The hottest Ethics Substack posts right now

And their main takeaways
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Top Science Topics

What you need to know about AI 🤖

Year 2049 • 17 implied HN points • 15 Jan 25
🕹 Technology AI Education Media Ethics Innovation
  1. AI should help people, not replace them. It's important to have a future where technology supports us in our work and lives.
  2. Understanding AI basics is key. Just like we need to know how to manage money, we should learn about AI to use it wisely.
  3. There will be a series of short videos that explain important AI concepts. These will help demystify AI and show how it impacts our daily lives.

The Most Important Skill in the 21st Century

The Algorithmic Bridge • 668 implied HN points • 12 Mar 24
📖 Philosophy Human nature Existentialism Ethics Self-awareness Knowledge
  1. Boredom was never the problem, but not experiencing it is a challenge in the modern world.
  2. The most crucial skill in the 21st century is learning how to be bored and find tranquility in silence.
  3. Constant external stimulation has made us fear boredom, but embracing it can help us grow and stand out in a world of overwhelming entertainment.

AI: Practical Advice for the Worried

Don't Worry About the Vase • 2419 implied HN points • 01 Mar 23
🕹 Technology AI Ethics Investing Careers Uncertainty
  1. There are good reasons to worry about AI, but also reasons to be skeptical of imminent transformative AI.
  2. People often struggle to react appropriately to worrying AI information, either ignoring the risks or overreacting.
  3. In the face of AI uncertainties, living a 'normal' life is still valuable and preparing for the unknown while staying flexible is crucial.

Humans are good (except for that one guy)

The Novelleist • 1075 implied HN points • 04 Mar 24
📖 Philosophy Human nature Ethics Social Structures Anarchism
  1. There are good people who do positive things, but also 'that guy' who causes harm and makes rules and regulations necessary.
  2. Bad actors may be a small percentage, but their impact can be significant, leading to the need for larger systems to handle such individuals.
  3. While rules and regulations are essential for addressing bad behavior, they can sometimes become burdensome due to the actions of a few individuals.
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AI #45: To Be Determined

Don't Worry About the Vase • 896 implied HN points • 04 Jan 24
🕹 Technology AI Ethics Legal Future Innovation
  1. Many people are becoming increasingly concerned about the potential risks of advanced AI technologies, as the complexity of the alignment problem becomes more apparent.
  2. Some politicians, like Senator Cory Booker, are expressing worries about the societal impacts of AI technology and its current prevalence in daily life.
  3. Even with concerns, there are still lighthearted and creative discussions about the future of AI, including speculative scenarios involving children and AI-powered career choices.

Looking for a better story

imperfect offerings • 239 implied HN points • 18 Mar 24
🕹 Technology AI Ethics Environment Policy
  1. The future of AI may not necessarily be as promising as it has been hyped, with concerns about inflated expectations and potential limited use cases.
  2. The use of generative AI can have unintended negative consequences, such as detrimental effects on academia, exploitation of data workers, and potential harm to minority languages.
  3. AI's impact on the environment, from excessive water usage to electricity consumption, raises concerns about accelerating climate change and misinformation.

The Inner Development Goals on Trial

The Joyous Struggle • 671 implied HN points • 05 Oct 23
📖 Philosophy Ethics Humanity Critique Progress
  1. The Inner Development Goals (IDGs) were created in response to the failure to achieve the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) and aim to enhance human capacity.
  2. The IDGs are challenged for their perceived emphasis on personal growth as a means of achieving goodness, their modernist perspective, and their alignment with existing power structures.
  3. Critics question whether the IDGs are truly disruptive and transformative or if they reinforce immunity to change by not addressing systemic risks and structural injustices.

Opponents of IVF Should Oppose Natural Conception Too

Parrhesia • 647 implied HN points • 02 Mar 24
🏥 Health & Wellness Ethics Bioethics
  1. Opponents of IVF may need to extend their beliefs to also include opposition to natural conception, as it results in the loss of embryos similar to IVF.
  2. Banning IVF raises the issue of a paradox where excess embryos are never created nor destroyed, leading to no children being born.
  3. A consistent stance against IVF should logically also entail a stance against natural conception, due to the loss of embryos that often occurs in both processes.

A Bound Prisoner's Unbowed Humanity

Humanities in Revolt • 319 implied HN points • 08 Feb 24
🌍 World Politics Ethics Humanity Occupation
  1. The viral image of an Israeli soldier standing over a bound Palestinian raises questions about the concepts of heroism, martyrdom, and the treatment of prisoners.
  2. The response to the image sparks discussion on the practices of the Israeli military, ethical considerations, and the portrayal of the prisoner's humanity.
  3. The post delves into the ideologies of heroism, martyrdom, and Judaism, emphasizing the importance of valuing human life and dignity over the glorification of force and domination.

Why No Cassandra of Hope?

What Is Called Thinking? • 42 implied HN points • 04 Dec 24
📖 Philosophy Existentialism Epistemology Ethics Literature Mythology
  1. Cassandra represents the idea of being ignored while predicting disaster, like prophets in the Bible who warn others but are often mocked or disregarded.
  2. In literature, we see more examples of ignored warnings than of hopeful messages. It seems people find it easier to mock the messengers of doom than to accept hopeful visions.
  3. People who share positive messages often focus on small, gradual changes instead of significant, sudden improvements, which makes their voices less impactful in comparison to doom-laden warnings.

WORM MOON 2023

The Lunar Dispatch • 648 implied HN points • 08 Mar 23
🔬 Science Physics Quantum Computing History Ethics Technology
  1. Progress in creating theoretical spacetime tunnels like wormholes has been slow.
  2. Albert Einstein, known for his scientific achievements and humanitarianism, had a complex private side.
  3. With the advent of quantum computers, concerns arise about privacy and the need for mutual forgiveness in the face of revealed dark sides.

Most ideas fail, and that's fine

inexactscience • 79 implied HN points • 18 Jun 24
📖 Philosophy Existentialism Humanism Ethics Meaning Absurdism
  1. Most ideas don't succeed, and that's normal. It's common for businesses and projects to fail, so we shouldn't feel bad about it.
  2. Understanding failure rates can help us plan better. Knowing that failure is typical helps give a clearer picture of what's possible and can keep expectations realistic.
  3. The process of trying is valuable, even if we don't succeed. Like the myth of Sisyphus, finding meaning in our efforts makes the journey worthwhile, regardless of the outcomes.

Social norms as classifiers

normality’s Substack • 39 implied HN points • 25 Jul 24
📖 Philosophy Ethics Morality Cognition Social norms Cooperation
  1. Humans create social norms to help detect and punish cheating behavior. These norms act like classifiers that help separate honest mistakes from dishonest actions.
  2. The Knobe effect shows that people often see bad actions as intentional, while good actions are viewed differently. This can lead to inconsistencies in moral judgment based on our understanding of intentions.
  3. It's important to continuously review and update our social norms. When norms fail, they can harm innocent people, so we need to make sure they are fair and effective.

Recommended Reading, Part I: Moral Philosophy

Contemplations on the Tree of Woe • 1017 implied HN points • 21 Feb 24
📖 Philosophy Moral Philosophy Ethics
  1. The curriculum lays out a detailed progression through moral philosophy starting with Ayn Rand and then exploring Alasdair Macintyre's work, culminating in a comparison of their differing ethical frameworks.
  2. The reading list focuses on books that challenge modern ethical frameworks and call for a return to Aristotelian ethics, emphasizing the balance between rational and social aspects of human nature.
  3. Supplemental reading includes works by Aristotle, Ayn Rand, and other philosophers, offering further insights into moral philosophy and ethics.

January Newsletter

RSS DS+AI Section • 17 implied HN points • 01 Jan 25
🕹 Technology Data science Artificial Intelligence Machine Learning Ethics Applications
  1. Data science and AI are rapidly evolving fields, with 2024 being a particularly exciting year for advancements. As we move into 2025, the trends and stories from last year will continue to shape the future.
  2. Ethics in AI is a crucial topic that remains relevant, especially around issues like bias and safety. The way AI is developed and used needs careful consideration to align with human interests.
  3. There are many practical applications and resources available for learning about data science and AI. From tutorials to real-world examples, there are plenty of opportunities to get involved and apply AI technologies.

Generative AI: What Happened, Where It's Going 2023-2024

Rod’s Blog • 416 implied HN points • 19 Dec 23
🕹 Technology AI Predictions Applications Ethics Regulation
  1. Generative AI is rapidly advancing and has a wide range of applications from enhancing creativity to solving real-world problems.
  2. In 2023, Generative AI saw explosive growth, with a significant number of organizations implementing it in various business functions.
  3. Expected trends in 2024 for Generative AI include more advanced language models, more creative applications, and increased focus on ethical and responsible considerations.

What could AI mean for animals?

Open Philanthropy farm animal welfare research newsletter • 499 implied HN points • 16 Nov 23
🕹 Technology AI Alternatives Ethics Advocacy Sentience
  1. Artificial intelligence advancements have the potential to revolutionize the future of farmed animals, presenting both optimistic and pessimistic outcomes.
  2. AI is being explored to create alternative protein products and improve animal welfare through various applications like distress call monitoring and sensor technology.
  3. There is uncertainty on how AI will impact animals in the long run, with scenarios ranging from ending factory farming to potential exploitation of sentient AIs, urging for considerations of animal ethics in AI development and advocacy efforts.

The Prophet — the Archetype of Societal Renaissance

The Living Philosophy • 314 implied HN points • 29 Jan 24
⛪ Faith & Spirituality Religion Life Doctrine Ethics
  1. The Prophet archetype emerged as a new way of being religious, challenging the traditional roles of priests and magicians.
  2. Prophets were outsiders but not rebels, called into their roles by a higher power and providing a vantage point to critique the existing system.
  3. The Exemplary Prophets emphasized how life should be lived, while the Ethical Prophets focused more on transcendent doctrine, leading to varying prophetic traditions.

Radicalised Bureaucracies

Paroxysms • 898 implied HN points • 03 Feb 23
🎭️ Culture Society Language History Ethics Identity
  1. There has been a resurgence of interest in the Professional Managerial Class (PMC) and their impact on society, especially in relation to economic foundations and cultural dignity.
  2. The PMC is seen as converting economic issues into moral or cultural problems, focusing on symbolic recognition rather than material redistribution.
  3. The rise of radical bureaucracies within institutions has shifted towards a language of Critical Social Justice, emphasizing ethical values like equity and inclusion over technocratic principles.

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.

Einstein on Education

Humanities in Revolt • 459 implied HN points • 25 Nov 23
🚌 Education Humanities Ethics Learning
  1. Albert Einstein believed that humanities were crucial for human flourishing and couldn't be replaced by a purely scientific education.
  2. Einstein criticized early specialization in education, emphasizing the importance of a broad humanistic general education over narrow career-focused paths.
  3. Einstein advocated for cultivating independent thinking skills in students, warning against excessive competitiveness in educational systems and promoting a philosophy of honoring individuality and social responsibility.

Courage and Moonshots

Castles in the Sky • 29 implied HN points • 16 Dec 24
📖 Philosophy Existentialism Ethics Science Humanism
  1. Big, crazy ideas can spark real change. Even if they seem impossible, they can lead to groundbreaking outcomes, like space travel.
  2. Dealing with the unknown is key to growth. Embracing humility, curiosity, and courage helps us face challenges and pursue innovative ideas.
  3. It's important to focus on practical steps for achieving goals. Even the most visionary thinkers made their mark by doing the hard, everyday work.

The Innovation Bargain

The Absent-Minded Professor • 314 implied HN points • 23 Jan 24
🕹 Technology Innovation Digital Artificial Intelligence Social media Ethics
  1. Innovation always comes with tradeoffs - think about whether they are worth it.
  2. The Innovation Bargain is about freedom and limitation - new technologies enable us but also limit choices.
  3. Understanding the Innovation Bargain is crucial in our technology-driven society - be mindful of the impact of technology on human flourishing.

Agnes Callard's Slavery Poll

Going Awol • 239 implied HN points • 27 Feb 24
📖 Philosophy Ethics Debate Personal Identity
  1. Agnes Callard faced backlash for asking if it's better to suffer blamelessly than to live a nice life doing something morally horrifying.
  2. Critics questioned the timing and format of Callard's poll on slavery, suggesting it was inappropriate or limiting choices.
  3. Ayn Rand supporters like Gregory Salmieri criticized Callard's hypothetical scenario for being disconnected from actionable situations.

Our Slovenly Willingness

The Absent-Minded Professor • 275 implied HN points • 06 Feb 24
🕹 Technology Devices Ethics Innovation Critique Future
  1. Apple's Vision Pro is pushing for a future of computing that may erode our sense of community.
  2. The increasing closeness of technology to us poses a new layer of distraction and potential harm to individual and communal well-being.
  3. Critically examining our reliance on technology can help us preserve our connection to nature and community over a machine-driven lifestyle.

What's Imagination For, Anyway?

Cybernetic Forests • 279 implied HN points • 04 Feb 24
🎨 Art & Illustration Technology AI Art Critique Ethics Community
  1. Art can either sell systems of power or support technocracy, highlighting the importance of using art to question and challenge technology rather than serve as a tool for propping up power.
  2. Imagination is often linked with AI, but it's crucial to move beyond speculative thinking to consider the real impacts and consequences of AI on our world today.
  3. Artists, when working with and against technology, can play a role in subverting and challenging powerful systems by acting as parasites, critiquing and revealing flaws instead of just showcasing technological prowess.

Oppenheimer shows scientists' humanity

Science Forever • 557 implied HN points • 30 Jul 23
🔬 Science History Drama Ethics
  1. Oppenheimer's inner turmoil over leading Los Alamos and trying to stop nuclear weapons is a key aspect of the movie.
  2. Scientists have difficulty keeping scientific findings to themselves due to egos and the belief that knowledge belongs to the world.
  3. Edward Teller is portrayed as the most evil scientist for his role in developing the hydrogen bomb and his ties to the military industrial complex.

Can AIs provide psychedelic therapy? 5 Questions for chatbot ChatGPT

The Microdose • 550 implied HN points • 21 Feb 23
🕹 Technology AI Psychedelics Chatbots Therapy Ethics
  1. ChatGPT states it may not be able to provide psychedelic-assisted therapy like a human therapist due to the need for personal connection and emotional support.
  2. Ethical and legal considerations in using AI for therapy involve informed consent, data privacy, liability, regulation, and ensuring access for all patients.
  3. Mystical experiences on psychedelics are described as profound, ineffable, and life-changing, involving a sense of unity with the universe and a deep emotional impact.

In Praise of Lying to Children

Going Awol • 179 implied HN points • 27 Mar 24
📖 Philosophy Ethics Deception Children Truth Gratitude
  1. The debate about lying to children, including about Santa, Easter Bunny, and Tooth Fairy, is a recurring one.
  2. Different ethical arguments are presented, like the Consequentialist Argument and the Non-Consequentialist Argument, discussing the impact of such lies on trust, critical thinking, and moral development.
  3. While some argue that lying to children about these characters can impede moral development and gratitude expression, others suggest that the magic added to a child's life through these stories can be a positive influence.

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.