The hottest Critical Thinking Substack posts right now

And their main takeaways
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Top Education Topics

The Conspirituality Candidate

Daniel Pinchbeck’s Newsletter • 18 implied HN points • 18 Jul 23
🇺🇸 U.S. Politics Critical Thinking
  1. The author does not support RFK Jr as a Presidential candidate due to concerns about his rejection of vaccines and controversial views.
  2. The importance of critical thinking in evaluating information sources and distinguishing between facts, falsehoods, and theories.
  3. Established publications like The New York Times are generally more reliable sources of information compared to random blogs, but even they can contain inaccuracies.

Propaganda for the Smart

Curiosity Sink__ • 22 implied HN points • 28 Mar 23
📖 Philosophy Critical Thinking
  1. On the battlefield of ideas, capturing intelligent people involves leveraging their intellect against them.
  2. Intelligent individuals can fall into the trap of feeling unique, forming strong opinions, and embracing ideologies.
  3. Consuming news addictively, social media arguments, and ideological affiliations can blind smart people, making them inadvertently foolish.

Six thinking hats

A Bit Gamey • 13 implied HN points • 17 Dec 23
🚌 Education Critical Thinking
  1. The Six Thinking Hats method by Edward de Bono helps in problem solving by considering different perspectives.
  2. Each hat represents a specific viewpoint like emotions, caution, facts, optimism, creativity, and control.
  3. Using the Six Thinking Hats approach can lead to clearer thinking, innovative ideas, effective communication, and better decision-making.

The Class Where All Students Won a Nobel Prize: Or Factchecking 101

FutureIQ • 2 implied HN points • 26 May 25
🚌 Education Critical Thinking
  1. Fact-checking is becoming more important, especially with the rise of AI and misinformation. It's a skill that everyone should work on developing.
  2. Stories about historical figures can sometimes be exaggerated, so it's important to verify claims before believing them. Always look for reliable sources when you hear something that sounds too good to be true.
  3. Historians face challenges sorting through conflicting information from the past. Even recent events can lead to differing accounts, showing how tricky it can be to get to the truth.
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Why You Are Probably An NPC

The Prism • 4 HN points • 27 Aug 23
🚌 Education Critical Thinking
  1. The brain tends to take shortcuts in thinking to save time and energy.
  2. Different types of NPCs exist, including conformists, contrarians, disciples, tribalists, and averagers.
  3. To avoid being an NPC, prioritize and focus on forming informed opinions on primary issues, take the best shortcuts on secondary issues, and be silent on tertiary issues.

10 Ways to Avoid Being Fooled

The Prism • 4 HN points • 20 Feb 23
🚌 Education Critical Thinking
  1. Practice epistemic humility by aiming to be less wrong rather than always right.
  2. Understand opposing views as well as your own to strengthen your own arguments.
  3. Be cautious of survivorship bias and remember that the information you see online is often a selection of the extraordinary, not the ordinary.

Thời gian chạy nhanh như bị chó rượt

Thái | Hacker | Kỹ sư tin tặc • 19 implied HN points • 16 Sep 13
🚌 Education Critical Thinking
  1. Dedication and hard work are essential for personal growth and success in any field, as seen through the author's experiences at Google and Đông Á bank.
  2. Surrounding oneself with intelligent colleagues can inspire self-improvement, highlighting the importance of continuous learning and growth.
  3. Fostering independent and creative thinking is a valuable skill that can be cultivated through practice and approaching problems from unique perspectives.

Người khai sáng

Thái | Hacker | Kỹ sư tin tặc • 19 implied HN points • 23 Dec 06
🌍 World Politics Critical Thinking
  1. If traditional media like newspapers cannot enlighten society, individuals need to take on the role of spreading knowledge and enlightenment themselves.
  2. In today's digital age, everyone has the ability to enlighten and be enlightened through platforms like blogs and the Internet, connecting with people globally.
  3. Leaders and influential figures should engage with young minds to inspire critical thinking and enlightenment, shaping the future generation.

How to solve Engineering Manager Case Study Interview

Better Engineers • 0 implied HN points • 14 Jul 24
🚌 Education Critical Thinking
  1. To tackle a case study in an engineering manager interview, first understand the problem clearly. Read the case multiple times to catch all the details.
  2. Break down the main problem into smaller parts so it's easier to manage. Think about the perspectives of different people involved to find the best solutions.
  3. After solving each smaller problem, combine all the solutions into one plan. Then, be ready to present your findings clearly using visuals to help explain your points.

Loosing focus in decision-making

do clouds feel vertigo? • 0 implied HN points • 19 Feb 24
📖 Philosophy Critical Thinking
  1. Focusing on too many tasks at once can lead to a lack of quality decisions. It's important to realize that deep focus is rare and valuable.
  2. Not all decisions are equally important. Some choices can be made quickly and changed later, while others require careful thought before proceeding.
  3. Using curated lists can help simplify decision-making. They reduce complexity and make it easier to choose among options without feeling overwhelmed.

What the Japanese Toilet Taught Me About Human Nature

David Reis on Software • 0 implied HN points • 19 Oct 24
📖 Philosophy Critical Thinking
  1. People often follow the crowd instead of thinking for themselves. It's easier to just do what everyone else does, even if there's a better option available.
  2. Life is complicated, and we tend to rely on others to guide our choices. Like how we trust that if everyone is eating berries, they must be safe.
  3. We should take the time to think carefully about our choices instead of rushing to conclusions. Slow, thoughtful decisions can lead to better outcomes.

Be aware: Linear Thinking

Marcio Klepacz • 0 implied HN points • 21 Jun 24
📖 Philosophy Critical Thinking
  1. Linear thinking is when people keep using the same solution, hoping for better results, but that often doesn't work. It can even lead to worse outcomes when pushed too far.
  2. Just because you put in more effort doesn't guarantee you will get more results. Sometimes, it's about working smarter, not harder.
  3. Be mindful of the limits of things that seem positive, as pushing them too far can lead to unexpected negative results. Always consider possible consequences before acting.

Statistical Concepts Useful in Life

Kartick’s Blog • 0 implied HN points • 21 Jan 25
🚌 Education Critical Thinking
  1. Variance helps us understand risk in different jobs. A steady job is low risk, while a startup can be very unpredictable.
  2. The median is a strong way to find a typical value because it's not easily affected by extreme numbers. So, when data is messy, the median usually gives a better answer than the mean.
  3. To get better estimates, look at a lot of data over time. More data usually means less error, helping you make smarter decisions.

🐿️ The Underground Grammarian - The IPT Newsletter

Squirrel Squadron Substack • 0 implied HN points • 21 Jan 25
🚌 Education Critical Thinking
  1. Clarity in language leads to better understanding. When people use simple and clear words, everyone can see what's really going on.
  2. Avoiding the passive voice helps identify who is responsible. If we don't name who is responsible for actions, it can create confusion and misunderstandings.
  3. Being direct and open in conversations can bring out more ideas and honest discussions. When people feel free to speak openly, it leads to better problem-solving.

Stop Drowning in your Thoughts

Curiosity Sink__ • 0 implied HN points • 13 Feb 26
📖 Philosophy Critical Thinking
  1. Mindless self-talk (mental "noodling") quietly wrecks clear thinking by letting emotion and habit replace logic, leaving you confused and stuck in bad beliefs.
  2. Treat thinking like musical practice: write and "pre-compose" your best answers and honest counterarguments, then test and refine them in real conversations so your ideas survive reality.
  3. Guide your mind with sharp questions and deliberate constraints—they help you think ahead, land on useful conclusions, and turn limits into real freedom.

Antilibrary: The Secret of the Humble Manager

TeamCraft • 0 implied HN points • 31 Jul 23
🚌 Education Critical Thinking
  1. Managers in tech often fear being seen as frauds, leading to a lack of humility.
  2. Building an antilibrary can help foster humility and curiosity by seeking out books outside your expertise and challenging viewpoints.
  3. Utilize your antilibrary as an intuition pump by exploring unread books and letting your imagination create diverse meanings and messages.

The Essence of Attentive Reading: Insights from Marcus Aurelius

Wayne's Earth • 0 implied HN points • 17 Oct 23
📚 Literature Critical Thinking
  1. True understanding comes from delving deep into a subject, not merely skimming its surface. Absorb material attentively to grasp nuances and reflect on implications.
  2. Attentive reading fosters critical thinking by encouraging questioning, analysis, and evaluation of information. This helps discern truth from falsehood and enriches understanding.
  3. Beware of smooth talkers and seek diverse perspectives to avoid being swayed by charisma. Differentiate between eloquence and truth, question motives, and broaden understanding with multiple sources.

Book Review: "Think Again: The Power of Knowing What You Don't Know" by Adam Grant 4/5

Poczwardowski Notes • 0 implied HN points • 09 Oct 21
🚌 Education Critical Thinking
  1. Rethinking what we've learned is a valuable skill, starting with ourselves and extending to influencing others and fostering collective rethinking within organizations.
  2. Changing our minds goes beyond trivial debates, impacting our careers and even saving lives. The book blends research with engaging stories and humor.
  3. It's okay to change your perspective; it shows growth and learning. Embrace moments of being wrong as opportunities for progress.

How to Win an Argument

startupdreams • 0 implied HN points • 09 Mar 24
🚌 Education Critical Thinking
  1. Understand both sides of an argument, know the points and counterpoints, and be able to effectively refute them with facts.
  2. Avoid getting emotionally involved in debates - present your points calmly and with a wealth of knowledge and preparation.
  3. Winning an argument involves presenting strong, rational arguments, staying calm while the other person gets upset or resorts to personal attacks, and recognizing signs that you've successfully made your case.

New offerings

imperfect offerings • 0 implied HN points • 22 Apr 23
🚌 Education Critical Thinking
  1. Helen Beetham is developing various pieces like 'The platform university', AI illusions, and pedagogies of anti-surveillance.
  2. The content in development includes chapters on critical thinking in the digital university, post-digitality, and more.
  3. Helen Beetham's future work will cover topics such as learning design, learning spaces, and other relevant mainstream pieces.

Tropes and evidence

The End(s) of Argument • 0 implied HN points • 03 Jul 23
🚌 Education Critical Thinking
  1. Tropes are narrative devices used in storytelling, which help people quickly interpret events based on surface similarities to past experiences.
  2. Tropes can sometimes lead to misinterpretations of evidence, influencing how people categorize information.
  3. Tropes serve as powerful interpretative shortcuts, but they can cause individuals to see connections or meanings that may not actually be present.

Let's talk about open claims, endless argument, and how social media works.

The End(s) of Argument • 0 implied HN points • 03 Jun 23
🚌 Education Critical Thinking
  1. Claims in discussions are not just statements; they play a focal role in an argument by trying to change attitudes.
  2. On social media, many posts share evidence that supports larger unstated claims, making it vital to understand the context of the information being shared.
  3. Misinformation often thrives when evidence is real but misused to back a claim it does not support, highlighting the importance of critically evaluating information and its context.

The unluckiest lucky people

The End(s) of Argument • 0 implied HN points • 18 May 21
🚌 Education Critical Thinking
  1. The story of 'Lucky Anna' challenges the idea of luck and encourages critical thinking about information shared.
  2. Teaching methods can benefit from being relatable, even if it means being a bit playful or making dad jokes.
  3. It is important to fact-check and verify information before drawing conclusions or believing in stories shared.

Stranger than fiction

The End(s) of Argument • 0 implied HN points • 13 May 21
🚌 Education Critical Thinking
  1. When teaching web literacy, it's essential to highlight odd but true information that may seem false at first glance.
  2. To verify information online, checking the authenticity of the source, like official verification marks, and looking for consistent coverage from reliable news sources are crucial steps.
  3. It's not about proving something is true but about confirming if what you're seeing aligns with your assumptions and reactions, emphasizing the importance of verifying sources and information.

Book Review: Refashioning Futures

Symbolic Capital(ism) • 0 implied HN points • 03 Dec 19
🚌 Education Critical Thinking
  1. Critique in modern democracies focuses on attacking opponents' social status and motives, revealing unconscious biases, but has now become a common tool for all groups.
  2. Academic critique has been criticized for losing steam and being turned into a weapon to debunk opposing views, leading to an era of post-truth.
  3. Critique needs to evolve from pure criticism to constructing alternatives, engaging with diversity of viewpoints, and understanding questions within their context for better strategic outcomes.