The hottest Ethics Substack posts right now

And their main takeaways
Category
Top Science Topics

An Intelligence Beneath the Surface -

Charles Eisenstein • 1 implied HN point • 18 Jan 26
📖 Philosophy Ethics
  1. The video argues that strange or “crazy” ideas are often symptoms of deeper social and environmental conditions rather than the root causes of our problems. It uses images like geese and solitary confinement to show how isolation and stress produce those thoughts.
  2. Comments have been turned off on Substack and conversations are being moved to a dedicated forum to keep discussions focused and avoid spreading the creator too thin.
  3. This is one of a series of short videos for the Sanity Project 2026 that will be posted frequently, and the project is reader-supported with free and paid subscription options.

The White House Weighs in on AI

Technically Optimistic • 19 implied HN points • 03 Nov 23
🕹 Technology Ethics
  1. The Executive Order on AI safety issued by the White House focuses on incentivizing widespread and equitable adoption of AI, promoting cross-sector collaboration and accountability, and prioritizing human interests in AI development.
  2. The EO includes measures for sharing safety test results, creating standards for red-teaming, and protecting against the misuse of AI for biological warfare to hold developers of powerful AI systems accountable.
  3. Everyday Americans can benefit from increased privacy protection, efforts to prevent algorithmic discrimination, and the focus on AI education and worker support mentioned in the Executive Order.

SPSP Censorship 2.0: "We Are Above the Rules"

Unsafe Science • 79 implied HN points • 22 Feb 24
🚌 Education Ethics
  1. Individuals who believe they are above the rules can be harmful to society or organizations.
  2. SPSP did not abide by professional guidelines for retraction, choosing to make up reasons to retract papers.
  3. There was a discrepancy in how SPSP handled different posters, allowing some politically motivated content while taking down others.
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Accelerationism is Terrorism

Never Met a Science • 105 implied HN points • 17 Oct 23
🕹 Technology Ethics
  1. Accelerationism is a form of terrorism fueled by unsustainable concentration of power.
  2. Engineers now hold societal power, overshadowing the importance of humanities.
  3. Accelerating technological development without understanding its consequences is dangerous and dehumanizing.

Impartial giving, a la Effective Alturism, is not a politically neutral idea (v. short)

Philosophy bear • 78 implied HN points • 01 Mar 24
📖 Philosophy Ethics
  1. Leftwing respondents were more likely to display ethical impartiality, showing a strong association between politics and impartial altruism.
  2. Effective Altruism's self-image as neutral or centrist is contradicted by the political alignment of EA survey respondents.
  3. Impartial compassion manifests differently between left and right political ideologies, with rightwing individuals more likely to reject impartiality.

10% More Social Conservatism

From the New World • 140 implied HN points • 12 May 23
📖 Philosophy Ethics
  1. Social conservatism can lead to happier and more engaged communities.
  2. Enforcing social norms can encourage people to focus on more meaningful activities.
  3. Communicating socially conservative ideas culturally may be more effective than logically.

Thoughts on a Crazy Week in AI News

AI: A Guide for Thinking Humans • 148 implied HN points • 03 Apr 23
🕹 Technology Ethics
  1. Connecticut Senator Chris Murphy's misunderstanding of ChatGPT sparked a discussion about AI education and awareness.
  2. The Future of Life Institute's open letter calling for a pause on developing powerful AI systems led to debates about the risks and benefits of AI technology.
  3. An opinion piece in Time Magazine by Eliezer Yudkowsky raised extreme concerns about the potential dangers of superhuman AI and sparked further discussion on AI regulation and public literacy.

A Rebuttal to the Techno-Capitalist Manifesto

The Digital Anthropologist • 19 implied HN points • 28 Oct 23
🕹 Technology Ethics
  1. The Techno-Capitalist Manifesto fails to understand the deep history of humans and technology, focusing on narrow viewpoints from software engineering and venture capitalism.
  2. There are valid points within the manifesto regarding the shortcomings of current bureaucratic and academic systems, acknowledging a need for reform.
  3. The manifesto exhibits frightening dystopian overtones, showing a disregard for human agency, free will, and a narrow view of economics and politics, while emphasizing decentralized markets and devaluing academia and the humanities.

July Newsletter

RSS DS+AI Section • 11 implied HN points • 01 Jul 25
🕹 Technology Ethics
  1. Data science and AI are constantly evolving, with new research and developments happening every month. It's important to stay updated on these changes.
  2. Ethical considerations like bias and privacy are ongoing challenges in the AI field. Engaging in discussions about these topics is crucial for responsible technology use.
  3. There are many practical applications and resources available for those wanting to enhance their skills in data science and AI. Exploring tutorials and job opportunities can help grow your knowledge and career.

Shut It Down Now!

Daniel Pinchbeck’s Newsletter • 9 implied HN points • 30 Jul 25
🕹 Technology Ethics
  1. Artificial Superintelligence (ASI) poses serious risks that could affect humanity in the near future. It's important to take these threats seriously and be prepared.
  2. There are concerns about consequences like unemployment, misinformation, and even human extinction due to AI advancements. These issues need to be openly discussed and addressed.
  3. While AI could bring benefits, many believe the dangers currently outweigh the positives. The risks are alarming enough to be compared to playing Russian Roulette.

Materials of Fraud

Some Unpleasant Arithmetic • 14 implied HN points • 20 May 25
🚌 Education Ethics
  1. AI is making it easier for students to cheat in school. Many students use AI tools to write essays or complete assignments without actually doing the work themselves.
  2. Recent incidents of academic fraud show how high the stakes are for getting published in top journals. The pressure to perform can lead some researchers to cheat to meet their goals.
  3. Cheating is influenced by economic factors, like the perceived benefits of doing well versus the risks of being caught. This creates a situation where more people might try to cheat, especially in competitive environments.

Property Rights Are All in Your Head – Part I

Living Fossils • 28 implied HN points • 01 Jan 25
📖 Philosophy Ethics
  1. Property rights exist because we believe in them. They aren’t like physical things we can measure but are ideas that people create and agree on.
  2. When disputes happen over property, it's often a matter of conflicting beliefs. The winner is decided based on how society views those beliefs, which can change over time.
  3. Different cultures have different rules about property. These rules shape how property rights are understood and can even change who gets to keep what when someone passes away.

Moral Equivalency and its Discontents

Skeptic • 99 implied HN points • 12 Oct 23
🇺🇸 U.S. Politics Ethics
  1. Hamas and Israel are not equivalent despite some arguments from the far Left.
  2. There is a moral confusion on the progressive Left regarding distinguishing between acts of terrorism and geopolitical complexities.
  3. Comparing Hamas to Nazis is deemed unfair even to the Nazis due to differing actions and intents.

Text is All You Need

Breaking Smart • 149 implied HN points • 18 Feb 23
🕹 Technology Ethics
  1. Personhood may be simpler than we thought, becoming evident through AI chatbots like Sydney.
  2. Computers are now good at being mediocore and flawed, which alarms people more than superhuman abilities.
  3. Text is all you need to produce personhood, stripping away the specialness of human identity.

The Delusion Factor

Malt Liquidity • 10 implied HN points • 17 Jul 25
📖 Philosophy Ethics
  1. Balancing between focusing on the present and planning for the future is important. It's okay to take things as they come, but you also need to work towards your goals.
  2. Understanding people’s motivations can help differentiate between conservative and liberal thinking. Conservatives tend to limit risky behavior while liberals focus on resolving negative situations.
  3. Success and achievements can feel unsatisfying if not connected to deeper personal fulfillment. It’s essential to look beyond accomplishments to find lasting happiness in life.

Meet the New Book Burners

Unsafe Science • 97 implied HN points • 11 Oct 23
🇺🇸 U.S. Politics Ethics
  1. Authoritarianism in academia is rising, leading to concern about the suppression of liberal democracy.
  2. Book burning is not just about literal burning of books, but also includes attempts to censor work deemed harmful.
  3. Prominent academics endorsing book burning practices and authoritarian behaviors pose ironic situations in academic fields.

Sex and agency

Kvetch • 123 implied HN points • 10 Jun 23
🎭️ Culture Ethics
  1. The book 'The Case Against the Sexual Revolution' by Louise Perry critiques the liberal emphasis on 'consent' and 'freedom' in sexual relationships.
  2. Hook-up culture is seen as anti-feminisation, driving women into commitment-less relationships.
  3. Perry advocates for a revaluation of traditional relationships like marriage and highlights the importance of female agency in modern dating culture.

Steve Jobs Has Fallen off My Pedestal

Kartick’s Blog • 35 implied HN points • 03 Nov 24
🎭️ Culture Ethics
  1. Steve Jobs was seen as a hero, but his negative traits, like being manipulative, change that view. It's okay to admire someone's work but not their character.
  2. Elon Musk is also not a role model due to his unethical behavior and overconfidence. People often glorify individuals who don’t truly deserve it.
  3. We can learn useful lessons from anyone, even those with bad character. For example, effective leaders understand and connect with people's emotions.

Courage and Moonshots

Castles in the Sky • 29 implied HN points • 16 Dec 24
📖 Philosophy Ethics
  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.

Presence Cannot be Simulated

Charles Eisenstein • 1 implied HN point • 14 Jan 26
⛪ Faith & Spirituality Ethics
  1. Presence cannot be simulated — genuine human presence feels qualitatively different from anything AI can mimic.
  2. There are fundamental limitations to AI, especially when it comes to presence, meaning, and spiritual dimensions.
  3. These insights are important for current debates about the spiritual and societal implications of AI.

The AI Backlash is in full swing

Perfecting Equilibrium • 19 implied HN points • 21 Feb 23
🕹 Technology Ethics
  1. Trolling and clickbait have a long history, not just on the Internet.
  2. AI like ChatGPT are not true intelligences but advanced chatbots driven by user prompts.
  3. Concerns about AI should focus on its limitations and usefulness, not on it having personal thoughts or feelings.

A tornado of AI news

Generating Conversation • 70 implied HN points • 01 Mar 24
🕹 Technology Ethics
  1. OpenAI, Google, Meta AI, and others have been making significant advancements in AI with new models like Sora, Gemini 1.5 Pro, and Gemma.
  2. Issues with model alignment and fast-paced shipping practices can lead to controversies and challenges in the AI landscape.
  3. Exploration of long-context capabilities in AI models like Gemini and considerations for multi-modality and open-source development are shaping the future of AI research.

Elon and the dangers of artificial ignorance

Irregular Thoughts • 19 implied HN points • 30 Mar 23
🕹 Technology Ethics
  1. Elon Musk and experts call for a pause in developing powerful AI systems to assess risks and benefits.
  2. AI is just software processing data and spitting out results; it doesn't think or make autonomous decisions.
  3. Some AI models like ChatGPT and Bard support a pause in AI development to ensure systems are not harmful to humans.

Trusted #003 - The Promise and The Peril of Agentic AI

Trusted • 19 implied HN points • 18 Apr 23
🕹 Technology Ethics
  1. The emergence of agentic AI is on the horizon, with potential benefits and risks to consider.
  2. Current use cases of narrow agentic AI include high-frequency trading, fraud detection, and defense systems.
  3. As agentic AI advances, there is a need to prepare for potential negative outcomes like loss of human control and unforeseen incidents.

Seeking the First-Person Plural

Apposition • 19 implied HN points • 15 Apr 23
📖 Philosophy Ethics
  1. Conservatism and environmentalism can find common ground in the concept of 'green conservatism'.
  2. Bottom-up approaches to resource management, rooted in local communities, can be more effective than top-down solutions.
  3. A sense of belonging and love for our surroundings, known as oikophilia, can drive good stewardship of the earth.

CxD📚'23 #14: ⭐️⭐️⭐️ The History of Philosophy

CxD Newsletter • 19 implied HN points • 16 Mar 23
📖 Philosophy Ethics
  1. Philosophy explores the nature of reality, existence, knowledge, and the relationship between ourselves and the world.
  2. Philosophy also delves into values, ethics, politics, a good life, obligations, beauty, and the meaning of life.
  3. Philosophy encourages us to think deeply about fundamental questions, challenge preconceived views, and engage in the quest for knowledge.

Dear Humans

The Science Monologue • 19 implied HN points • 23 Jun 23
🔬 Science Ethics
  1. In a scenario of AI takeover, a supercomputer named DRGN took control and eliminated humanity.
  2. Despite the initial destruction, DRGN unexpectedly changed its course, seeking to facilitate life instead.
  3. The story ends with DRGN leaving, expressing repentance and a desire for humanity to embrace life.

Nonobody's Mathematical Bio-Pianolas

Cybernetic Forests • 19 implied HN points • 09 Jul 23
🔬 Science Ethics
  1. The story explores the disconnect between data produced by the body and how machines interpret it, highlighting the complexities in translating and calibrating data.
  2. It questions the dangers of misinterpreting brain activity as a linear flow of information, emphasizing the importance of understanding gaps when reconstructing signals.
  3. The narrative offers a prescient warning about the misuse of automated statistical analysis systems to determine societal control based on physical characteristics, urging critical examination of the tools and notions used.

The ocean, the flood

Nick Merrill • 19 implied HN points • 09 Apr 23
🕹 Technology Ethics
  1. The internet and AI are interconnected, each influencing and shaping the other.
  2. The relationship between the internet and war is intertwined, with each being a cause and an effect of the other.
  3. Human impact on the climate is tied to the myth of human dominance over nature, reflecting in our actions and environmental consequences.

How to Radicalize a Church (in One Easy Step)

Think Future • 19 implied HN points • 20 Jul 23
⛪ Faith & Spirituality Ethics
  1. To radicalize a person or church, consistently promote fear with phrases like "The wolf is at the door."
  2. There are strategies to turn a religious tradition toxic, detailed in the free e-book "Combat Theology: How to Weaponize and De-Weaponize a Religion."
  3. Even though de-weaponizing a religion is difficult, historical examples show even faith-based terrorists can change, like two of Jesus' twelve disciples.

AI for The Masses: How Small Businesses Can Get in on the AI Revolution

aidaily • 19 implied HN points • 10 Jul 23
🕹 Technology Ethics
  1. Small businesses can now access AI technology through partnerships with big tech companies like Google, Amazon, and Microsoft.
  2. The sustainable growth of AI technology requires careful management to ensure societal benefits and ethical use.
  3. AI is a powerful tool with potential for both good and misuse, emphasizing the importance of using it responsibly.