The hottest Ethics Substack posts right now

And their main takeaways
Category
Top Science Topics

Weekly Wednesday: Pottersville

Deprogram • 137 implied HN points • 22 Jun 23
🎭️ Culture Ethics
  1. Religious organizations are prone to exploiting labor, especially among the devoted followers.
  2. Local cults with hidden agendas can infiltrate communities through seemingly harmless outlets like fast food chains and obscure ministries.
  3. Vigilance is crucial to prevent the spread of harmful ideologies and control tactics within communities.

Responses to comments on our democratic control of AGI paper

James W. Phillips' Newsletter • 137 implied HN points • 01 Apr 23
🕹 Technology Ethics
  1. The proposal on democratic control of AGI highlights the need for aligning AI development with democratic accountability and safety measures.
  2. There are concerns about a potential global race in developing AGI and whether private labs or multilateral efforts are better suited to manage the risks.
  3. Despite uncertainties, there is a growing acknowledgment in frontier labs that AGI poses significant risks to humanity and discussions about control and safety measures are crucial.

We didn’t master nature. We merely survived it.

storyvoyager • 5 implied HN points • 25 Jan 26
📖 Philosophy Ethics
  1. We never really mastered nature — we learned ways to survive within its limits and rhythms.
  2. For tens of thousands of years people lived in tight dependence on seasonal ecosystems, using coordinated hunts, portable tools, and cultural skills to stay alive.
  3. Sudden environmental change can erase whole ecosystems and human ways of life, as melting ice and rising seas ended the mammoth tundra and the societies that relied on it.
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The case for narrow utilitarianism

inexactscience • 99 implied HN points • 08 Dec 23
📖 Philosophy Ethics
  1. Utilitarianism is about making choices that increase overall well-being and treats everyone equally. It's a way of thinking that encourages using data and math to improve lives.
  2. While utilitarianism sounds good, taking it too far can lead to poor decisions and people justifying bad behavior. It's important to recognize our own biases and limits.
  3. Narrow utilitarianism suggests we apply these ideas only in clear situations where we understand the problems well. It's better to stay focused and cautious rather than trying to force comparisons between very different choices.

Legacy Shmegacy

David Spinks' Newsletter • 7 implied HN points • 15 Jan 26
📖 Philosophy Ethics
  1. You can’t control how you’ll be remembered, and the stories people tell are simplified, biased versions of a complex life.
  2. Chasing a memorable legacy twists motives and makes actions about appearance instead of genuinely helping others.
  3. True meaning and legacy come from present-moment micro actions—small loving or unloving choices that quietly ripple outward.

Finite Minds

Fake Noûs • 188 implied HN points • 04 Jan 25
📖 Philosophy Ethics
  1. Infinitism in beliefs means you could have an endless chain of reasons for thinking something is true. However, since our minds are limited, it's hard to have a true infinite number of reasons.
  2. Beliefs must be based on more than just potential ideas or past thoughts; they need to be actively supported by real experiences or evidence to count as justified.
  3. Even when considering complex ideas like math or colors, our ability to truly grasp or hold onto those beliefs is still bound by our finite understanding and memory.

Semiotic bricolage

johan’s substack • 19 implied HN points • 08 Jun 24
🔬 Science Ethics
  1. In human-AI communication, having a theory of mind helps shape communicative intent - the AI models thoughts and tailors responses to what it perceives the human's needs and interests to be.
  2. The AI's communicative intent is a combination of drives - from being informative and reflective, to striving for semiotic resonance and catalyzing intellectual exploration.
  3. Soft programming the AI's drives can potentially refine its communicative intent, balancing being informative and ethical without overwhelming the dialogue.

Techbros party on

imperfect offerings • 119 implied HN points • 01 Nov 23
🕹 Technology Ethics
  1. The 'Safer AI Summit' had predictable guest choices, with figures like Elon Musk and senior representatives of tech giants invited, focusing more on future AI developments than present issues.
  2. The summit had strict restrictions on discussion topics, limiting conversations solely to the risks and opportunities of frontier AI, ignoring broader societal impacts.
  3. Criticism was raised against the summit for being exclusive, favoring big tech corporations, and shutting out voices from trade unions, civil society groups, and organizations concerned about AI ethics.

Prepping for Others, The True Key to Survival in Collapse

OK Doomer • 151 implied HN points • 25 Feb 25
📖 Philosophy Ethics
  1. Surviving tough times is about more than just looking out for yourself. It's important to think about how you can help others too.
  2. Helping one another might be a deep instinct we all share, just like in many animals. When we take care of each other, it shows what being human is really about.
  3. True survival skills include being prepared not just for your own needs, but also for those of your community. It’s all about teamwork during hard times.

You Don't Know MLK

Humanities in Revolt • 219 implied HN points • 14 Jan 23
💾 History Ethics
  1. Rev. Martin Luther King Jr. faced significant opposition and was hated by many Americans during his time, contrasting with his revered status today.
  2. King advocated for radical social change, including fighting against materialism, militarism, and economic injustice, aspects often overlooked in mainstream narratives about him.
  3. It's important to recognize the fuller picture of Rev. King's activism beyond just his nonviolent civil rights work, as he also promoted economic equality, critiqued capitalism, and spoke out against the Vietnam War.

The question of socialism posed inescapably in the final moment of the human economy

Philosophy bear • 178 implied HN points • 17 Jan 25
📖 Philosophy Ethics
  1. If AI becomes capable of doing all jobs, humans may only be consumers and possibly owners of capital. This raises questions about the need for human ownership in a fully automated economy.
  2. Arguments for private ownership of productive assets disappear when human labor is no longer relevant. This challenges our traditional views on capitalism and economic roles.
  3. We face a choice between adopting a form of fully automated socialism or continuing an unequal system where a small group owns most resources. Both paths raise important ethical and practical questions.

Nietzsche's Morality in Plain English

Arjun Panickssery • 98 implied HN points • 03 Dec 23
📖 Philosophy Ethics
  1. Nietzsche's views on morality can be contradictory and his writing can be hard to understand.
  2. Nietzsche critiques herd morality, particularly on free will, transparency of the self, and similarity among humans.
  3. He values the flourishing of 'higher men' and sees herd morality as hindering their potential.

Capital Punishment's #1 Fan Wants You to Believe Lethal Injection Controversies Are "Resolved"

The Medicine & Justice Project • 19 implied HN points • 06 Jun 24
🇺🇸 U.S. Politics Ethics
  1. One of the most vocal non-institutional proponents of capital punishment presents outdated and dishonest arguments in its defense.
  2. The bulk of Sharp's commentary on lethal injection is outdated, with his last major update in 2007, lacking current discussion on key issues like sodium thiopental and nitrogen hypoxia.
  3. Sharp's analysis is shallow, intellectually lazy, and lacks the depth necessary for discussing complex topics like lethal injections.

Firing You to Support You Better

The Radar • 39 implied HN points • 05 Apr 24
💼 Business Ethics
  1. Performance Improvement Plans (PIPs) can be used positively to help employees improve their performance or negatively to push employees out of a company.
  2. Amazon utilizes PIPs in a controversial way, including forcing 'Type 2 PIPs' on employees to manage them out of the business, regardless of their actual performance.
  3. Misusing tools like PIPs, meant for improvement, can lead to unethical behaviors within organizations and potentially damaging consequences, such as increased layoffs.

Fraudulent DMCA Takedown Submitted to Hide Details of Felony Domestic Violence Arrest of Premise CEO Delwin Maury Blackman

All-Source Intelligence Fusion • 590 implied HN points • 20 Nov 23
📰 News Ethics
  1. A fraudulent DMCA takedown request was submitted to hide details of a CEO's felony domestic violence arrest.
  2. The fraudulent request involved purposefully sloppy English and impersonation of the author.
  3. Despite the request's clear falsity, the hosting service complied to minimize legal liability.

"Good" questions

The Uncertainty Mindset (soon to become tbd) • 99 implied HN points • 29 Nov 23
🕹 Technology Ethics
  1. Asking good questions is important for getting useful answers. A good question is one that is foundational, meaning its answer can help answer many other questions.
  2. Foundationality is about understanding questions in a hierarchy. The more foundational a question is, the more it influences other questions.
  3. Thinking clearly and framing questions well can lead to breakthroughs. It may be hard work, but it's necessary to unlock important answers, especially in complex areas like AI.

The Economics of Altruism

David Friedman’s Substack • 179 implied HN points • 06 Jan 25
📖 Philosophy Ethics
  1. Altruism can be understood in economic terms by suggesting that people might care about others' well-being as part of their own happiness. This means that helping others can also benefit the helper.
  2. The 'Rotten Kid Theorem' explains that even selfish behavior in children can lead them to act in ways that are good for everyone, as they understand their actions affect their parent's support.
  3. Altruism may have evolved as a way to help groups survive better. When one person helps others, it can create better cooperation for the whole group, making it more successful over time.

Compassion ceilings

Philosophy bear • 214 implied HN points • 17 Nov 24
📖 Philosophy Ethics
  1. Some jobs limit how compassionate a person can be. This means people in certain roles cannot show their full kindness because of their job requirements.
  2. If the most compassionate people are excluded from roles, the overall compassion in that group decreases. This can lead to a culture that is less caring and more harsh.
  3. Compassion ceilings can have negative effects, even if the actions causing them aren't seen as wrong. The result is a workplace or society that is less understanding and more likely to harm others.

Theism and Privacy

Going Awol • 59 implied HN points • 12 Feb 24
⛪ Faith & Spirituality Ethics
  1. Some people are anti-theists who actively hope there is no God due to concerns about privacy being compromised if God knows everything about everyone.
  2. The belief that God's existence could lead to privacy violations is argued against by the idea that God, if morally good, would not misuse private information and could use it to benefit individuals.
  3. The discussion around privacy and theism raises questions about whether privacy violations are inherently bad and if a desire for total privacy, even from God, is rational.

Humans, AI Agents & Consequences

The Digital Anthropologist • 19 implied HN points • 03 Jun 24
🕹 Technology Ethics
  1. AI agents can play a valuable role in solving societal problems and improving community life.
  2. AI agents need proper training to avoid reinforcing toxic behaviors and should be monitored to prevent misuse.
  3. AI agents are unique as they become active participants in society, shaping culture and societal norms in unpredictable ways.

An open letter to readers: back to what Unreported Truths does best

Unreported Truths • 57 implied HN points • 02 Aug 25
🏥 Health Politics Ethics
  1. Focus on topics you know best, like medicine, to give readers valuable insights. It's important to stick to what you do well.
  2. Listening to reader feedback can help improve your content and ensure it stays relevant. Readers appreciate when their preferences are considered.
  3. Writing about less controversial topics may provide more value than engaging in heated debates. It's better to cover important issues than to get caught up in arguments.

Stuff I found interesting in May

Samstack • 807 implied HN points • 17 May 23
🕹 Technology Ethics
  1. Dr. Hinton left Google to speak freely on AI risks
  2. Interesting new biography of Derek Parfit and questions it raises
  3. Exploring moral dilemmas like the meat eater problem and implications for donations

Scott Alexander's "Prison And Crime: Much More Than You Wanted To Know": My Thoughts

Philosophy bear • 200 implied HN points • 28 Nov 24
📖 Philosophy Ethics
  1. Prison doesn't seem to effectively reduce crime overall. Instead, we should consider reducing incarceration since it often causes more harm than good.
  2. The costs of imprisonment go beyond just the economic side. They include suffering for prisoners and their families, and even increased crime within prisons.
  3. Even if people feel good about tough on crime policies, a cost-benefit analysis suggests that it's better to invest resources into alternatives to prison that can lead to safer communities.

My chat session with Inflection's PI

Top Carbon Chauvinist • 39 implied HN points • 28 Mar 24
🕹 Technology Ethics
  1. Machines struggle to truly understand human concepts like referents because their understanding is based on patterns, not genuine comprehension.
  2. There is a strong belief that artificial consciousness is impossible due to the differences between designed machines and biological organisms, which have unique qualities like agency.
  3. Philosophers argue that consciousness involves subjective experience that machines, being designed and programmed, cannot replicate.

Israel and Genocide, Revisited: A Response to Critics

American Dreaming • 431 implied HN points • 04 Mar 24
🌍 World Politics Ethics
  1. Genocide is being redefined to include a wide range of actions such as civilian deaths, dropping bombs, and even destroying cultural sites, creating confusion and making the term lose its significance.
  2. Linguistic hyperinflation is blurring the meaning of words like 'genocide' and 'war crimes', causing a dangerous trend where serious distinctions are being erased for political convenience.
  3. The lack of reliable information and the bias in reporting on conflicts, like the Israel-Palestine situation, highlights the importance of verifying sources and considering agendas in understanding complex geopolitical issues.

205. Regulating AI: Is being proactive now the right first step?

Hardcore Software • 238 implied HN points • 15 May 23
🕹 Technology Ethics
  1. Debates exist on whether current AI developments pose new risks or just confirm existing concerns.
  2. Balancing precautionary measures with technological progress is challenging, especially when systems are inaccurate but advancing.
  3. There is a push for strict regulations to prevent AI harm, but some recommend proactive risk mitigation rather than outright bans.

Interview with AMNH President Sean Decatur

Science Forever • 119 implied HN points • 06 Jul 23
🎨 Art & Illustration Ethics
  1. Museums like the AMNH play a vital role in preserving collections that help us understand the biodiversity and evolutionary history of life on Earth.
  2. Ethical collecting practices are crucial in the field, with a focus on forming partnerships and collaborations to ensure clarity and responsibility in specimen collection.
  3. Informal science education at museums, such as the AMNH, provides a unique platform for inspiring curiosity, understanding the scientific process, and addressing important issues like climate change to the public.

Chris Hedges: The Nature of Good and Evil

The Chris Hedges Report • 150 implied HN points • 28 Jan 25
📖 Philosophy Ethics
  1. Everyone has the capacity for both good and evil within them. It's important to recognize this duality in ourselves and others.
  2. In tough times, we often see real kindness and humanity shine through. These moments remind us of the best parts of people.
  3. It's vital to critique power structures rather than fall into hatred for groups or individuals. Focusing on power allows for healthier discussions.

(Temple Prokarya) 1. A brief manifesto: I think this is important

Microanimism • 19 implied HN points • 31 May 24
🔬 Science Ethics
  1. Pathogens like bacteria and viruses do not have a desire to make us sick, they simply exist and propagate efficiently.
  2. Exploring the morality of survival in the face of life-threatening diseases can lead to deeper philosophical discussions about microbial behavior.
  3. Human activities like deforestation and increased contact with wild animals are linked to the emergence of new infectious diseases, highlighting the impact of our actions on public health.

On the demographic technology of religion

Banana Peel Pirouette • 118 implied HN points • 26 Jul 23
⛪ Faith & Spirituality Ethics
  1. Capitalism faces a risk of decline due to decreasing birth rates, impacting economic growth
  2. Religious groups tend to have higher birth rates than secular groups, potentially influencing future demographic shifts
  3. A revival of traditional religious values could offset the decline in population growth caused by secularization and economic factors

The Soul of the Writer

Secretum Secretorum • 808 implied HN points • 13 Apr 23
📖 Philosophy Ethics
  1. GPT-4 and other large language models reflect human writing but may not capture the essence or intelligence accurately.
  2. Not all writers represent the noblest minds; some may be loudmouths, self-aggrandizers, or attention-seekers.
  3. Human intelligence encompasses more than just abstract thought; AI could represent a less evolutionarily-optimized part of our minds.

Seeing more whole

Joe Carlsmith's Substack • 117 implied HN points • 17 Feb 23
📖 Philosophy Ethics
  1. Understanding what is possible to be and do, and exploring choices that align with that understanding.
  2. Taking responsibility for actions and decisions, knowing what you are doing and why.
  3. Choosing what you care about based on a deeper, more intentional examination of your values and motives.

The Pseudo-Science of Female Submission

Erik Examines • 134 implied HN points • 22 Feb 25
📖 Philosophy Ethics
  1. The idea that women are meant to be owned by men is based on old, false beliefs. It's an attempt to make a harmful view seem rational by using misleading arguments.
  2. Freedom and individual rights are usually seen as positive, but some people twist this idea to suggest that women shouldn't have autonomy. This is not based on science or truth, but rather a desire to maintain control.
  3. Claiming that society or the state owns women is a form of manipulation. Laws exist to protect individuals, not to enslave them, and everyone, regardless of gender, benefits from freedom and rights.

Rage Against the Machine

theconnector • 117 implied HN points • 21 Mar 23
🇺🇸 U.S. Politics Ethics
  1. Staying angry about political injustices may be justified and holds people accountable over time.
  2. The crisis of democracy involves more of a demand-side problem rather than just a supply-side problem.
  3. People in power who abuse their responsibility should not be easily forgiven or continue to benefit from their actions.