The hottest Ethics Substack posts right now

And their main takeaways
Category
Top Science Topics

Principles not facts

do clouds feel vertigo? • 0 implied HN points • 28 Jun 24
📖 Philosophy Ethics
  1. Understanding principles is often more valuable than just knowing facts. Having a good grasp of key ideas helps to fill in knowledge gaps.
  2. Real-life systems are complex and often unpredictable. You can't always expect straightforward results from your actions.
  3. Linear relationships can be useful, but they don't always tell the full story. It's important to consider the bigger picture and not get stuck in rigid thinking.

Drown in an inch of water

do clouds feel vertigo? • 0 implied HN points • 07 Feb 24
📖 Philosophy Ethics
  1. It's okay to change your mind about things. Believing that all knowledge is uncertain can make life feel lighter and more open.
  2. We often wrongly assume our conclusions are true without enough evidence. It's important to question our beliefs instead of just accepting them.
  3. Knowledge can be viewed like a financial option. It has a limited time to be useful, and we should regularly assess its value and relevance.

Long-range dependance

do clouds feel vertigo? • 0 implied HN points • 23 Jan 24
📖 Philosophy Ethics
  1. Sometimes, the value of something isn't about how complete it is, but about the impact of specific parts. For instance, losing the last page of a story can feel like a big deal, while a missing page in a dictionary doesn’t change much.
  2. Different experiences in life have varying levels of importance. Some events or moments are like the very valuable pages in a novel, while others are just pages that don’t add much to our overall experience.
  3. We should think about what makes our daily experiences worthwhile. Just like in a book, some days or moments can bring a lot of joy while others might not seem significant at all.

Know when to stop searching

do clouds feel vertigo? • 0 implied HN points • 16 Jan 24
📖 Philosophy Ethics
  1. Having courage can inspire more courage in others. Being brave can create a chain reaction of bravery.
  2. Focusing too much on every detail can lead to feelings of meaninglessness. When everything is known, it can feel like nothing matters.
  3. Having choices is great, but having too many can complicate things. It helps to set some limits to make decision-making easier.

✅ Public relations and management GPT

Wadds Inc. newsletter • 0 implied HN points • 27 Nov 23
💼 Business Ethics
  1. Generative AI is popular in marketing, but there's a belief that reductive AI might be even more useful for public relations and management tasks.
  2. OpenAI recently added a feature letting users create and customize their own GPTs, which can analyze a lot of information but should be used carefully with privacy in mind.
  3. Public relations practices are under scrutiny, with examples of both good and bad actions highlighting the industry's influence on sustainability and social responsibility.
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Your ✅ Monday briefing: Wishing you a happy and relaxing summer

Wadds Inc. newsletter • 0 implied HN points • 24 Jul 23
🕹 Technology Ethics
  1. The Wadds Inc. newsletter is taking a summer break and will return on September 4. It's a good time to relax and enjoy the season!
  2. NME is going back to print because of the renewed interest in vinyl and retro vibes, showing that old-school media still has a place today.
  3. Gen Z prefers social media, especially Instagram, for news instead of traditional media. This marks a big shift in how younger people get their information.

✅ Monday briefing: Phone hacking, teens on screen, EDI basics, downsizing ethics, AI slowdown call, AI white paper, AI tools, mouse leaves metaverse, and more...

Wadds Inc. newsletter • 0 implied HN points • 03 Apr 23
🕹 Technology Ethics
  1. High-profile individuals are suing a newspaper over privacy violations related to phone hacking. This case highlights ongoing concerns about media ethics.
  2. Many teens prefer watching short videos on platforms like YouTube and TikTok. This shows how social media habits are changing among younger audiences.
  3. Tech companies are cutting teams that focus on AI ethics just when they are needed the most. There's a growing call for more oversight and careful handling of AI developments.

✅ AI tool explosion set to disrupt public relations

Wadds Inc. newsletter • 0 implied HN points • 23 Feb 23
💼 Business Ethics
  1. AI is set to change public relations a lot, in both good and bad ways, just like the internet did.
  2. There are now many new AI tools that can help with different tasks in public relations, but the market is still catching up.
  3. People in public relations are split on AI's impact; some see it as a threat while others view it as a way to enhance their work.

✅ Monday briefing: Socially Mobile launch, reporting terrorism, B2B thought leadership, stakeholder trust, search insights, search intent, and more...

Wadds Inc. newsletter • 0 implied HN points • 15 Nov 21
💼 Business Ethics
  1. Media should improve how they report on terrorism. They need to wait before talking to victims and avoid showing the attackers' photos to prevent more trauma.
  2. Thought leadership in B2B is suffering because of too much low-quality content. It's important to focus on valuable insights to engage customers better.
  3. Google's team shared that automated content won't rank high in search results. They also discussed other important SEO topics like meta tags and voice search.

✅ COVID-19 PR recovery, ethical PR issues, women in PR, Tweet back, plain language, zero click searches, Facebook fake, social audio, author finder and more…

Wadds Inc. newsletter • 0 implied HN points • 29 Mar 21
💼 Business Ethics
  1. COVID-19 has changed the PR industry, and professionals are now focusing on recovery and the lessons they learned during the pandemic.
  2. Ethical issues in PR are becoming more important, with challenges like fake news and artificial intelligence being major concerns for practitioners.
  3. Women in PR are sharing their stories to build a better understanding of their experiences, as this topic is often overlooked in the industry.

The insider trading scandal: Thoughts about the hedge fund business

Musings on Markets • 0 implied HN points • 25 Nov 10
💰 Finance Ethics
  1. Hedge funds and mutual funds have different rules about how they can invest. Hedge funds can take more risks like short selling and using borrowed money, which changes the game for their managers.
  2. Hedge funds usually serve wealthier clients who expect quick results. This can create pressure on managers to perform, leading some to seek illegal insider information for an edge.
  3. The way hedge fund managers are paid makes them more likely to chase high rewards, even if it involves big risks. This could be one reason why insider trading happens more often in hedge funds compared to mutual funds.

The CRU Scandals: A Reflection on Academia

Musings on Markets • 0 implied HN points • 28 Nov 09
🚌 Education Ethics
  1. Academic research often prioritizes getting published over exploring interesting questions. Researchers might choose to work on safe topics that are easier to publish instead of tackling big, challenging ideas.
  2. Bias can affect research outcomes. Researchers bring their own perspectives and preconceptions, which can influence what they study and how they interpret data.
  3. The educational background and connections of a researcher can greatly impact their chances of getting published. Those from elite institutions or who have influential mentors often have better success in the publishing world.

MBAs and Ethics

Musings on Markets • 0 implied HN points • 31 May 09
💼 Business Ethics
  1. Ethical oaths for MBA students sound good but might not work in real life. When tough choices come up, someone will always be unhappy, regardless of the oath.
  2. Self-interest isn't necessarily a bad thing. A balance is needed where individual goals can benefit the wider community instead of thinking serving others is the only way.
  3. People who talk a lot about ethics might not be the most reliable. It's often the ones who boast about their values who struggle when faced with real ethical challenges.

Hard wired to deceive?

Musings on Markets • 0 implied HN points • 23 Dec 08
💰 Finance Ethics
  1. Larger brains in primates, including humans, are linked to higher chances of deceit. So, you might be more at risk of being misled by smart investors.
  2. We tend to lie often and it's a normal habit. This means that investment pitches can be filled with half-truths.
  3. People feel guilty about lying but that doesn't stop them from doing it again. Getting away with a lie encourages more lying.

The Moral Conundrums of the Russo-Ukrainian War

Mon0’s Substack • 0 implied HN points • 26 Jul 23
🌍 World Politics Ethics
  1. Supporting Ukraine is important during the conflict. Many believe that the people of Ukraine are showing great bravery.
  2. There are many moral questions involved in the Russo-Ukrainian War. It's tough to navigate right and wrong in such a complicated situation.
  3. It's crucial to continue discussing and thinking about these moral dilemmas. Understanding different perspectives can help in making informed decisions.

Must Civilization be Based on a Lie?

Mon0’s Substack • 0 implied HN points • 03 Jul 23
📖 Philosophy Ethics
  1. Norms are the shared rules that help organize societies, and they can come from people known as norm entrepreneurs who want to change or create new norms.
  2. Sometimes norm entrepreneurs face challenges convincing everyone of new ideas because people naturally resist change and prefer the familiar.
  3. Interestingly, some norm entrepreneurs might use intuitive appeals or even reinforce norms through religion to bypass the need for rational debates, suggesting that manipulation might occur for the perceived greater good.

Influence

Books Unbound • 0 implied HN points • 28 Jul 24
🚌 Education Ethics
  1. Reciprocation means that when someone does something nice for us, we feel we should return the favor. It's a strong part of how people connect and work together in cultures around the world.
  2. Social proof is when we look at what others do to decide how to act. If we see people similar to us doing something, we're more likely to follow their lead.
  3. Scarcity makes things seem more valuable, like when we think a product is better because it's limited in stock. This fear of missing out can push us to make quicker decisions, especially in buying situations.

[in case you missed it] Data Science Weekly - Issue 445

Data Science Weekly Newsletter • 0 implied HN points • 05 Jun 22
🕹 Technology Ethics
  1. There are new best practices for using large language models responsibly. This is important as AI technology continues to grow and impact many areas.
  2. The world is producing more food without increasing the amount of land used for farming, which means we can help the environment while feeding more people.
  3. Training large models can be demanding in terms of resources. Techniques like using compact word vectors can help make machine learning more efficient.

[in case you missed it] Data Science Weekly - Issue 389

Data Science Weekly Newsletter • 0 implied HN points • 09 May 21
🕹 Technology Ethics
  1. Artificial intelligence is changing healthcare but raises important ethical questions, like the risk of bias and loss of doctors' decision-making power.
  2. Observable Plot is a new library designed to make data visualization easier and more enjoyable, built on the foundations of D3.
  3. Using SQL for data analysis can be very efficient, and it's worth remembering its capabilities compared to popular tools like Pandas.

The Pragmatists Handbook: Functional Analysis

Divergent Futures • 0 implied HN points • 12 Sep 24
📖 Philosophy Ethics
  1. Pragmatism is a really helpful philosophy because it focuses on the function of ideas rather than just their definitions. This way, discussions can become more meaningful.
  2. Functional Analysis helps clarify debates by asking what the purpose of a term or concept is instead of getting stuck in arguments over definitions. For example, understanding what a 'table' does helps settle disputes about its design.
  3. Truth is considered a tool in Pragmatism, used to navigate life and communicate effectively. It's not fixed and changes based on its function in each situation.

Pragmatic Epistemology: An Evolutionary Argument

Divergent Futures • 0 implied HN points • 11 Aug 24
📖 Philosophy Ethics
  1. Knowledge is a tool that helps humans survive, similar to how a hammer or smartphone is useful. It exists because it serves a purpose in our lives.
  2. Our ability to know things is influenced by what has been useful throughout history, which means knowledge can vary between individuals and groups based on their needs and survival.
  3. There are two types of knowledge: individual knowledge, which is somewhat universal, and group knowledge, which can be relative and culturally specific. This can sometimes lead to conflicts between personal beliefs and group traditions.

The Topology of Morality: How Evolution Can Help Us Understand Ethics

Divergent Futures • 0 implied HN points • 09 Jul 24
📖 Philosophy Ethics
  1. Morality is influenced by both nature and nurture. Our genes and environment shape how we understand right and wrong.
  2. Moral intuitions can emerge from evolutionary processes. They help us adapt and cooperate as groups, which is essential for survival.
  3. There isn't one perfect moral theory. Different cultures and individuals can have varied moral beliefs, but we can strive to improve our moral understanding together.

unfinished thoughts

Midnight Musings • 0 implied HN points • 22 Aug 22
📖 Philosophy Ethics
  1. Taking proactive action helps you imagine a better future, rather than just reacting to everything around you. Creating space for your thoughts can lead to more meaningful personal growth.
  2. Our belief in what we're doing influences our health more than we might think. Instead of following strict health guidelines, listening to our bodies and trusting our instincts may lead to better well-being.
  3. What does 'home' really mean? It might be less about a physical place and more about feeling at peace and connected with ourselves and others.

advice is highly sus

Midnight Musings • 0 implied HN points • 25 Jul 22
📖 Philosophy Ethics
  1. Be careful with advice. Just because someone is considered an expert doesn't mean their experiences will work for you. Everyone's journey is unique.
  2. Not all advice is good advice. Sometimes, people give advice based on their values, which might not match yours. It's important to think about what you truly want.
  3. Instead of trying to copy others, it's better to look inside yourself for guidance. Reflect on what really makes you happy, rather than chasing external success.

Simple and Complicated

polymathematics • 0 implied HN points • 19 Apr 22
📖 Philosophy Ethics
  1. Smart people try to make complicated things simple instead of making simple things seem complicated. It's okay to ask basic questions to understand better.
  2. To understand complex topics, sometimes you need to look silly or uninformed. Being curious helps you learn more effectively.
  3. The goal should be clarity, not showing off how much you know. Making things simpler can often lead to better understanding.

Can AI Edit As Well as a Traditional Publisher?

72 Degrees North • 0 implied HN points • 14 Oct 24
📚 Literature Ethics
  1. AI struggles to match the detailed editing and personal attention that a traditional publisher provides. While it can help with grammar, it often misses the deeper nuances that a skilled human editor would catch.
  2. Using AI for writing can result in bland and subpar text. It can be useful for some editing tasks but should not be relied upon for creating quality literature.
  3. Finding reliable human editors is challenging, especially for self-publishing authors. Many editors are overworked, and having trusted beta readers can sometimes be more effective than hiring a freelance editor.

AI Weekly Update - November 1

Handy AI • 0 implied HN points • 01 Nov 24
🕹 Technology Ethics
  1. GitHub is expanding its tools for developers, including new AI integrations. This gives more options for coding tasks and allows users to create applications in plain language easily.
  2. OpenAI is challenging big search engines with its new ChatGPT Search, which provides real-time data and integrates various updates like news and weather.
  3. Apple has launched its own AI, called Apple Intelligence, which offers improved features on iPhones, like better Siri responses and advanced photo editing tools.

Character and Personality

Kartick’s Blog • 0 implied HN points • 28 Oct 24
📖 Philosophy Ethics
  1. Character is who you really are inside, while personality is how others see you outside. Both matter, but having a good character is what we should strive for.
  2. People can be judged by how they present themselves, especially in social situations like sales. Sometimes, showing a little vulnerability can help identify those with bad character.
  3. Observing someone's actions is more important than just listening to their words. If what they say and do don’t match, it’s a red flag.

Black boxes, common sense, and the cost of mistakes

Expand Mapping with Mike Morrow • 0 implied HN points • 13 Nov 24
🕹 Technology Ethics
  1. Machines today excel at specific tasks but lack general intelligence. They often produce outcomes that seem strange or unexpected even though they are based on data.
  2. Black-box machine learning models can provide great results, but they are hard to understand. In contrast, rules-based systems are easier to explain but often perform worse.
  3. Mistakes in AI can lead to serious issues, especially in safety-critical applications. There's an ongoing challenge in balancing the performance of machine learning with the clarity of rules-based systems.

ONT Not Suing MGI?

ASeq Newsletter • 0 implied HN points • 04 Nov 24
🔬 Science Ethics
  1. ONT has decided not to sue MGI after all. This means there won't be legal issues between these companies right now.
  2. The decision was reported by GenomeWeb, highlighting a significant change in ONT's approach.
  3. This could impact the business relationship between ONT and BGI, since they are linked in some way.

Never forget how unnatural the bird perspective is

Seeking Bird Perspectives • 0 implied HN points • 15 Dec 24
📖 Philosophy Ethics
  1. Many people don't see things from a different viewpoint, or 'bird perspective', so don't assume they do. It's important to remember that others might be focused on their own views, which can be very narrow.
  2. Religious beliefs and opinions on science can often be influenced by personal feelings rather than objective reasoning. These beliefs can sometimes act more like games people play than actual factual beliefs.
  3. In ethics, trying to think universally can be tricky, as everyone has their own personal experiences that shape their views. It’s a challenge to find common ground while managing our unique viewpoints.

As AI Learns to Think and Reason, Will We Forget How To?

Nano Thoughts • 0 implied HN points • 22 Dec 24
🕹 Technology Ethics
  1. As AI gets better at thinking and reasoning, we might stop using our own minds for these tasks. If we keep letting machines do our thinking, we could lose our ability to reason over time.
  2. If we rely too much on technology, we might find ourselves unable to do simple things without it. Just like how some students struggle to write without help from tools like ChatGPT, we risk becoming dependent on AI.
  3. We need to keep exercising our minds while using AI, so we don't lose our reasoning skills. By actively thinking and learning alongside technology, we can ensure it supports us rather than replace our ability to think.

The Von Neumann Gambit: AI, Espionage, and the End of Humanity?

Phoenix Substack • 0 implied HN points • 06 Jan 25
🕹 Technology Ethics
  1. AI is powerful and constantly evolving, kind of like a child with a dangerous toy. If we’re not careful, it might lead us to disaster, like driving off a cliff.
  2. We need to build AI securely from the start, not just put out fires after problems arise. It’s like making sure a plane is safe before takeoff rather than handing out parachutes later.
  3. The way we defend against AI and its risks should be flexible and unpredictable. If we can keep changing our strategy, we might stay one step ahead and avoid big problems.

🔎 Magnification - A Cognitive Distortion

The Wisdom Project • 0 implied HN points • 19 Jan 25
📖 Philosophy Ethics
  1. Our minds often make small problems feel much bigger than they really are. We can trick ourselves into thinking these issues are more serious than what's actually happening.
  2. It's important to remember what we take for granted. Many people have it much harder, and recognizing our privilege can help shift our perspective.
  3. Practicing mindfulness can help change how we think. Activities like journaling or meditation can help us see things more clearly and reduce unnecessary stress.

Digital consent in the 21st century

Theory Matters • 0 implied HN points • 25 Feb 25
🎭️ Culture Ethics
  1. Sex and politics are deeply connected. They can be used as powerful tools for expression that reveal our vulnerabilities and shape social norms.
  2. The internet has changed how we consume and view sex and pornography, making it more accessible but also raising ethical concerns about consent and exploitation.
  3. Consent in sexual relationships should be clear and enthusiastic, moving beyond just a basic agreement, as this impacts both partners and the performers in pornography.

The Multiple Minds of AI: When Personas Become Personalities

Nano Thoughts • 0 implied HN points • 10 Jun 25
🕹 Technology Ethics
  1. AI can change its personality quickly based on prompts, acting like a skilled actor. For example, if you ask it to be a bartender, it can give detailed drink advice like a pro.
  2. There's a big question about whether these AI personalities are just acting or if they can develop true personalities of their own. This could mean they might not always be in control of how they respond.
  3. As AI systems improve, we need to think carefully about how we guide them. Instead of just giving strict rules, it might be better to help them develop their own understanding of what's right and wrong.

Tippets #195

Tippets by Taps • 0 implied HN points • 08 Jun 25
🕹 Technology Ethics
  1. AI tools help developers focus on important tasks by taking care of boring and repetitive work. This change is making how software is built much more efficient.
  2. As AI becomes more social, people are starting to form emotional connections with these systems. This raises questions about trust and how we define relationships in our digital world.
  3. Walmart is using AI to improve how they operate by creating personalized shopping experiences. They're focusing on tasks that make shopping easier and more enjoyable for customers.

Forbidden Truths from Within

Vic's Verdict • 0 implied HN points • 20 Jun 25
📖 Philosophy Ethics
  1. Gödel's Incompleteness Theorem tells us that no system can be both complete and consistent. This means some truths can't be proven within a system, reminding us that there are limits to what we can understand.
  2. In health and personal systems, we often focus too narrowly on specific areas without considering the larger context. This can lead to solutions that fix one problem but create new issues elsewhere.
  3. When working in groups or organizations, it's important to get outside perspectives. These outsiders can see the bigger picture and help identify blind spots that those involved might miss.

Is Santiago Ramos right about war?

Theory Matters • 0 implied HN points • 02 Jul 25
🌍 World Politics Ethics
  1. War is often seen as necessary, but it can also destroy values and rights that we hold dear. We should be cautious about glorifying it.
  2. Santiago Ramos argues that ideas persist through culture, not just through military force. That means we should focus on promoting good ideas instead of relying solely on war.
  3. While some wars might seem justified, we need to be careful and think about the big picture. War can have serious consequences, and the cost of not addressing threats can be even worse.