing skills help you think clearly. Writing forces you to clarify your ideas, making it an essential tool for problem-solving.

How to Learn What is True

David Friedman’s Substack • 350 implied HN points • 04 Feb 24
🚌 Education Critical Thinking
  1. Be skeptical of claims on contentious issues and don't readily believe them without verification.
  2. Evaluate arguments by reading carefully, checking claims, and assessing the logic for yourself.
  3. Recognize that scientific truth is not established by official committees, but through a decentralized process of expert agreement.

How to Go to BBQ Hell via the Use of Data

Think Future • 79 implied HN points • 02 Nov 23
🎭️ Culture Critical Thinking
  1. The importance of expertise in interpreting data findings - data can sometimes lead to nonsensical conclusions without proper expertise to guide the analysis.
  2. Be cautious of drawing conclusions solely based on data - critical thinking is essential to avoid errors in analysis, like the case of Trip Advisor's BBQ city rankings.
  3. Consulting with longtime experts is crucial before accepting data-driven findings as 'rock-solid' - having seasoned professionals review results can help prevent misinterpretations and errors.

Links to Consider

In My Tribe • 349 implied HN points • 08 Jan 24
🚌 Education Critical Thinking
  1. The key to effective leadership is genuinely caring about your subordinates, not just pretending to care.
  2. Comparing profit-seeking businesses with non-profits, profit-seeking businesses are more incentivized to solve customer problems than non-profits are to create benefits that exceed costs.
  3. Wokism stems from the equality thesis of race and sex differences and a background of Christian morality, leading to challenges in discussing disparities and natural differences among groups.

Skills we need for the AI-driven world

10x your mind • 79 implied HN points • 06 Apr 23
🚌 Education Critical Thinking
  1. Machines are advancing rapidly, and we need to identify skills to stay relevant amidst automation.
  2. Skills like smarter decision-making, clarity in thinking, and asking the right questions are crucial for navigating the AI-driven world.
  3. Emotional intelligence and the ability to reinvent ourselves are becoming increasingly important in the face of evolving technology.

Beware AI in the classroom

CIEO • 78 implied HN points • 11 Jul 23
🚌 Education Critical Thinking
  1. AI in the classroom can provide benefits but also comes with costs, such as bias and misinformation.
  2. AI-generated responses may not always be accurate or politically neutral, reflecting biases of developers.
  3. To effectively judge AI responses, individuals need critical thinking skills and knowledge, and teachers play a crucial role in guiding young people.

The Burden of Proof

Investing 101 • 46 implied HN points • 14 Jun 25
💼 Business Critical Thinking
  1. People often believe in ideas that match their group or social circle instead of thinking for themselves. This can lead to poor judgment and decision-making.
  2. Critical thinking is really important when evaluating claims, especially unusual ones like telepathy. It's essential to look for evidence and consider other viewpoints.
  3. Trust in sources of information is crucial. If a source is biased or lacks credibility, it can lead to believing things that aren't true, impacting investments and personal beliefs.

A crisis in epistemology

Sunday Letters • 59 implied HN points • 20 Nov 23
🚌 Education Critical Thinking
  1. We need to rethink what to teach as AI becomes more capable. It's important to understand the basics of how things work, not just rely on AI to do it for us.
  2. Trust is becoming harder in our knowledge sources. With the rise of fake evidence and statistics, we must be careful where we get our information.
  3. The future of learning should focus on teaching people how to learn effectively. This includes critical thinking skills, understanding biases, and the scientific method.

What Critics of the Humanities Don't Understand

Humanities in Revolt • 299 implied HN points • 10 Feb 22
📖 Philosophy Critical Thinking
  1. Critics of the humanities often underestimate their importance and mistakenly prioritize practical fields like STEM over humanities. However, an in-depth analysis reveals the value-based assumptions behind such claims.
  2. The humanities contribute to understanding human existence beyond mere practicality by encouraging contemplation of values, creativity, and the human condition. They help us figure out our fundamental goals and values that guide decision-making.
  3. Philosophy delves into examining human values, morality, aesthetics, and political philosophy, emphasizing the indispensable role the humanities play in critically evaluating our beliefs, actions, and societal structures based on deeper values.

Liberal Arts Will Save The World!

Polymathic Being • 85 implied HN points • 19 Jan 25
🚌 Education Critical Thinking
  1. The Liberal Arts include important subjects like grammar, logic, arithmetic, and music. These subjects are key to helping us think critically and communicate well.
  2. Many modern education systems have stopped teaching these fundamental arts, which affects how we think and understand the world around us. This gap can lead to confusion and polarization in society.
  3. By reintroducing the Liberal Arts into education, we could improve our discussions, mental health, and understanding of complex topics like technology and ethics.