The hottest Ethics Substack posts right now

And their main takeaways
Category
Top Science Topics

Ethical firms are more likely to merge

Klement on Investing β€’ 1 implied HN point β€’ 01 Dec 25
πŸ’° Finance Ethics
  1. Firms that merge tend to have fewer ethical complaints because buyers avoid targets with poor records and targets resist buyers with bad ethics.
  2. After a merger reported ethics violations fall by about 17–22%, largely because combined firms disproportionately lay off employees with past complaints.
  3. Unethical employees often get rehired elsewhere, especially at larger firms, so misconduct persists and the industry gradually splits into high-integrity and low-integrity firms.

Scientism vs. people

Engineering Ideas β€’ 19 implied HN points β€’ 18 Apr 23
πŸ“– Philosophy Ethics
  1. Alignment research for AGI should focus on math and science, not philosophy.
  2. Philosophy's role in society is decreasing, while science and technology are increasing.
  3. The future of humanity in relation to AI will likely be decided by technologists and AI itself, not by humanity.

Banning ChatGPT: Is It Like Banning the Internet?

Sector 6 | The Newsletter of AIM β€’ 19 implied HN points β€’ 10 Jan 23
πŸ•Ή Technology Ethics
  1. Banning ChatGPT is a growing trend due to ethical worries, but it raises questions about whether it's really necessary. Many places like schools and forums are choosing to restrict its use.
  2. The internet faced similar issues in the past, especially around plagiarism, but it evolved rather than disappeared. This led to the creation of tools like Turnitin to help check for copied content.
  3. Instead of banning technologies like ChatGPT, finding ways to manage and guide their use might be more effective, similar to how the internet adapted and created new industries.
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The Thomas-Crow Affair

Unpopular Front β€’ 59 implied HN points β€’ 10 Apr 23
πŸ‡ΊπŸ‡Έ U.S. Politics Ethics
  1. Supreme Court Justice Clarence Thomas received lavish gifts from billionaire Harlan Crow, revealing unusual taste in decor
  2. Collecting sculptures of dictators and Nazi memorabilia indicates a creepy fascination with power and domination
  3. Conservatives publicly defending Crow show a strong loyalty to their business patrons, highlighting the close ties between right-wing politics and wealthy elites

January Newsletter

RSS DS+AI Section β€’ 35 implied HN points β€’ 02 Jan 24
πŸ•Ή Technology Ethics
  1. Continuing work on expanding accreditation for data science professionals
  2. Hot topics include bias, ethics, and regulation in data science and AI
  3. Exciting developments in research, generative AI, and real world applications

🌟 Your Ultimate AI Guide for Product Managers: 10-Part Series

The Product Channel By Sid Saladi β€’ 16 implied HN points β€’ 20 Oct 24
πŸ’Ό Business Ethics
  1. This guide introduces essential AI concepts useful for product managers. Understanding AI can help managers make better product decisions.
  2. It covers the basics of using large language models, which are important tools in AI. Learning to use these models can improve product development.
  3. The guide emphasizes the role of ethics in AI product management. Responsible use of AI is crucial for building trust and ensuring success.

The Strong and Weak Leader

DruGroup β€’ 59 implied HN points β€’ 21 Sep 21
πŸ“– Philosophy Ethics
  1. Good leaders should balance strength and vulnerability. Being strong means having authority, and being weak means being open and honest with others.
  2. Flourishing comes from having both authority and vulnerability in leadership. When leaders care for others, everyone benefits and grows together.
  3. Each leadership style leads to different outcomes. Ignoring vulnerability can lead to exploitation, while being too vulnerable without authority can result in suffering.

Contrasts between Aristotelianism and Liberalism

Logos and Liberty β€’ 19 implied HN points β€’ 13 Dec 22
πŸ“– Philosophy Ethics
  1. Aristotle's value theory focuses on what people should want, while Liberal value theory is based on what people do want.
  2. Aristotle emphasizes the importance of human association within a community, while Liberalism tends to focus on individualism to an extreme extent.
  3. Aristotle acknowledges spirituality and a transcendent reality, contrasting with the scientistic approach of many Liberal thinkers.

The AI Explosion Might Never Happen

Am I Stronger Yet? β€’ 43 HN points β€’ 19 Sep 23
πŸ•Ή Technology Ethics
  1. The AI explosion may not happen as many expect due to a limit in recursive self-improvement.
  2. Feedback loops often lead to growth, but eventually encounter limiting factors like diminishing returns.
  3. AI progress may accelerate as AIs reach superhuman levels, but challenges like data limitations and increasing complexity may prevent a full-blown singularity.

AI End Game

Daniel Pinchbeck’s Newsletter β€’ 9 implied HN points β€’ 21 Feb 25
πŸ•Ή Technology Ethics
  1. We are getting close to achieving Artificial General Intelligence (AGI), which could change everything about how society works. It's important to consider how this might affect people's jobs and overall life.
  2. Some powerful people believe that with AGI, they can gain more control and lessen the need for human workers, which could lead to a society where only a few have the power and wealth. This situation might make many people feel unnecessary and unvalued.
  3. There is a real danger that if we don't act soon to share the benefits of AI fairly, the rich will have control and power over everyone else. If this continues, it could lead to major issues, including attempts to reduce the population.

The Wisdom To Choose Action or Inaction

Who is Robert Malone β€’ 14 implied HN points β€’ 04 Nov 24
πŸ“– Philosophy Ethics
  1. It's important to understand the difference between complicated systems, like computers, and complex systems, like ecosystems or human societies. Complex systems are unpredictable and can't always be controlled with precise interventions.
  2. When dealing with complex systems, sometimes it's better to wait and observe rather than rush to act. Taking a careful, incremental approach can help prevent unintended consequences.
  3. Censorship and forced social engineering can hinder our ability to adapt and learn from experiences. Encouraging free communication and decentralized thinking is crucial for innovation and growth.

June Newsletter

RSS DS+AI Section β€’ 5 implied HN points β€’ 01 Jun 25
πŸ•Ή Technology Ethics
  1. Ethics and bias in AI are big topics right now. Many people are talking about how to keep AI safe and fair as it becomes more advanced.
  2. There are many exciting developments in AI research, including new tools and methods. For example, some AI can now create new algorithms and even assist in healthcare.
  3. Real-world applications of AI are growing, with many helpful resources and tutorials available. It's becoming easier for people to use AI for practical tasks and projects.

Summaries without originals

Internal exile β€’ 29 implied HN points β€’ 16 Feb 24
πŸ•Ή Technology Ethics
  1. Concern is rising that tech companies developing AI models may eventually run out of human-generated data to train the models, leading to a potential collapse of the models themselves.
  2. The use of Large Language Models (LLMs), such as AI-generated text, may interfere with human intentional communication and risk creating a future where discourse is processed only by machines, wasting everyone's time.
  3. AI technologies like LLMs can be used to manipulate power dynamics, disempower individuals, and dehumanize interactions, ultimately reshaping social relations and relegating human voices to the background.

Information as Public Good

Something to Consider β€’ 39 implied HN points β€’ 13 Feb 22
πŸ“– Philosophy Ethics
  1. Information is a public good, meaning it spreads easily and people who discover new facts often don't get rewarded for their efforts. This can lead to less investment in finding important information.
  2. One idea to fix this is to allow people to be paid for revealing bad information, even if it sounds like blackmail. By doing this, we might prevent bad behavior from companies or individuals because they would pay to keep wrongdoings secret.
  3. Legalizing this kind of 'blackmail' could actually help society by making people more open about wrongdoing and allowing for better accountability. It could also adjust how we punish people based on what's really important to the public.

β€œPay Every Claim” Is Not a Viable Model for Any Health Insurance Company

I Might Be Wrong β€’ 12 implied HN points β€’ 06 Dec 24
πŸ₯ Health Politics Ethics
  1. Health insurance companies can't pay every claim because it would be financially impossible for them. They need to manage costs to stay in business.
  2. Public anger towards insurance executives can stem from personal experiences with denied claims, but wishing harm on them is not a justified response.
  3. Understanding how insurance works is important; the system is complex, and blaming individuals doesn't address the underlying issues.

Aristotle's Practical Philosophy (part 1)

Logos and Liberty β€’ 19 implied HN points β€’ 07 Nov 22
πŸ“– Philosophy Ethics
  1. Aristotle's practical philosophy aims at discovering a way of life that enables individuals to use their highest faculties and communities to support this way of life.
  2. The key components of 'Eudaimonia' according to Aristotle are virtue, love, and the contemplative life.
  3. Human happiness, for Aristotle, is strongly influenced by the quality of human relationships and the social context surrounding those relationships.

An Apology And A Few Suggestions.

Trying to Understand the World β€’ 4 implied HN points β€’ 02 Jul 25
πŸ‡ΊπŸ‡Έ U.S. Politics Ethics
  1. The writer had a busy week and decided to postpone their new essay because they wanted it to be high quality.
  2. They shared popular essays on topics like the Ukraine crisis and the Professional and Managerial class for new readers to enjoy.
  3. The writer encourages support through likes, comments, and sharing their work, and they appreciate those who help translate their essays into other languages.

How Many Fucks Should Be Given, and About Whom?

I Might Be Wrong β€’ 9 implied HN points β€’ 05 Feb 25
πŸ“– Philosophy Ethics
  1. We have a responsibility to help others in need, just like we would save a drowning child, even if it's inconvenient for us. Helping others shouldn't depend on whether someone else is doing it too.
  2. Thinking about charity should focus on our obligations to help, rather than questioning if we should care about people far away. Our compassion should guide our actions.
  3. Discussions about aid, like those involving organizations such as USAID, often lack depth. We need to critically evaluate the impact and effectiveness of our help.

The Elon Musk Conundrum

Anxiety Addiction & Ascension β€’ 19 implied HN points β€’ 07 Jun 22
πŸ“– Philosophy Ethics
  1. Principled investing involves weighing the mission of a company against moral dilemmas associated with its practices or affiliations.
  2. Avoid blindly following charismatic figures like Elon Musk; focus on personal growth and actions within immediate control.
  3. Acknowledging imperfections in existence and striving for personal growth can lead to impactful change, even if larger systemic issues remain beyond control.

Update #68: Whispering Indigenous Languages and Neural Net Training Dynamics

The Gradient β€’ 27 implied HN points β€’ 13 Feb 24
πŸ•Ή Technology Ethics
  1. Papa Reo raised concerns about Whisper's ability to transcribe the Māori language, highlighting challenges faced by indigenous languages in technology.
  2. Neural networks learn statistics of increasing complexity throughout training, with a focus on low-order moments first before higher-order correlations.
  3. Including native speakers in language corpora and model evaluation processes can substantially improve the performance of natural language processing systems for languages like Māori.

Is Retribution Illegitimate?

Gideon's Substack β€’ 38 implied HN points β€’ 14 Sep 23
πŸ“– Philosophy Ethics
  1. Retribution as a basis for a justice system is considered illegitimate by some, who argue that justice systems should focus on reducing harm, not retribution.
  2. Punishment should be justified on pragmatic grounds, such as minimizing harm and preventing future harm, rather than retribution for its own sake.
  3. Retributive justice can be seen as a form of restorative justice, aiming to heal societal breaches caused by crimes, but may need to balance with considerations of rehabilitation and societal impact.

December Newsletter

RSS DS+AI Section β€’ 11 implied HN points β€’ 01 Dec 24
πŸ•Ή Technology Ethics
  1. There are ongoing discussions about the ethical use of AI, especially in healthcare and military. It’s important to think about privacy and the implications of these technologies.
  2. New developments in data science and AI research are exciting, such as improved models for training and reasoning. It's a fast-paced field with many recent breakthroughs.
  3. Generative AI is evolving quickly, with many companies working on new models and applications. This includes features like AI-generated summaries of content you're watching.

Standing in the Center of the Unknowing as the World Cries. What to Do?

Charles Eisenstein β€’ 10 implied HN points β€’ 17 Dec 24
πŸ“– Philosophy Ethics
  1. There are big questions about how we farm and feed the world, especially concerning the impacts of high-tech agriculture versus organic methods. It's important to rethink how we connect with nature while feeding our population.
  2. Personal healing and intimate connection are crucial in a world filled with chaos and violence. The work of those helping people find healthy relationships can create hope and potentially transform society.
  3. Technology, especially AI, is powerful but also has limits. It might solve surface problems but won't offer real solutions to deeper issues like control and suffering in society.

Import AI 375: GPT-2 five years later; decentralized training; new ways of thinking about consciousness and AI

Import AI β€’ 1 HN point β€’ 03 Jun 24
πŸ•Ή Technology Ethics
  1. The GPT-2 model release by OpenAI was significant, sparking debate with its unusual publishing strategy and predictions of potential applications and misuses that actually came to pass over time.
  2. In the exploration of AI policy and consciousness, it is challenging to predict the timing and impact of advances accurately, highlighting the importance of evidence-based claims and the potential consequences of regulatory actions.
  3. Decentralized AI training presents compelling incentives like cost-efficiency but faces obstacles due to network and technical challenges, which could disrupt current AI policy assumptions.

Judgment Need Issue From Human Lips

Autonomy β€’ 11 implied HN points β€’ 15 Nov 24
πŸ•Ή Technology Ethics
  1. AI can gather and sort important information for legal cases, but humans must still make the final decisions. Justice requires human judgment because it involves moral and ethical concerns.
  2. Many people can’t afford good legal help, and AI can help bridge that gap by making information more accessible. This means that AI can support lawyers by doing some of the heavy lifting in legal research and document review.
  3. Judicial accountability is crucial, meaning that there needs to be a real person behind decisions. This is because only humans can truly understand the moral weight of the judgments they are making.

The Holy Fool

Unverified Revelations β€’ 42 implied HN points β€’ 08 May 23
πŸ“– Philosophy Ethics
  1. The holy fool is a political archetype who confronts society's moral values without concern for status or effectiveness.
  2. Holy fools are powerful because they challenge the status quo and are willing to pay external costs for internal coherence.
  3. There are false fools who mimic the holy fool's outward appearance but lack the genuine commitment and self-consistency.

Between human and non-human

The Strategy Toolkit β€’ 43 implied HN points β€’ 21 Apr 23
πŸ“– Philosophy Ethics
  1. The post discusses the relationship between human and non-human entities in the context of philosophy and strategy.
  2. Individuals running companies and organizations are influenced by philosophy, guiding decision-making and strategy.
  3. Philosophical concepts such as consciousness, free will, morality, and value play a crucial role in strategy and decision-making.

Hayek Helps Us Understand Why People Are Losing Their Minds

QTR’s Fringe Finance β€’ 34 implied HN points β€’ 06 Sep 23
πŸ“– Philosophy Ethics
  1. F.A. Hayek's 'The Fatal Conceit' helps us understand how reason is not the cause but a product of civilization.
  2. Reason does not exist separately from our social environment, impacting our ability to resist tyranny.
  3. Humanity's evolution and civilization were shaped by following rules and morality, not by mere intellect or socialist ideals.

We're going to be alright

davidj.substack β€’ 11 implied HN points β€’ 07 Nov 24
πŸ“– Philosophy Ethics
  1. Things are not always what they seem; sometimes we misinterpret situations based on limited information.
  2. Even when it feels like everything is falling apart, there is still hope for a better future if we stay focused.
  3. Justice may take time, but it will eventually prevail, and we must continue to work towards the goals we believe in.

The moral struggle to be a self

Meaningful Particulars β€’ 32 implied HN points β€’ 29 Sep 23
πŸ“– Philosophy Ethics
  1. The human experience is filled with ambiguous situations that define our struggle for existence and self-discovery.
  2. Values often conflict, leading to moral dilemmas where virtues must be balanced against vices.
  3. The tension between personal freedom and objective reality is essential for growth and success.

How To Cultivate Attention In Our Distracted World

A Mug of Insights β€’ 6 HN points β€’ 01 Apr 23
πŸ“– Philosophy Ethics
  1. Great thinkers and leaders in history valued long stretches of isolated thinking time to cultivate attention and critical thinking.
  2. Attention is more than just following instructions or seeking answers; it's about fostering curiosity and seeing the world with fresh eyes.
  3. Sustained attention is crucial in our modern world of constant distractions, allowing for deep understanding and personal growth.