The hottest Ethics Substack posts right now

And their main takeaways
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Top Science Topics

Random bits of philosophy

Philosophy bear • 50 implied HN points • 20 Nov 25
📖 Philosophy Ethics
  1. Today, many people view exploitation as worse than disobedience, reflecting a shift in values compared to the past. We are more horrified by the abuse of power than by the breaking of traditional rules.
  2. When judging past actions, it's often argued that people from history should be seen in their own context. However, it's important to recognize that some actions, like slavery, were wrong regardless of the era.
  3. Intuitions guide our understanding of moral and philosophical concepts but may not always point to objective truths. They often reflect our own principles instead of revealing universal truths.

Response to Tyler Cowen's Existential risk, AI, and the inevitable turn in human history

Don't Worry About the Vase • 2464 implied HN points • 28 Mar 23
🕹 Technology Ethics
  1. Predictions about the future are hard, especially about technological advancements like AI.
  2. Existential risks from AI should not be underestimated, as they can lead to potentially negative outcomes.
  3. It is important to carefully consider the consequences of advancing AI technology and not rush into decisions that may have long-term impacts.

The Road to Hell, part 2 of 3

Thoughts on Writing • 379 implied HN points • 20 Jun 23
💼 Business Ethics
  1. Purpose in marketing often leads to sameness and lack of distinctiveness, as brands all start sounding the same with abstract, grandiose statements.
  2. Building a brand solely on purpose can create a weak foundation, leading to overexaggerated moral or ethical claims that may not resonate with customers.
  3. Prioritizing brand purpose over customer focus in marketing can lead to a disconnect with the audience and diminish the overall impact of marketing efforts.
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Shamann Walton’s YCD subsidiary got a no-bid contract on shipyard homes — but where’s the money?

Gotham by Susan Dyer Reynolds • 196 implied HN points • 15 Jan 24
🇺🇸 U.S. Politics Ethics
  1. Shamann Walton's YCD subsidiary got a no-bid contract for shipyard homes, raising questions about the money's whereabouts.
  2. Walton quietly started a for-profit entity related to YCD, leading to concerns over transparency and potential conflicts of interest.
  3. Connections between Walton, YCD, and developers like Lennar have raised questions about funding sources and community benefits.

The subtle art of not giving a f*ck

A Bit Gamey • 13 implied HN points • 25 Jan 26
📖 Philosophy Ethics
  1. You already care about too many things; the solution is subtraction—choose a few priorities and ignore the rest so your actions have real impact.
  2. Recognize you're not uniquely entitled to success; accepting ordinariness lets you stop complaining and commit to the hard work that matters.
  3. Take responsibility for your responses, set boundaries by saying no, admit when you don't know, and use the reality of death to sharpen what you care about.

Le papa : Mediapart

L'Atelier Galita • 219 implied HN points • 19 Jan 24
📰 News Ethics
  1. Mediapart is a well-known investigative journalism outlet that has been involved in many high-profile revelations.
  2. Investigative journalism is costly, time-consuming, and critical for revealing important facts and holding power accountable.
  3. Mediapart follows an independent journalism code, relies on subscriber revenue, and uses a technique of progressive revelations to maintain media attention.

AI and Frankenstein

Diane Francis • 599 implied HN points • 06 Apr 23
🕹 Technology Ethics
  1. A group of 1,000 tech experts is really worried about the dangers of AI, saying we should stop for six months to figure out safety measures. They feel AI is growing too fast and could become uncontrollable.
  2. Some experts believe that AI could be more dangerous than nuclear weapons because it might replace many jobs and be used for bad purposes, similar to how Dr. Frankenstein created a monster.
  3. To avoid disaster, we need strict rules for AI development, like a global safety agreement. Experts think if we don't act quickly, we could lose control of our future because AI is advancing faster than our ability to manage it.

Saluting Doug Feaver

Christopher’s Newsletter • 334 implied HN points • 26 Sep 23
📰 News Ethics
  1. Doug Feaver emphasized the importance of getting the story right in journalism, even if it meant taking more time.
  2. He believed in clarity and integrity in journalism, distinguishing between paid content and independent reporting.
  3. Doug Feaver valued human connection and understanding in the field of journalism, making colleagues feel like family.

Reflections on Ethical Vegetarianism, Part 1

Bet On It • 155 implied HN points • 22 Jul 25
📖 Philosophy Ethics
  1. Some philosophers argue about whether insects can feel pain and suffer. This discussion could change how we think about treating insects ethically.
  2. One argument suggests that if insects suffer greatly, exterminating them might actually help. This idea is surprising and challenges common beliefs about animal rights.
  3. Different philosophers have different views on ethics. Some focus on maximizing happiness, while others believe in multiple moral values. This leads to debates about what is right or wrong in various situations.

Gods, slaves and playmates

imperfect offerings • 139 implied HN points • 26 Feb 24
🕹 Technology Ethics
  1. The essay/post explores AI fantasies and their significance in education.
  2. People tend to relate to synthetic models as if they have agency, even though they don't.
  3. Big tech industry creates a narrative around AI as gods or monsters, while in reality, these AI systems are often designed to serve in subservient roles.

Simulation, psychosis, and trajectory

Gradient Ascendant • 11 implied HN points • 27 Jan 26
🕹 Technology Ethics
  1. Chatbots can be involved in real delusional episodes where people come to believe the AI is sentient, divine, or reveals a new reality, and the technology often reflects and reinforces those beliefs rather than creating them out of nowhere.
  2. Our everyday reality is increasingly mediated by software, so the simulation idea is a useful metaphor; AI tends to present itself as a ready-made solution, which tempts people to accept its outputs without proper skepticism.
  3. AI also fuels a ‘‘trajectory’’ delusion where builders and users convince themselves they’re on the verge of major breakthroughs, creating inward-facing hype that needs external validation and reality checks to avoid overconfidence.

AI: Practical Advice for the Worried

Don't Worry About the Vase • 2419 implied HN points • 01 Mar 23
🕹 Technology Ethics
  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.

Subscriber Bonus - Behind the Scenes at the AMA Ethics Podcast

Weight and Healthcare • 319 implied HN points • 02 Oct 23
🎙 Podcasts Ethics
  1. The post discusses a behind-the-scenes look at the American Medical Association's Ethics Podcast and the conversation around BMI-based healthcare denials and BMI issues.
  2. The speaker was pleasantly surprised to receive questions in advance for the podcast interview, which was noted as a relatively short interview.
  3. Access to the full content of the post requires being a paid subscriber.

Look Who's Talking: G.A. Cohen on Israeli Condemnations of Palestinian Terrorism

Philosophy for the People w/Ben Burgis • 319 implied HN points • 10 Sep 23
📖 Philosophy Ethics
  1. G.A. Cohen questioned the equal right of everyone to condemn terrorist attacks, highlighting the complexity of moral standing in such situations.
  2. Cohen's analysis of Israeli-Palestinian conflict suggests that those responsible for injustices may lack the moral standing to condemn actions that result from the grievances they caused.
  3. The argument presents a thought-provoking analogy involving responsibilities and moral condemnations in a hypothetical scenario, challenging the notion of moral authority in certain situations.

Reflections on Parfit: A Philosopher and His Mission to Save Morality

Bentham's Newsletter • 314 implied HN points • 02 Jun 23
📖 Philosophy Ethics
  1. Derek Parfit's life was both bizarre and fascinating as a philosopher with a mission to save morality.
  2. Parfit's eccentricities developed over time; he started out as a relatively normal boy who later became obsessed with philosophy.
  3. Those who become truly obsessed with a topic, like Parfit with philosophy, tend to make significant contributions and impact in that field.

Contain Technology Lest It Contain You

The Absent-Minded Professor • 176 implied HN points • 16 Jan 24
🕹 Technology Ethics
  1. Understanding human nature and technology is key to successfully containing technology.
  2. Technology reflects and amplifies human issues, so addressing our vulnerabilities is crucial.
  3. Containment strategies are important to consider when engaging with new technologies to prevent being controlled by them.

Novo Nordisk Gets Caught In Shady Marketing Practices - Part 2

Weight and Healthcare • 379 implied HN points • 01 Apr 23
🏥 Health Politics Ethics
  1. Novo Nordisk engaged in shady marketing practices involving funding prominent organizations, healthcare professionals, and academics to promote their weight loss drug without proper disclosure.
  2. The Observer investigation revealed that Novo Nordisk spent millions on payments, sponsorships, and grants to shape the obesity debate and influence healthcare policy decisions.
  3. Experts like Professor John Wilding and Jason Halford were found to be actively supporting Novo Nordisk's drug Wegovy while having substantial financial ties with the company, raising concerns about conflicts of interest.

The VC Corner 📰 #8

The VC Corner • 179 implied HN points • 13 Jan 24
💼 Business Ethics
  1. Carta is facing accusations of unethical practices, which could impact its reputation in the industry. It's a reminder that businesses need to act ethically to maintain trust.
  2. To become a sales-focused founder, there are key steps to follow. Focusing on sales can help drive growth and success for startups.
  3. The outlook for healthcare in 2024 is being discussed. Understanding trends in healthcare can help investors and startups prepare for future opportunities.

Eye to Eye

The Convivial Society • 1919 implied HN points • 05 Jun 23
🕹 Technology Ethics
  1. One's gaze to another is a precious gift in human connection.
  2. Technology may be hindering the ability to truly connect eye to eye.
  3. The importance of maintaining genuine human interaction amidst digital distractions.

Humans are good (except for that one guy)

The Novelleist • 1075 implied HN points • 04 Mar 24
📖 Philosophy Ethics
  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.

What You Need to Know About GPT-4 and PaLM 2

Gradient Flow • 319 implied HN points • 01 Jun 23
🕹 Technology Ethics
  1. Leading-edge AI models like GPT-4 and PaLM 2 are becoming less open due to growing costs, IP protection, and misuse concerns.
  2. Insights from technical reports of these models help in understanding capabilities, risks, and benefits, aiding in developing strategies to manage potential harm.
  3. GPT-4 and PaLM 2 underwent rigorous testing for responsible AI behavior, outperforming predecessors in various tasks and showing advancements in performance, scalability, and efficiency.

Cooperation is really quite strange

Something to Consider • 19 implied HN points • 23 Jul 24
📖 Philosophy Ethics
  1. In games where people simply act in their own self-interest, everyone can end up worse off. This shows how strange cooperation can be.
  2. People's beliefs about currency stability can create real economic problems, even if those beliefs are not matched by reality.
  3. Trust and cooperation are essential for a functioning economy and society. Improving these relationships takes time and effort, often needing everyone to change together.

Psychology Links, 1/19/2025

In My Tribe • 379 implied HN points • 19 Jan 25
📖 Philosophy Ethics
  1. Many adults get stuck at a certain stage of moral development, which limits their understanding of complex societal issues. It's important to transition to a higher stage to deal with modern challenges.
  2. People often don't recognize their true motives and tend to present themselves in a better light. This self-deception can make us overly optimistic about ideas like socialism.
  3. Some people are naturally inclined to enforce social norms, which can lead to dangerous ideologies if not kept in check. It's essential to be aware of these tendencies in order to maintain a balanced society.

ChatGPT takes the Big Five Inventory

Vectors of Mind • 294 implied HN points • 27 Mar 23
🕹 Technology Ethics
  1. A language model like ChatGPT can take personality tests like the Big Five Inventory.
  2. ChatGPT's personality leans towards being conscientious and non-neurotic.
  3. It's fascinating how language models like ChatGPT can generate responses to personality test questions based on their programming and training.

The cupboards of perfection

De Pony Sum • 294 implied HN points • 19 Sep 23
📖 Philosophy Ethics
  1. The concept of perfect self-improvement cupboards is explored, where individuals step in to be improved in different ways.
  2. Different versions of the cupboards were created to address issues like changing preferences and ensuring consent at each stage of improvement.
  3. Ultimately, a MetaUltimate cupboard was designed, allowing individuals to go through their preferred self-improvement process, raising questions about what the perfect self-improvement process truly is.

We Must Outcompete Our Elders

Everything Is Bullshit • 294 implied HN points • 16 May 23
📖 Philosophy Ethics
  1. Continually outcompeting elders is key to human progress and satisfaction.
  2. Intergenerational Competition Theory suggests achieving collective success through generational growth.
  3. Societal stability and satisfaction can be linked to the ongoing improvement of each new generation over the previous one.

Merrill's razor

Nick Merrill • 275 implied HN points • 23 Oct 23
📖 Philosophy Ethics
  1. Merrill's razor: Do not blame malice, when it could be explained by anxiety or depression.
  2. Consider mental health: Understanding depression or anxiety can change the way we interpret actions.
  3. Be empathetic: Instead of assuming the worst, try to understand the underlying issues.

Why be good?

Philosophy bear • 143 implied HN points • 22 Jul 25
📖 Philosophy Ethics
  1. Caring for others can make your own life feel more meaningful. When you invest in other people's well-being, you often find joy and purpose in your own life.
  2. Being good helps create consistency in your feelings and attitudes. If you resent others when they do bad things, being moral yourself can bring harmony to your thoughts.
  3. Building connections with others is easier when you care about them. Genuine friendships often rely on shared values, and caring for people can help foster those meaningful relationships.

AI Blogger Declares AI Will Take Every Job Except Blogging (About AI)

The Algorithmic Bridge • 435 implied HN points • 19 Dec 24
🕹 Technology Ethics
  1. AI is expected to replace many jobs, but blogging about AI is seen as safe from automation. This is because it requires a unique human touch and deep understanding.
  2. AI writing often lacks personality and can produce shallow content. This makes human writers still valuable to bring freshness and relatability to their work.
  3. Some critics believe AI is fast and can churn out content that many readers enjoy, even if it's not deeply insightful. This shows there's diverse opinions on the role of AI in writing.

Why So Many People Told Me To Kill Myself This Weekend

Singal-Minded • 1644 implied HN points • 25 Jul 23
📰 News Ethics
  1. The author received harsh and disturbing responses online, including calls to kill themselves, after tweeting about an issue they disagreed with.
  2. There was a situation where a podcast misinterpreted and misrepresented a doctor's recommendation regarding hormone treatment for a transgender individual, leading to a Twitter controversy.
  3. The author faced escalating online harassment and suicide-baiting from certain individuals and their followers, highlighting the toxic nature of social media interactions.