The hottest Epistemology Substack posts right now

And their main takeaways
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Top Philosophy Topics

Inferential Appearances

Fake Noûs • 82 implied HN points • 16 Mar 24
📖 Philosophy Epistemology Inference
  1. The post discusses how inferential justification is obtained through appearances.
  2. Explicitly inferring a belief from a premise is highlighted as a method of gaining this justification.
  3. The post is for paid subscribers, with the option to subscribe or sign in for those already subscribed.

Mystery of The Origin Node — Take the Leap

Generative Forms • 39 implied HN points • 12 Mar 24
📖 Philosophy Metaphysics Existentialism Ontology Epistemology Ethics
  1. Greatness takes time and can't be rushed. It's about continuous effort and dedication without expecting immediate results.
  2. Taking a leap of faith is essential for growth. You need to act despite fears and doubts to bring your visions to life.
  3. Every act of greatness is unique and cannot be replicated. It emerges from individual effort and the right moment, not from trying to force it.

I still don't think Slate Star Codex readers have an IQ of 137.

Unconfusion • 39 implied HN points • 18 Feb 24
📖 Philosophy Logic Ethics Epistemology Metaphysics Phenomenology
  1. Claiming that a group of people has a very high average IQ is a big statement and not as straightforward as it seems. It's easy to assume that just because a blog attracts smart readers, their IQ is automatically high.
  2. Self-reported data, like IQ numbers, can often be inflated. People might think they have higher IQs or might overestimate their scores, making such claims less reliable.
  3. Belonging to a group can make people feel proud or special, but it's important to remember that individual worth isn't defined by group averages. Everyone has their own value, regardless of how they compare to others.

Polymathematics In One Breath

polymathematics • 99 implied HN points • 21 Aug 23
📖 Philosophy Existentialism Ethics Metaphysics Epistemology Aesthetics
  1. Polymathematics is about embracing a variety of interests and doing what you love. It means not just saying you're interested in many things, but actually pursuing those passions.
  2. Finding what you genuinely love is the first challenge. It can be tough to narrow down your true interests when there are so many options.
  3. Living a polymathematical life is rewarding, but it takes effort to balance those multiple passions. It's about actively engaging with the things that bring you joy.
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A crisis in epistemology

Sunday Letters • 59 implied HN points • 20 Nov 23
🚌 Education Curriculum Epistemology AI Impact Critical Thinking Learning methods
  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.

At the Crossroads: Nine short recordings

Charles Eisenstein • 1 implied HN point • 27 Jan 25
📖 Philosophy Existentialism Epistemology Ethics Metaphysics Social theory
  1. Each country faces its own unique challenges, showing that the world is at various crossroads. It's important to recognize and understand these different situations.
  2. Scientific ideas can sometimes seem disconnected from everyday life, but they play a crucial role in shaping our understanding of reality. We should explore how myth and science interact.
  3. Our decisions shape who we are as humans. It's vital to reflect on the forces that guide our choices and the values we hold.

The only path to transmit knowledge

Mon0’s Substack • 39 implied HN points • 21 Dec 23
📖 Philosophy Epistemology Metaphysics Logic Ethics Methodology
  1. STEM fields believe knowledge should follow a clear path: define terms, state propositions, and verify them. It's all about structure and clarity.
  2. Philosophers often use complicated language, which can make their ideas hard to understand. This creates a gap between STEM and humanities, where definitions aren't always clear.
  3. Some writers may choose to be vague or complex to engage readers or seem profound. However, this can confuse people instead of helping them learn.

Naming risky situations

The Uncertainty Mindset (soon to become tbd) • 99 implied HN points • 03 May 23
📖 Philosophy Decision-making Uncertainty Epistemology
  1. The term 'risk' is often misunderstood and misused. Many people think it means a situation where we know some things but don't know the outcome, even though true risk is much rarer.
  2. Decision-making strategies designed for formal risk scenarios may not work well in real-life situations, which often involve many unknowns. This can lead to poor choices when we apply the wrong approach.
  3. Different people define 'risk' in various ways, which creates confusion in communication. It’s important to clarify what we mean when we talk about risk to make better decisions.

Moving the goal posts

Sunday Letters • 79 implied HN points • 29 May 23
📖 Philosophy Ethics Logic Language Metaphysics Ontology Epistemology
  1. People often change the rules of a debate when they don't like the outcome. This is called 'moving the goalposts' and it can be tricky.
  2. Arguments about concepts like 'understanding' or 'identity' can become confusing if everyone doesn't agree on what those terms mean.
  3. Instead of arguing over vague definitions, it's better to focus on how we use those terms in real situations and have clear discussions when definitions are necessary.

Adding Color and Sound to the Tetractys

WaveGuide • 2 HN points • 07 Aug 24
📖 Philosophy Metaphysics Epistemology Cosmology Ethics Aesthetics
  1. The Tetractys is a triangle with ten points that symbolizes harmony and universal relationships in music and nature. Its structure can help us understand connections between numbers, colors, and sounds.
  2. By visually organizing numbers using hexagons, we can see patterns in music and color. For example, numbers that are next to each other in the Tetractys relate to musical intervals like octaves and fifths.
  3. Adding color and sound to the Tetractys creates a deeper understanding of how music and visual art interconnect. This idea suggests that everything in the universe has a rhythm and can be related through these patterns.

Bad Debate, Good Debate and Antidebate

The Joyous Struggle • 59 implied HN points • 13 Dec 22
📖 Philosophy Debate Dialogue Epistemology Democracy
  1. Debates can sometimes escalate into tribal showdowns rather than genuine dialectical processes aimed at uncovering truth.
  2. The current state of discourse is challenged by polarisation, short attention spans, and social media, making traditional debates seem inadequate.
  3. An Antidebate approach blends elements of good debating with dialogical principles, encouraging a reimagining of the purpose of discourse towards generative, collective sense-making.

Epicurus, the First "Rationalist"?

Maximum Truth • 37 implied HN points • 15 Mar 24
📖 Philosophy Ancient Philosophy Moral Philosophy Epistemology Metaphysics Ethics
  1. Epicurus, an ancient philosopher, focused on maximizing pleasure and minimizing pain, inspiring utilitarianism.
  2. Epicurus had a rational and secular approach to understanding the world, advocating for scientific explanations over myths.
  3. He had insightful scientific views for his time, such as proposing the existence of atoms and explaining the origins of scents.

Pancritical Rationalism: An Extropic Metacontext for Memetic Progress

Extropic Thoughts • 39 implied HN points • 13 Apr 23
📖 Philosophy Epistemology Rationalism
  1. Pancritical rationalism encourages continuous improvement by embracing criticism and rejecting dogmatism.
  2. PCR aligns with Extropian values, promoting dynamic optimism, self-transformation, and intelligent technology.
  3. A metacontext like PCR can help create an environment for rationality to flourish by fostering open-mindedness and critical thinking.

Finding the third way

The Uncertainty Mindset (soon to become tbd) • 59 implied HN points • 31 May 23
📖 Philosophy Existentialism Decision Theory Epistemology Innovation Critical Thinking
  1. There are two common reactions to uncertainty: one is to act like everything is knowable and try to control it, which can lead to poor decisions. The other is to give up and think that nothing can be done about the unknown, which doesn't help either.
  2. Instead of sticking to those two extremes, there's a better approach. It's important to recognize that not-knowing can lead to new ideas and actions.
  3. We can break down uncertainties into different types. Understanding these helps us figure out how to deal with situations where we don't have all the answers.

Metamorphosis

Natural Selections • 5 implied HN points • 11 Feb 25
📖 Philosophy Identity Metaphysics Epistemology Nature Change
  1. Frogs start as tiny tadpoles and then change into frogs, showcasing a natural transformation. This idea can also help us understand our own growth as we change from childhood to adulthood.
  2. The Ship of Theseus serves as a metaphor for identity and change. Just like the ship can have all its parts replaced and still be considered the same, we too can change but still remain uniquely ourselves.
  3. Humans have a long childhood where we learn by observing and imitating. Unlike frogs, we don't undergo a physical metamorphosis, but we do experience a significant evolution in skills and abilities as we grow.

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.

Overloading and appropriation

The Uncertainty Mindset (soon to become tbd) • 39 implied HN points • 17 May 23
📖 Philosophy Language Knowledge Epistemology Uncertainty
  1. Overloading 'risk' means using the word for many situations that aren't really risky. This can lead to confusion and poor decision-making because we apply the wrong methods to deal with those situations.
  2. Appropriating 'uncertainty' refers to using the term in ways that suggest it can be easily measured or controlled. This misleads us into thinking we can manage all unknowns when some can't be quantified and should be treated differently.
  3. Both overloading and appropriation give us a false sense of comfort. They make scary unknown situations feel more manageable when, in reality, we might be ignoring important nuances.

Dealing with Uncertainty

Tessa Fights Robots • 18 implied HN points • 15 Mar 24
📖 Philosophy Existentialism Ethics Metaphysics Epistemology Spirituality
  1. Uncertainty is a fundamental part of life, and we should connect with our inner selves to navigate it.
  2. Warm, caring people, a strong sense of inner goodness, and reliance on loving spiritual powers can help us withstand uncertainty with courage.
  3. Predators thrive on spoiling communities and creating insecurity, but emphasizing our spiritual connection and goodness can protect us and bring peace.

What if the Great Filter is complacency?

inexactscience • 19 implied HN points • 20 Oct 23
📖 Philosophy Existentialism Cosmology Sociology Epistemology Futurism
  1. Complacency might be the reason we don't see aliens. Instead of self-destruction, advanced civilizations may just choose to stay comfortable where they are.
  2. Economic reasons for space exploration could fade as the Earth becomes richer. If we make energy and resources abundant, we may not feel the need to explore beyond our planet.
  3. As the human population is expected to decline, the drive for exploration may lessen. With fewer people, our focus might shift to improving life on Earth rather than colonizing new worlds.

the xunzi as the basis of a metarational ruling ideology

alice maz • 4 HN points • 22 Sep 24
📖 Philosophy Ethics Metaphysics Epistemology Political theory
  1. Confucianism focuses on individual human will and the importance of self-cultivation. By improving ourselves, we can create better households and, eventually, a well-ordered society.
  2. In a complex world, we need a flexible understanding of ideas, not just rigid systems. We can achieve good outcomes by recognizing patterns and adapting, rather than getting stuck in one way of thinking.
  3. Xunzi teaches us that we must honor tradition while also being open to new ideas. A good leader uses wisdom to harmonize different ways of thinking and create a thriving society.

Mapping the analogy of institutions as organisms (1)

Space chimp life • 1 HN point • 23 Jul 24
📖 Philosophy Metaphysics Epistemology Systems Thinking
  1. Institutions can act like living organisms, but they don't fit neatly into that analogy because humans can belong to multiple institutions and change roles often. This shows that people aren't static and can adapt in many ways.
  2. The way institutions operate can be better understood through concepts from thermodynamics and statistics. This means they can change how they function based on rules and roles assigned to their members, similar to how particles behave in biology.
  3. Institutions perceive the world through their policies and data, rather than physical objects alone. What they 'see' influences their actions and decisions, just like biological organisms react to their environment based on internal processes.

Utilitarian Naturalism

Mon0’s Substack • 19 implied HN points • 23 May 23
📖 Philosophy Ethics Metaphysics Epistemology Naturalism Utilitarianism Science
  1. Utilitarian naturalism focuses on achieving the greatest good for the most people. It's about making choices that improve overall happiness.
  2. This approach emphasizes the importance of understanding our natural world and using that knowledge to make better decisions.
  3. By combining practical benefits with a naturalistic outlook, we can create a more ethical and fulfilling life for everyone.

Finite and infinite games

The Jolly Contrarian • 39 implied HN points • 17 Apr 22
📖 Philosophy Ethics Metaphysics Epistemology Existentialism Logic
  1. Carse distinguishes between finite games, which have fixed rules and a clear winner, and infinite games, which have no fixed rules and aim to continue playing without winners or losers.
  2. Infinite games are inclusive and allow for fluid boundaries, while finite games are exclusive and dominate attention while being played.
  3. It's crucial in life to discern when you are involved in finite games aimed at winning, and when you are part of infinite play focused on continuing and evolving.

A More Lenient Theory of Casual Reference

Hunter’s Substack • 1 HN point • 13 Apr 24
📖 Philosophy Metaphysics Epistemology Ethics Theology Logic
  1. The theory of causal reference, as proposed by Putnam, faces challenges as it may not adequately explain how individuals can refer to things with which they have no direct causal connection.
  2. Concepts can be developed from prior causal experiences to enable meaningful reference to phenomena regardless of direct causal history, challenging the strict causal necessity theory of reference.
  3. The mind's ability to create new concepts from prior experiences provides a plausible explanation for how individuals can refer to abstract or novel ideas, even if they lack direct causal connections.

Humans are Just a System, Right?

I Might Be Wrong • 7 implied HN points • 09 Jun 23
📖 Philosophy Existentialism Epistemology Ethics Metaphysics Humanity
  1. Humans are like emergent systems, made up of smaller parts that come together to create complex results.
  2. Emergence exists in various fields like economies, cities, and consciousness, implying that systems are present in many aspects of life.
  3. It's okay to not have all the answers or know your purpose, as humanity might be part of a larger system with a mysterious purpose.