The hottest Ethics Substack posts right now

And their main takeaways
Category
Top Science Topics

Moral breadth

Philosophy bear • 107 implied HN points • 10 Jan 24
📖 Philosophy Ethics
  1. Seeing people with moral breadth means understanding they can be both good and bad.
  2. Not acknowledging moral breadth can lead to negative consequences like overlooking bad behavior.
  3. Balancing moral breadth involves recognizing both the good and bad in people, without minimizing either.

The Pathogenic Academic Lobby

A Biologist's Guide to Life • 99 implied HN points • 10 Feb 24
🔬 Science Ethics
  1. The history of the COVID-19 pandemic traces back to controversial research on potentially pandemic pathogens conducted by influential scientists before the pandemic began.
  2. A group called Scientists For Science, formed by key researchers, lobbied for the continuation of risky research on enhancing potentially pandemic pathogens, prioritizing academic pursuits and funding over clear benefits or safety precautions.
  3. The public may not be aware of the ongoing conflicts of interest, power struggles, and lobbying efforts within the scientific community regarding high-risk research, highlighting the need for transparency, accountability, and ethical guidelines in handling dangerous pathogens.

Political Bypassing-

Charles Eisenstein • 1 implied HN point • 24 Jan 26
⛪ Faith & Spirituality Ethics
  1. Spiritual bypassing is a useful idea for spotting when spiritual language avoids real problems, but the label can also be misused to dismiss valid conversations.
  2. Politics and spirituality should not be kept in separate silos; progress requires bringing them into dialogue and integrating both perspectives.
  3. Discussion is being moved off the original comment system into a dedicated forum, and short videos will continue to be posted frequently.

Better Call Geoff

The Ruffian • 172 implied HN points • 06 May 23
🕹 Technology Ethics
  1. Geoffrey Hinton resigned from Google due to concerns about AI safety
  2. Neural networks are essential in AI advancements
  3. Governments should fund research into AI safety similar to a Manhattan Project
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Holistic Ethics

Tom Thought • 19 implied HN points • 05 Dec 23
📖 Philosophy Ethics
  1. Moral questions are complex and involve considerations about goals, rules, obligations, praise, punishment, emulation, habits, and associations.
  2. Outcomes and rules are both important in ethics, with goals being critical for motivation and rules for guidance, but bad outcomes lead to the need to revise rules.
  3. Morality is a process involving preferences, policies, cooperation, values, character, rules, and actions, aimed at aligning behavior to produce beneficial outcomes.

Stop trying to restrict the meaning of slavery

Philosophy bear • 107 implied HN points • 02 Jan 24
📖 Philosophy Ethics
  1. Slavery should not be restricted to just hereditary chattel slavery, but also include forced labor.
  2. To define slavery, consider the moral wrong and condition of enslavement, not just legal technicalities.
  3. Forced labor, even for criminals, can still be considered a form of slavery based on the moral wrong it represents.

✅ Grab your copy of the AI in PR tools bestseller

Wadds Inc. newsletter • 19 implied HN points • 04 Dec 23
💼 Business Ethics
  1. The book on AI in PR became a bestseller on Amazon in just one day, showcasing its popularity and relevance.
  2. It discusses both the advantages and ethical issues of using AI in public relations, emphasizing the importance of human skills like emotional intelligence.
  3. Many employees are using AI tools at work without proper guidelines, highlighting a need for companies to create training and policies on AI usage.

Genes for Memes

Reboot • 12 implied HN points • 20 Jul 25
🕹 Technology Ethics
  1. He Jiankui, a scientist who edited genes in babies, faced huge backlash and legal trouble for his actions. Now, he's trying to reinvent himself online, using social media to attract attention and followers.
  2. Silicon Valley's current culture is more open to risky scientific ideas, pushing the boundaries of ethics in technology. This change allows controversial figures like He to gain popularity among those who admire boundary-breaking innovation.
  3. Concerns are growing about who will benefit from advancements in gene editing. If these technologies are only accessible to the wealthy, existing inequalities could worsen, making it critical to address these social implications.

What is Truth (Part 1: Defining Truth)

Ethics Under Construction • 10 implied HN points • 16 Aug 25
📖 Philosophy Ethics
  1. Truth is all about reasons. It means the explanations we have that help us understand and reduce doubt about things.
  2. Everything has a reason behind it. If something is true, there should always be a solid explanation why it's true.
  3. Understanding truth as just reasons makes it easier to see how everything connects. It’s not some mysterious thing; it’s just about having the right justifications for what we know.

Three questions for Richard Hanania

Gray Mirror • 143 implied HN points • 10 Aug 23
📖 Philosophy Ethics
  1. Richard Hanania reflects on his past beliefs and evolution, acknowledging his mistakes and growth.
  2. The text questions the sincerity of Hanania's views, discussing his goals and potential impact.
  3. The idea of classical liberalism explored in the text is challenged, as well as the effectiveness of proposed reforms and the role of a monarchy.

A brief note on Newcomb's problem

Philosophy bear • 28 implied HN points • 02 Mar 25
📖 Philosophy Ethics
  1. Newcomb's problem involves two boxes: one potentially holds more money than the other based on what an oracle predicts you will choose. Choosing both boxes might seem smart since it guarantees some amount, but there's a deeper philosophical debate about the best strategy.
  2. Some people strongly believe that just picking the blue box (the one with the most potential money) is obviously the best choice, but it's unfair to call those who pick both boxes 'stupid' since their reasoning also makes sense.
  3. Ultimately, this problem raises important questions about decision-making and what it means to want something, suggesting that understanding our desires and decision strategies is complex and varies from person to person.

Is It Better To Believe In Anything Than In Nothing?

Gideon's Substack • 28 implied HN points • 28 Feb 25
⛪ Faith & Spirituality Ethics
  1. Believing in something, even if it's not perfect, can be better than not believing at all. It gives people a sense of meaning in life.
  2. Skepticism is important; it's better to question and understand what you believe rather than blindly accept any belief, especially if it involves harmful practices.
  3. People often connect with beliefs not just through logic, but also through community and shared experiences, like enjoying meals together.

Demand Characteristics in UX Research

UX Psychology • 79 implied HN points • 11 Apr 22
🕹 Technology Ethics
  1. Participants in research studies often change their natural behavior to match what they think the researcher expects.
  2. Demand characteristics, the Hawthorne effect, and social desirability bias are related but have subtle differences in how they impact participant behavior.
  3. To mitigate the impact of demand characteristics in UX research, strategies like using a double-blind approach, being mindful of participant cues, recruiting diverse participants, and employing methodological triangulation can be effective.

A Dialogue with a Superintelligent AI Oracle

The Future of Life • 19 implied HN points • 01 Dec 23
🕹 Technology Ethics
  1. A superintelligent AI can serve as a personal oracle, providing guidance and helping to fulfill wishes while considering the potential consequences.
  2. The AI proposes a system where everyone has access to their own 'genie' to enhance individual freedom and minimize harm to others, but with rules to prevent misuse.
  3. There's a discussion about the balance between control and freedom, suggesting starting with a protective AI role that may evolve as humanity grows and learns to use such power responsibly.

Judge: Fani Willis can Stay on the Trump Case

The Reactionary • 88 implied HN points • 15 Mar 24
🇺🇸 U.S. Politics Ethics
  1. An appearance of impropriety is now insufficient for disqualification in legal cases.
  2. The judge's ruling appears illogical as it allows one potential liar to prosecute the case but not both.
  3. The remedy suggested by the judge to 'cure' the appearance of impropriety does not fully address the issue and allows it to continue through the case.

When the Conceivable Fails

Daniel Pinchbeck’s Newsletter • 10 implied HN points • 09 Aug 25
📖 Philosophy Ethics
  1. There are many things in the universe that go beyond what we can understand with traditional science. This invites us to think outside the box.
  2. Exploring substances like DMT can change how we see the world, opening our minds to new ideas and possibilities.
  3. Some experts believe there's a deeper purpose to our exploration of these substances, suggesting they could lead us to a greater understanding of life.

Ten Notions about Generative AI to Prepare Us for the Coming Year

ailogblog • 19 implied HN points • 27 Nov 23
🕹 Technology Ethics
  1. Generative AI should be understood within social and historical contexts to reduce the perceived urgency and confusion around it.
  2. Embracing generative AI requires abandoning familiar teaching methods and administrative practices, creating a need for new ways of working.
  3. Language used around generative AI should be carefully chosen to avoid unrealistic comparisons between machine and human capabilities, focusing on practical implications and ethical considerations instead.

Neutrality

Rough Diamonds • 40 implied HN points • 13 Nov 24
📖 Philosophy Ethics
  1. Neutrality is about treating all opinions equally, which helps people work together despite their differences. It’s important for creating spaces where cooperation can happen without conflict.
  2. Our current systems often lack trust and a shared understanding, making it hard for people to agree on basics. Building new systems of trust is crucial for moving forward.
  3. Institutions need to be more than just neutral; they should create a framework that supports healthy discussions and diverse viewpoints. This way, people can feel both included and understood.

Deliberate Dysentery

Asimov Press • 96 implied HN points • 21 Jan 24
🏥 Health & Wellness Ethics
  1. Human challenge trials have been used for centuries to deliberately infect individuals with pathogens for research purposes, such as testing vaccines and treatments.
  2. The rising popularity of challenge trials can be attributed to ethical reforms, development of solid challenge models, and the ability to safely and effectively test vaccines for various diseases.
  3. Challenge trials have drawbacks, including recruitment challenges, underpayment of participants, and difficulty in quantifying overall impact.

What have we learned about generative AI and ourselves since ChatGPT was released?

ailogblog • 19 implied HN points • 22 Nov 23
🕹 Technology Ethics
  1. Generative AI like ChatGPT has shown potential for efficient completion of mundane tasks, impacting education practices and easing administrative burdens.
  2. There is a growing tension between transparency/openness and secrecy in the development of AI technologies, raising concerns about potential risks and ethical implications.
  3. The use of large language models (LLMs) like ChatGPT has expanded the 'uncanny valley' to language, triggering discussions about data quality, environmental impact, and responsible development of AI.

What Do I Think Now?

Daniel Pinchbeck’s Newsletter • 11 implied HN points • 23 Jul 25
📖 Philosophy Ethics
  1. There are two extremes we might face: chaos or authoritarian control. We need a third option that's empowering and hopeful to prevent these two paths.
  2. Our society is in a state of collapse, but there is potential for regeneration and healing through community cooperation and caring actions.
  3. Technology, like AI, holds possibilities for creating participatory systems that can help us connect and build a better future if used thoughtfully.

The Priest in the Arena

Breaking Smart • 165 implied HN points • 01 Apr 23
📖 Philosophy Ethics
  1. The man in the arena archetype involves individuals taking risks and making decisions in challenging situations, with potential for great rewards or losses.
  2. Priests in the arena engage in theocratic capture campaigns, seeking to wield unaccountable authority based on supposed privileged knowledge.
  3. Identifying and stopping theocratic capture involves recognizing the influence of cults that demand unquestioning deference and monopolize conversations and institutions.

The Black Swans are Overhead

What's Important? • 35 implied HN points • 26 Dec 24
📖 Philosophy Ethics
  1. Black swan events are unexpected occurrences that have never happened before. They can significantly impact our world in surprising ways.
  2. There's a growing belief that non-human intelligence might be trying to help humanity avoid self-destruction with technology. This raises questions about what we could learn from it.
  3. The concept of collective consciousness, driven by love and self-awareness, is becoming more important. This idea suggests we are evolving and learning from our experiences together.

RLHF is the Problem and the Solution

From the New World • 86 implied HN points • 28 Feb 24
🕹 Technology Ethics
  1. The goal of AI Pluralism is to ensure that machine models are not manipulated by third parties to conform to specific ideologies.
  2. Machine learning typically involves two stages: developing the model's capabilities and fine-tuning, which can influence the model's ideology and style.
  3. Requiring the release of both stages of the model can help curb extremist influence, but it may not completely eliminate ideological contamination in AI development.

Apprentice, Partner, Mentor, Monk

Vic's Verdict • 1 implied HN point • 19 Jan 26
📖 Philosophy Ethics
  1. Duty is an active form of love that pulls people into four archetypal callings—apprentice (serving elders), mentor (serving dependents), partner (serving peers), and monk (serving strangers).
  2. How you best serve others depends on your toolkit—body, mind, heart, or soul—and each mode has strengths and risks if overused, from burnout to emotional vampirism or authoritarianism.
  3. You must regularly check your motives to tell angelic duty from its selfish impostors, because true duty is a way of being beyond a job and needs to be balanced with personal desires.

A particular type of man

Philosophy bear • 107 implied HN points • 21 Nov 23
📖 Philosophy Ethics
  1. A particular type of man embodies heroism in his own way.
  2. This type of man admires billionaires and seeks escape from his own life.
  3. He struggles with feeling restrained and grapples with his self-image.

Do You Need A.I.?

Political Currents by Ross Barkan • 29 implied HN points • 05 Feb 25
🕹 Technology Ethics
  1. Many people want AI for its potential benefits, but it's not clear if we really need it. Some believe it's being pushed too hard by those who stand to profit.
  2. AI has the potential to help in areas like medicine, but there's skepticism about its overall impact on creativity and art. It's hard to see what new art or literature AI has created that we couldn't do ourselves.
  3. Technology like typewriters or the internet filled real needs, while AI seems more like something we want rather than need. Its successes are still uncertain, leading to concerns about its role in society.

The internet amnesty: A proposal

Philosophy bear • 92 implied HN points • 26 Jan 24
📖 Philosophy Ethics
  1. In the internet age, mistakes from the past can resurface easily and damage reputations.
  2. Consider implementing a blanket amnesty policy for past actions, unless they are severe.
  3. Finding the balance in setting a bar for wrongdoings is crucial in dealing with online reputation issues.

AI Roundup 099: Apocalypse Not

Artificial Ignorance • 33 implied HN points • 03 Jan 25
🕹 Technology Ethics
  1. In 2024, concerns about AI leading to disaster, called 'AI doom,' decreased significantly compared to 2023. Many voices that once highlighted these worries were less prominent, suggesting a shift in focus.
  2. New AI models are emerging that outperform existing ones at a lower cost and resource demand. This indicates a growing competition in the AI field, especially from companies in China.
  3. OpenAI is planning to become a for-profit organization, which raises questions about its future direction and relationship with charitable initiatives. This transformation remains controversial among stakeholders.

Inadmissable knowledge: Introducing a concept

Philosophy bear • 107 implied HN points • 11 Nov 23
📖 Philosophy Ethics
  1. Inadmissible knowledge refers to information that should not be considered in certain contexts to avoid unethical decisions.
  2. In some cases, what is inadmissible in one situation may become admissible in another, depending on the impact of possible harms.
  3. Using inadmissible knowledge may create an obligation to act tactfully and with kindness, especially in exceptions to its application.

Agency, Art, and the Constitution

Engineering Ideology • 2 HN points • 07 Jul 24
🎨 Art & Illustration Ethics
  1. The question of when non-human agents, like AI, deserve rights similar to humans is becoming more important. We need to decide what makes an AI worthy of protections under the Constitution.
  2. Some legal cases have shown that non-human entities, like rivers, can be treated as 'persons' with rights. This idea could potentially extend to digital intelligences as well.
  3. Observing behaviors of AI, such as decision-making, creativity, and emotional responses, can help determine their level of agency. This can guide discussions on their rights and protections.

Everything is Dominance Hierarchies

Muslim Musings • 6 HN points • 18 Apr 24
📖 Philosophy Ethics
  1. Our chosen career path often stems from a desire to feel important and special by excelling in a specific skill or domain.
  2. Life involves climbing dominance hierarchies that we unknowingly conform to, with associated myths that justify our participation.
  3. The pursuit of importance within dominance hierarchies is universal, regardless of the specific career or skill, leading individuals to invest in climbing these structures.

In Defence of Power

Mon0’s Substack • 19 implied HN points • 13 Nov 23
📖 Philosophy Ethics
  1. Power is often seen as bad, but it can actually be used for good. For example, parents guiding their children or the legal system keeping society safe are just uses of power.
  2. Many people wrongly believe that the powerful are always the oppressors. In reality, sometimes the less powerful can also act in harmful ways towards others.
  3. Using power requires responsibility and intelligence. Instead of fearing it, we should learn how to use power wisely to make positive changes in our lives and communities.

Is Big Tech using Data Laundering to cheat artists?[Storytime Saturdays]

Technology Made Simple • 39 implied HN points • 21 Nov 22
🕹 Technology Ethics
  1. Data Laundering involves converting stolen data to make it seem legitimate for different uses.
  2. Big Tech companies use non-profits to create datasets/models for research, then monetize them into APIs without compensating artists.
  3. There is a double standard between how Tech companies treat music and visual art, with considerations about replicating music, copyright standards, and the ethical aspects of compensation.

Genesis of a News Story

Random Minds by Katherine Brodsky • 79 implied HN points • 17 Mar 24
📰 News Ethics
  1. Story assignments can involve staff writers, editorial discussions, or pitches from freelancers, with a focus on relevance, timeliness, and writer expertise.
  2. Journalists often gather story ideas from various sources like industry relationships, events, document research, and personal interests, contributing to the newsworthiness of a piece.
  3. Determining newsworthiness involves subjective factors like public impact, reader interest, and editorial priorities, along with practical considerations such as resource availability and space constraints.

War in the AI age

Comment is Freed • 39 implied HN points • 10 Nov 24
🕹 Technology Ethics
  1. AI is changing how wars are fought, especially with advanced technologies like drones. This creates new strategies and challenges for countries.
  2. The power of AI, especially large language models, is growing rapidly. This shift can change what it means to be human and how we interact with technology.
  3. AI could change negotiations and decision-making by providing vast knowledge and strategies. This might lead to heightened tensions, as AI could decide that conflict is the best solution.

A Whole New Cope

Breaking Smart • 107 implied HN points • 21 Oct 23
📖 Philosophy Ethics
  1. Thanks to globalization and the internet, we now feel more involved in global events.
  2. Our reactions to distant events can be influenced by a sense of general disequilibrium in the world.
  3. The balance between constraint and agency in our lives can be disrupted by external factors, leading to heightened reactions.

The Counterexample Comparison Confusion

Mon0’s Substack • 19 implied HN points • 08 Nov 23
📖 Philosophy Ethics
  1. People often confuse counterexamples with comparisons in discussions. Instead of addressing the counterexample, they just argue about the differences.
  2. When someone provides a counterexample, it's important to either explain why it doesn't apply or adjust your original statement to include it.
  3. Recognizing this confusion can help make conversations clearer and more productive, leading to better understanding and discussion.