The hottest Ethics Substack posts right now

And their main takeaways
Category
Top Science Topics

The Tapestry of Technology

The Absent-Minded Professor • 39 implied HN points • 28 Mar 23
🕹 Technology Ethics
  1. A.I. technology is rapidly advancing and will reshape knowledge work.
  2. Consider the impact of A.I. by viewing technology as a tapestry of interconnected elements.
  3. Reflect on the distinction between holistic and prescriptive technologies in the context of A.I.'s integration in work.

Automation does not imply joblessness

Augmented • 39 implied HN points • 20 Apr 23
🕹 Technology Ethics
  1. Automation does not necessarily mean people lose their jobs.
  2. Large language models will impact various job tasks, but not always replace them entirely.
  3. Human oversight is crucial in handling the unpredictability of AI and large language models.

Garbage trucks

Douglass’s Newsletter • 39 implied HN points • 28 May 23
🕹 Technology Ethics
  1. Technology can sometimes prioritize efficiency over human well-being.
  2. Garbage trucks have evolved to be operated by only one person, eliminating the camaraderie and interaction that used to exist among the crew.
  3. The shift towards automation in garbage trucks highlights the lack of human connection and accountability in certain technological advancements.
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Who are We?

Silicon Reckoner • 39 implied HN points • 19 May 23
🕹 Technology Ethics
  1. Geoffrey Hinton's resignation from Google raises concerns about democratic decision-making in technology
  2. The involvement of tech industry in mathematical research may reduce autonomy of practitioners
  3. There is a need to reconsider current models of AI governance and prioritize societal interests over corporate motives

These AI Tools will 10x Your Productivity!

What's AI Newsletter by Louis-François Bouchard • 39 implied HN points • 17 Apr 23
🕹 Technology Ethics
  1. AI-powered tools can significantly boost productivity by automating tasks and improving efficiency.
  2. Using AI tools raises ethical considerations regarding privacy, bias, misuse, and accountability that need to be addressed.
  3. AI-powered tools offer opportunities for inclusivity and innovation while requiring responsible development practices to mitigate risks.

Back to college with generative AI

imperfect offerings • 39 implied HN points • 18 Sep 23
🕹 Technology Ethics
  1. Generative AI is being integrated into various platforms and tools, such as Microsoft Office, making it more accessible to business users.
  2. Educators are facing new challenges in incorporating generative AI into teaching practices while maintaining responsible and ethical use.
  3. Resources and guidelines are available to help teachers and students navigate the use of generative AI in education, emphasizing ethical and critical considerations.

Priceless: A Kiss and the Ends of Life

Humanities in Revolt • 159 implied HN points • 02 Mar 22
📖 Philosophy Ethics
  1. Our values shape our decisions and outlook on life, driving both practical considerations and ultimate goals.
  2. There are different kinds of value - some objects are valued for their usefulness (extrinsic value), while others are treasured for their intrinsic worth.
  3. Understanding the distinction between means and ends is crucial in leading a fulfilling life, emphasizing the importance of setting clear goals and intentions.

DIY Professional

Dada Drummer Almanach • 202 implied HN points • 19 Sep 23
🎶 Music Ethics
  1. Professionalism is important even in DIY music scenes.
  2. Respecting fellow artists and crew is a key aspect of professionalism.
  3. Adapting and problem-solving on the spot showcases true professionalism.

Short Thoughts on Desire

Autoscriptorium • 39 implied HN points • 05 Apr 23
📖 Philosophy Ethics
  1. There is a human compulsion to organize and categorize information to make sense of the world.
  2. Rating everything one encounters is a common habit to communicate feelings in a quantified manner.
  3. The concept of 'love' has evolved over time, from acts of ostenstion to self-oriented positive feelings.

House of Fauci: How Dr. Christine Grady, aka Mrs. Fauci, Used Her NIH Position To Backstop Her Husband’s Pandemic Health Directives

OpenTheBooks Substack • 272 implied HN points • 20 Mar 23
🇺🇸 U.S. Politics Ethics
  1. Dr. Christine Grady supported her husband Dr. Anthony Fauci's pandemic directives from her position at the NIH.
  2. The Faucis represent the clash between top-down public policy by elites and individual freedoms.
  3. Grady advocated for lockdowns, vaccine development, mandates, and mask-wearing, blurring ethical lines.

Clearpill yourself on Gaza

Gray Mirror • 178 implied HN points • 07 Nov 23
🌍 World Politics Ethics
  1. The ethical way to handle a civilian in a war zone is to get them out of the war zone.
  2. Policy derived from genuine concern is more moral than policy influenced by popular narratives.
  3. Turn off your feelings and focus on practical, ethical solutions when addressing complex geopolitical issues.

Catechizing the Bots, Part 1: Foundation Models and Fine-Tuning

jonstokes.com • 237 implied HN points • 28 May 23
🕹 Technology Ethics
  1. Foundation models for large language models go through fine-tuning phases to make them more user-friendly.
  2. Humans play a critical role in shaping the values and behaviors of these models during the fine-tuning process.
  3. Supervised fine-tuning involves exposing the model to smaller sets of carefully selected examples to anchor its output and establish dominant language structures.

"I don't recall": Lawyer Lies for Fani Willis

The Reactionary • 136 implied HN points • 27 Feb 24
🇺🇸 U.S. Politics Ethics
  1. Bradley's testimony regarding the Willis-Wade relationship contained contradictions and evasiveness, suggesting deception.
  2. Judge McAfee's ruling on the attorney-client privilege issue and his interpretation of Bradley's performance play a crucial role in the case.
  3. The case involves complexities not just about the relationship between individuals, but also about potential conflict, deception, and the maintenance of judicial standards.

War and Purpose

Thoughts on Writing • 159 implied HN points • 05 Apr 22
💼 Business Ethics
  1. Businesses are complex entities made up of people from diverse backgrounds, and their responses to global crises like war reflect a mix of urgent crisis management and ethical considerations.
  2. Consumer sentiment towards brands and their involvement in social issues, such as the war in Ukraine, can vary based on age demographics, with younger generations showing less support for brands publicly addressing such issues.
  3. The role of purpose in guiding businesses during crises like the war in Ukraine is complicated, with examples like Unilever, Danone, and HSBC showcasing the challenges of aligning purpose with real-world actions and ethical considerations.

In Praise of Sheep

The Corbett Report • 23 implied HN points • 08 Jun 25
📖 Philosophy Ethics
  1. It's often easy to dismiss the masses as 'sheeple', but there might be more to them than just blind obedience. Seeing them as capable of change could inspire hope.
  2. If everyone 'woke up' and became aggressive, it could lead to a new group of tyrants. Instead, we should think of peaceful and creative ways to encourage change.
  3. Being peaceful and cooperative, like sheep, isn’t necessarily a bad thing. It could be a strength that fosters community and understanding rather than conflict.

Drunk on the Narrative

Charles Eisenstein • 2 implied HN points • 11 Jan 26
📖 Philosophy Ethics
  1. A second video in the Sanity Project 2026 series has been released, and more short videos will be posted frequently.
  2. Comments on the Substack videos are being turned off to avoid spreading the creator too thin, and discussion is being moved to a dedicated forum on Mighty Networks (naascommunity.org).
  3. The Substack is reader-supported and readers are invited to subscribe or support the work with a free or paid subscription.

Useful Utility: Accounting for Taste (Part 2)

reedmolbak • 19 implied HN points • 27 Jan 24
📖 Philosophy Ethics
  1. Moral philosophy can be based on individual tastes rather than universal principles, leading to ethical decisions rooted in personal preferences.
  2. Conflicts in tastes are common, and ethical choices involve recognizing and balancing personal preferences, whether altruistic or self-centered.
  3. Utilitarianism suggests evaluating and prioritizing individual tastes to make decisions that best satisfy personal desires and goals.

Useful Utility: Consequences (Part 1)

reedmolbak • 19 implied HN points • 27 Jan 24
📖 Philosophy Ethics
  1. Consequentialism focuses on the outcomes of actions rather than the actions themselves
  2. Utilitarianism's core concept is that decisions should be made based on consequences and what's best for achieving goals
  3. Ethical decisions often benefit from using a consequentialist approach, considering outcomes and consequences over abstract ethical theories

Neuropessimism, the impossible ideology

Square Circle • 3 implied HN points • 17 Dec 25
📖 Philosophy Ethics
  1. The brain is a messy, evolved organ whose outputs we admire but that can be self-serving and unreliable, so it’s reasonable to question how much we should trust it.
  2. Neuropessimism says we should reject brain-made judgments and favor the intrinsic value of nature, a stance that pushes toward asceticism and seeking un-simplified complexity but is nearly impossible to fully live out.
  3. The opposite view notes that distrusting the brain may commit a logical error: its convoluted design might be exactly what produces our best insights, so a balanced response is humility, rest, and appreciation rather than total rejection.

This is water, motherfuckers

Sex and the State • 18 implied HN points • 11 Jul 25
📖 Philosophy Ethics
  1. David Foster Wallace's 'This is Water' speech teaches us important lessons about life and awareness. It's about seeing the world beyond our daily routines.
  2. Listening to people who have faced struggles can provide unique insights. Their experiences often lead to deeper understanding and advice.
  3. Sometimes, the most valuable advice comes from those who have battled with their own challenges. Their perspectives can help us navigate our own lives better.

Fear of AI is Profitable

Cybernetic Forests • 39 implied HN points • 02 Apr 23
🕹 Technology Ethics
  1. Fear of AI can be profitable through marketing strategies that capitalize on existential threats from AI.
  2. There is skepticism about the narratives surrounding powerful AI systems being motivated by fear of sentient AI surpassing humans.
  3. Prioritizing speculative future AI risks can distract from addressing the immediate impacts of AI technology on society and real-world problems.

The Canaries in the Digital Coal Mine

The Digital Anthropologist • 19 implied HN points • 26 Jan 24
🕹 Technology Ethics
  1. Brilliant minds are questioning the role of Artificial Intelligence and offering a voice of reason amidst the hype of technology leaders.
  2. These 'canaries' are pro-technology but emphasize the importance of ethical AI and human-centric approach to technological advancements.
  3. The list of influential voices includes experts like Shoshana Zuboff, Jaron Lanier, Timnit Gebru, Carissa Véliz, and more, who provide valuable insights on technology and humanity.

AI Safety: Is AI The Genie Or The Lamp?

jonstokes.com • 237 implied HN points • 01 May 23
🕹 Technology Ethics
  1. AI safety involves the debate between AI as a tool or an agent, impacting approaches to AI explainability and safety.
  2. There are conflicting folk conceptions of alignment, including individualist and collectivist perspectives centered around control.
  3. The distinction of viewing AI as the genie or the lamp, as an agent with goals or as a software tool, is crucial in shaping AI safety discussions and applications.

The reality distortion field

Thoughts on Writing • 239 implied HN points • 19 Aug 21
💼 Business Ethics
  1. Reactions to discussions about brand purpose can vary, with some finding it hard to openly express skepticism in certain professional settings.
  2. The concept of purpose in business is complex and often seen as a grey area, leading to varied opinions about the role of advertising and selling.
  3. Criticism of the emphasis on brand purpose and potential distortion of ethics in business highlights the need for a deeper reflection on the motivations behind corporate actions.

Securing Data that is Used by AI

Rod’s Blog • 19 implied HN points • 25 Jan 24
🕹 Technology Ethics
  1. Securing data used by AI is vital for security, performance, reliability, ethics, and trust.
  2. Data hygiene practices include collecting necessary data types, encrypting data, and maintaining data lineage.
  3. Ensuring data quality through validation, diversity, and detection methods is crucial for accurate and fair AI outcomes.

My benefactor Harlan Crow is no Nazi

Can We Still Govern? • 242 implied HN points • 13 Apr 23
🇺🇸 U.S. Politics Ethics
  1. The benefactor, Harlan Crow, is not a Nazi despite reports of Nazi memorabilia in his home.
  2. Various credible individuals vouch for Harlan Crow's decency and dismiss Nazi accusations.
  3. Efforts to smear Justice Clarence Thomas by associating him with Harlan Crow's supposed Nazi connections are refuted.

In Defense of Generative AI ("AI Art")

The Future of Life • 19 implied HN points • 22 Jan 24
🎭️ Culture Ethics
  1. Generative AI, or AI art, learns from existing art to create new images. It's a complex process that doesn’t just copy but develops new ideas based on patterns.
  2. While some fear AI art takes jobs from human artists, it could actually help enhance creativity. Artists may play new roles by telling stories with the help of AI tools.
  3. Even if AI art is often seen as derivative, it can still add beauty to our everyday lives. It might help bring back the artistry and detail that is often missing in modern design.

The Biology of Behavior and The Mystery of Subjective Experience: Review of Behave

Holodoxa • 79 implied HN points • 01 Dec 22
🔬 Science Ethics
  1. Robert Sapolsky's book 'Behave' delves into the biology behind human behavior and argues for determinism, suggesting that all human actions have causes rooted in the physical world.
  2. The hard determinist perspective challenges common ideas of merit and responsibility, particularly in the context of human behavior, raising questions about the implications for societal management of issues like criminal justice.
  3. Despite the constraints on human agency imposed by biology and other factors, it is beneficial to continue treating individuals as at least partially responsible for their choices to maintain the effectiveness of existing social and psychological mechanisms.

Generating a Human Response to Artificial Intelligence on The Future of Work

Workforce Futurist by Andy Spence • 244 implied HN points • 22 Mar 23
🕹 Technology Ethics
  1. ChatGPT is a powerful generative AI tool that is rapidly developing and has various applications in automation and work tasks.
  2. The impact of AI on work is significant, with potential job task implications for the workforce, especially in white-collar professions.
  3. Society needs to address challenges related to AI regulation, digital access divide, bias prevention, and reimagining the future of work that balances human and machine capabilities.

What is a Belief (Part 2: Language, Truth, and Logic)

Ethics Under Construction • 15 implied HN points • 02 Aug 25
📖 Philosophy Ethics
  1. A belief is when we say something is true about a thought. We give thoughts the property of being true based on our perspective.
  2. Language is a way to share our thoughts, but it doesn't always need to be logical. Even strange phrases can still communicate ideas.
  3. Truth is about how our beliefs relate to reality. We assign truth to our thoughts, but the world is already true without our beliefs influencing it.