The hottest Epistemology Substack posts right now

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Top Philosophy Topics

The Internet Is Killing Science Too

Justin E. H. Smith's Hinternet • 777 implied HN points • 17 Nov 24
🔬 Science Scientific Method Information Technology Cultural critique Epistemology
  1. The internet is transforming or even damaging traditional science, just like it has affected many other institutions over the years. As our way of sharing information changes, the understanding of what science is also shifts.
  2. There seems to be a growing shift from studying real-world objects and events to focusing on models and simulations instead. This might weaken the connection science has with actual reality, making it more about data interpretation than discovering the physical world.
  3. People are increasingly more interested in studying the process of knowledge rather than the world itself. This change indicates a cultural shift where real-world exploration is becoming less relevant compared to understanding ideas and identities.

The Anarchist and the Hockey Stick

Experimental History • 12654 implied HN points • 03 Dec 24
📖 Philosophy Scientific Method Epistemology 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.

Let the silence have you

Silentium • 499 implied HN points • 21 Oct 24
📖 Philosophy Metaphysics Ethics Epistemology Logic Aesthetics
  1. Silence can be a powerful tool for reflection and personal growth. Taking time away from noise helps us better understand ourselves.
  2. Embracing moments of silence can lead to greater clarity and peace of mind. It allows us to recharge and connect with our inner thoughts.
  3. Creating spaces for silence in our daily lives is important. It can improve our mental well-being and help us focus on what truly matters.

The forest years

Silentium • 539 implied HN points • 19 Oct 24
📖 Philosophy Existentialism Ethics Metaphysics Epistemology Aesthetics
  1. Silence can be a powerful tool for reflection and personal growth. Taking time away from noise helps us understand ourselves better.
  2. Spending time in nature can greatly benefit our mental health. The forest offers a calming environment that promotes peace and tranquility.
  3. Embracing quiet moments allows for deeper connections with our thoughts and feelings. It's important to make space for stillness in our busy lives.

A sunlit absence

Silentium • 619 implied HN points • 17 Oct 24
📖 Philosophy Existentialism Metaphysics Ethics Epistemology Aesthetics
  1. Finding moments of silence can be really beneficial for the mind. It helps to clear thoughts and allows for better focus.
  2. Embracing quietness encourages deeper reflection. This can lead to personal growth and understanding.
  3. Taking time away from noise can enhance creativity. A peaceful environment often sparks new ideas and inspiration.
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There are questions about our feelings not even God could determine

Philosophy bear • 171 implied HN points • 20 Nov 24
📖 Philosophy Ethics Metaphysics Epistemology Existentialism Interpretation
  1. People often see what they expect to see, which can lead them to notice negativity even when it’s not there. This can create a cycle that reinforces their negative beliefs.
  2. Our feelings and actions are complex and can be interpreted in many ways. This means that even if someone perceives an action as mean, it could also be seen as kind, depending on how it's interpreted.
  3. It's harmful to assume the worst about others because it can lead to feelings of pain and isolation. Sometimes, the bad interpretations we choose can make our lives harder than they need to be.

The empty hand

Silentium • 799 implied HN points • 07 Oct 24
📖 Philosophy Ethics Metaphysics Epistemology Logic Aesthetics
  1. Silence can be a powerful tool for reflection and understanding. Taking time to be quiet helps us connect with our thoughts and feelings.
  2. The metaphor of the 'empty hand' suggests being open and receptive. It encourages letting go of distractions to find clarity.
  3. Inviting silence into our lives can lead to personal growth. Embracing quiet moments allows us to gain insight into ourselves and the world around us.

The art of discernment

Silentium • 539 implied HN points • 12 Oct 24
📖 Philosophy Ethics Metaphysics Logic Epistemology Aesthetics
  1. Discernment is about making clear choices. It helps you decide what is right for you in different situations.
  2. Silence can be a powerful tool for gaining clarity. Taking a moment to pause can improve your understanding and judgment.
  3. Practicing discernment can enrich your life. It allows you to navigate complex decisions with confidence and purpose.

Inner looking

Silentium • 579 implied HN points • 10 Oct 24
📖 Philosophy Existentialism Ethics Metaphysics Aesthetics Epistemology
  1. Silence can help us see ourselves more clearly. It gives us a chance to reflect and understand our thoughts better.
  2. Taking time for inner looking can lead to personal growth. Being quiet allows us to explore our feelings and motivations.
  3. Embracing silence is an important practice. It can improve our mental health and help us find peace in our busy lives.

The Fractal Ratchet

Desystemize • 1966 implied HN points • 20 Oct 24
📖 Philosophy Epistemology Metaphysics Ethics Logic Ontology
  1. There are two main ways people understand the world: one focuses on strict evidence and science, while the other values common sense and personal experience. Both have their strengths and weaknesses depending on the situation.
  2. The 'fractal ratchet' concept explains how deeper scrutiny often leads to discovering more detail, but it can also make comparisons difficult. When you look at things more closely, you might keep finding more complexity instead of reaching a clear 'true' answer.
  3. When making decisions or forming opinions, it's important to know when to rely on precise measurements and scientific reasoning versus when to trust your intuition and common sense. Balancing both approaches can help you navigate complex issues more effectively.

To sweep our own path

Silentium • 639 implied HN points • 04 Oct 24
📖 Philosophy Existentialism Ethics Metaphysics Epistemology Aesthetics
  1. Silence can be a powerful tool for self-reflection and clarity. Taking time away from noise helps us understand ourselves better.
  2. Creating our own path requires intentionality. We should actively choose how we want to live and what we want to achieve.
  3. Embracing stillness can foster creativity and ideas. When we quiet our minds, inspiration often finds us more easily.

Can society be perfect?

In My Tribe • 486 implied HN points • 05 Nov 24
📖 Philosophy Ethics Epistemology Politics Society Tradition
  1. Perfectionists believe society can be made perfect by following what they think are the right ideas. They think mistakes can be corrected easily.
  2. Anti-perfectionists believe that trying to perfect society often fails because of human flaws. They think it's okay for people to make mistakes and learn from them.
  3. Conservatives value traditions and experiences as important knowledge, while perfectionists sometimes discard traditions when they think they've found something better.

Maxi's Toolkit Vol.10: The Social Sublime and the Empathic Sublime

Heir to the Thought • 139 implied HN points • 09 Oct 24
📖 Philosophy Ethics Metaphysics Aesthetics Epistemology Existentialism
  1. The social sublime is the feeling of sadness knowing there are countless people we could connect with but never will due to time and circumstances. This awareness can motivate us to cherish our current relationships more.
  2. The empathic sublime occurs when we deeply connect with another person, sometimes through powerful experiences like art or shared hardships. It allows us to see the world from someone else's perspective, enriching our own lives.
  3. Both sublimes challenge us to find a balance in our relationships. We need to appreciate those we know while also longing to understand others, making active effort to connect and grow from those interactions.

Bird Perspectives and Outside Views

Seeking Bird Perspectives • 6 implied HN points • 02 Dec 24
📖 Philosophy Rationalism Epistemology Logic Ethics Cognitive Science
  1. The bird perspective means looking at things from a higher viewpoint to understand the bigger picture. It helps you see how your situation fits into a larger context.
  2. The outside view uses past experiences and similar cases to predict outcomes, but it can miss important details about your specific situation. It's important to find a balance between general predictions and unique factors.
  3. Using these perspectives can help reduce biases in decision-making. They inspire clearer thinking, but they shouldn't be used as the only way to argue or win a debate.

Links to Consider, 10/15/2024

In My Tribe • 288 implied HN points • 15 Oct 24
📖 Philosophy Epistemology Ethics Free speech Psychology Society
  1. Personality tests like the Big Five or Myers-Briggs might not be very good at predicting important life outcomes. Their accuracy isn't much better than just guessing.
  2. Free speech has changed over time, moving from a focus on persuading others to simply expressing one's own beliefs. This represents a shift in how we communicate and engage with each other.
  3. Modern societies often value citizenship over family ties, which affects people's views on having children. Many may feel pressured to prioritize social status over family-building.

Neutrality

Rough Diamonds • 40 implied HN points • 13 Nov 24
📖 Philosophy Ethics Metaphysics Political theory Epistemology
  1. Neutrality is about treating all opinions equally, which helps people work together despite their differences. It’s important for creating spaces where cooperation can happen without conflict.
  2. Our current systems often lack trust and a shared understanding, making it hard for people to agree on basics. Building new systems of trust is crucial for moving forward.
  3. Institutions need to be more than just neutral; they should create a framework that supports healthy discussions and diverse viewpoints. This way, people can feel both included and understood.

What is the essential structure of the complex numbers?

Infinitely More • 38 implied HN points • 10 Nov 24
📖 Philosophy Mathematics Epistemology Ontology Logic
  1. There are different ways to think about complex numbers, like focusing on their algebraic or topological structures. Each viewpoint gives us unique insights into how complex numbers behave.
  2. Mathematicians don't all agree on what the essential structure of complex numbers is, leading to multiple interpretations. It shows us that understanding math can be quite flexible.
  3. The paper identifies four main perspectives on complex numbers, which can help clarify the discussions around their nature and engage with broader philosophical questions in mathematics.

Social Conservatism as 4D Chess

Richard Hanania's Newsletter • 2048 implied HN points • 11 Mar 24
📖 Philosophy Ethics Epistemology Culture Policy Religion
  1. Social conservatives make claims about higher-order effects to justify their positions on issues like abortion and euthanasia, but these claims often lack evidence or are disproven by cross-national comparisons.
  2. Slippery slope arguments can be valid in limited contexts, but broad claims like legalizing prostitution affecting overall societal values need substantial evidence, which is often lacking.
  3. Government policies in free countries have limited influence on shaping culture predictably; the impact is often chaotic and hard to plan for, as seen by historical examples of social policies not aligning with expected cultural changes.

Aristotle on Luck

Classical Wisdom • 2181 implied HN points • 23 Jun 23
📖 Philosophy Ancient Philosophy Metaphysics Ethics Epistemology Logic
  1. Aristotle distinguishes between luck and chance, pointing out that luck involves events that occur unexpectedly without necessity or regularity.
  2. Luck requires conscious decisions and human intent, while chance is simply a coincidental occurrence without purpose.
  3. Understanding luck and chance can lead to philosophical questions about the universe and our existence.

Cowen's First Law is an epistemological superpower

inexactscience • 539 implied HN points • 27 Mar 24
📖 Philosophy Epistemology Critical Thinking Argumentation Logic
  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.

More on Unlearning

Charles Eisenstein • 3 implied HN points • 20 Nov 24
📖 Philosophy Existentialism Epistemology Ethics Metaphysics Mindfulness
  1. We're facing both challenges and chances for new beginnings. It's time to rethink our old beliefs and open ourselves to different futures.
  2. As we deal with crisis, new ways of healing and understanding will emerge. It's important to unlearn old habits that limit our growth.
  3. An online course called 'Unlearning for Change Agents' aims to help people let go of outdated thinking. The course is flexible, letting participants learn at their own pace.

Philosophy is the mathematics of language

Wood From Eden • 816 implied HN points • 23 Dec 23
📖 Philosophy Language Mathematics Concepts Logic Epistemology
  1. Philosophy is the art of clarifying concepts and finding links between them.
  2. Philosophy is similar to mathematics in that it explores relationships between concepts, just as mathematics explores relationships between numbers.
  3. Concepts in philosophy change over time, making it a field that evolves constantly unlike mathematics which is built on stable concepts.

A New Model of Memory: Representational Change and Representational Success

The Memory Palace • 139 implied HN points • 30 Apr 24
📖 Philosophy Mind Perception Memory Cognition Epistemology
  1. Memory shouldn't be judged the same way as perception. Just because we can't remember everything perfectly doesn't mean our memory is faulty.
  2. Instead of thinking about memory accuracy, we should look at how well a memory represents something. This means we can accept changes in how memories are formed and recalled.
  3. Unique aspects of memories, like 'authenticity,' might not be the best standard to evaluate them. Instead, we should focus on how memories succeed in representing our experiences in various ways.

Good Memory

The Memory Palace • 79 implied HN points • 11 Jun 24
📖 Philosophy Epistemology Memory Metaphysics Cognition 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.

Issues in Philosophy of Memory 4

The Memory Palace • 59 implied HN points • 25 Jun 24
📖 Philosophy Memory Ethics Epistemology Metaphysics Politics
  1. The philosophy of memory is growing quickly, with more conferences and research on it recently. People are exploring topics about how we remember and what memory means.
  2. The fourth conference on philosophy of memory will take place in Geneva in June 2024. It will feature key talks and papers from researchers from many different countries.
  3. The event will cover a wide range of memory-related topics, from how we remember to the connections between memory and emotions. It aims to inspire new ideas and discussions in the field.

Me vs Huemer

David Friedman’s Substack • 341 implied HN points • 13 Feb 24
📖 Philosophy Epistemology Ethics Logic Bias Experts
  1. Consider forming opinions on controversial issues based on evaluating arguments rather than just trusting the experts
  2. Experts may not always have expertise in all aspects of an issue, so it's important to critically evaluate their arguments and not just rely on their authority
  3. It's crucial to judge both arguments and arguers, as bias and incentives can influence the opinions of experts in controversial topics

AI, or, Shifty Epistemics and Shaky Ontologies

Deep Fix • 491 implied HN points • 07 Jul 23
🕹 Technology AI Epistemology Ontology Digital economy Artificial General Intelligence
  1. AI technology can lead to a breakdown in how we know and understand information, potentially causing chaos and confusion.
  2. The use of AI in an era of eroding trust and extreme ideologies may worsen division and extremism in society.
  3. Concerns exist about the worldviews and intentions of individuals, especially men, behind AI technology, with fears of their impact on society and humanity.

2.5 René Descartes

Fields & Energy • 259 implied HN points • 17 Jan 24
📖 Philosophy History Logic Metaphysics Epistemology Ethics
  1. René Descartes believed science is connected and trying to find one truth could help explain other truths. He thought this truth came from the 'infinite perfections of God.'
  2. He had some important ideas in physics, like how light bends and motion is conserved. However, some of his ideas turned out to be wrong, showing that science takes time to improve.
  3. Descartes thought that studying nature could help humans control it, but his methods sometimes lacked support from experiments. He lived a relaxed life, which changed when he had to teach in Sweden and sadly got pneumonia.

My Own Private Energy Crisis

Justin E. H. Smith's Hinternet • 881 implied HN points • 29 May 23
📖 Philosophy Metaphysics Ethics Political Philosophy Epistemology Aesthetics
  1. When traveling by airplane, we ignore the risks we know are there, which reflects our ability to overlook inherent dangers in pursuit of convenience.
  2. The sense of class, wealth, and comfort among individuals varies, influencing their attitudes towards success and societal norms.
  3. The modern lifestyle involves navigating through ideological and moral contradictions, from energy consumption to personal choices, which can lead to reflections on societal values and personal actions.

Recent Media Appearances

Good Thoughts • 216 implied HN points • 20 Jan 24
📖 Philosophy Ethics Epistemology Metaphysics
  1. Recent public philosophy discussions cover effective altruism, longtermism, and synthetic a priori knowledge.
  2. Critical discussion on the reliance on supernatural forces in discerning philosophical truths.
  3. Rejecting the causal debunking principle in favor of relying on coherent philosophical methods for truth-seeking.

2.0 Aristotle, Plato, & Newton

Fields & Energy • 259 implied HN points • 13 Dec 23
📖 Philosophy Ancient Philosophy Scientific Method Cognition Metaphysics Epistemology
  1. Aristotle and Plato have very different views on existence. Aristotle believes existence comes first, while Plato thinks consciousness creates reality.
  2. The Aristotelian approach focuses on observing nature to discover principles, while the Platonist starts with foundational ideas and deduces from them.
  3. Both schools of thought are important for science. Sometimes we discover new principles like Aristotle, and other times we analyze and apply ideas like Plato.

The Unreasonable Ineffectiveness of Effective Altruism in thinking about AI

Ulysses • 179 implied HN points • 05 Feb 24
📖 Philosophy Ethics Logic Epistemology Ontology Psychology
  1. Knowledge systems using symbolic logic in natural language are heuristic and capture reality imperfectly.
  2. Validity of heuristics depends on the similarity between the original context and current application.
  3. Rigid deontological symbolic morality may fail in reasoning about new events like AI, leading to ineffective discussions and decision-making.

1.1 Calculation Versus Understanding: Why Care?

Fields & Energy • 319 implied HN points • 01 Nov 23
📖 Philosophy Political theory Epistemology Ethics Metaphysics Causality
  1. Understanding is important, not just getting the right answers. If we want to make sense of our world and society, we need deeper insights and not just calculations.
  2. Ideas about causality and certainty have changed over time. What was once thought to be clear cut, like Newton's laws, has become more complicated with concepts like quantum mechanics.
  3. Political philosophy can be impacted by scientific ideas. If we believe everything is contradictory, it may affect how we think about power and society, sometimes leading to a focus on who holds power rather than what is right or wrong.