The hottest Ethics Substack posts right now

And their main takeaways
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The Irony and the Agony of Elon Musk's Lawsuit against OpenAI

Marcus on AI • 3122 implied HN points • 03 Mar 24
🕹 Technology AI Lawsuit Mission Ethics Innovation
  1. Elon Musk's lawsuit against OpenAI highlights how the organization changed from its initial mission, raising concerns about its commitment to helping humanity.
  2. The lawsuit emphasizes the importance of OpenAI honoring its original promises and mission, rather than seeking financial gains.
  3. The legal battle between Musk and OpenAI involves complex motives and the potential impact on AI development and its alignment with humane values.

Platformer’s Reporting On Substack’s Supposed “Nazi Problem” Is Shoddy And Misleading

Singal-Minded • 3933 implied HN points • 09 Jan 24
📰 News Journalism Controversy Reporting Ethics Platform
  1. The controversy about Nazis on Substack led to different responses from users and platform
  2. Some publications were removed from Substack due to violation of content guidelines
  3. There were discrepancies in the reporting of the number of Nazi accounts on Substack, leading to criticism of the reporting process

DEATH PANELS ABROAD: Cigna Whistleblower Reveals How Employees in the Philippines Play a Key Roll in Denying Care for American Beneficiaries

HEALTH CARE un-covered • 759 implied HN points • 29 Apr 24
🏥 Health Politics Insurance Whistleblowing Patient Care Healthcare Reform Ethics
  1. Cigna employees in the Philippines are involved in deciding whether American patients can receive the care they need. This raises concerns about how patient care is managed far away from the actual doctors.
  2. Cigna medical directors spend an average of just four minutes reviewing complex medical cases. This quick decision-making means important health choices may not get the attention they deserve.
  3. There is pressure within Cigna to deny treatment requests quickly, which can put patients at risk. Employees feel forced to prioritize speed over the quality of care.

Lit mag Guernica implodes, LLMs beat neuroscientists, CS vs. Philosophy deathmatch, AI pollution reaches science

The Intrinsic Perspective • 4805 implied HN points • 15 Mar 24
🔬 Science AI Neuroscience Ethics Language Models
  1. AI data pollution in science is a concerning issue, with examples of common AI stock phrases being used in scientific literature without real contribution.
  2. AI language models outperformed human neuroscientists in predicting future neuroscientific results, raising questions on the importance of understanding linguistic modifications versus actual predictions.
  3. Literary magazine Guernica faced backlash after a controversial essay led to writers withdrawing pieces, staff resigning, and social media condemnation, stressing the importance of careful reading and understanding context.

For Pushing Large Men Off Bridges

Fake Noûs • 271 implied HN points • 23 Nov 24
📖 Philosophy Ethics Utilitarianism Moral dilemmas Critical Thinking
  1. Utilitarianism suggests that we should act in ways that maximize overall happiness. This means if you can save five people by sacrificing one, it might seem like the right choice to push the one off the bridge.
  2. Some arguments challenge the idea of not pushing someone off the bridge. For example, if pushing them means saving more lives, it may not be wrong to do so.
  3. The concept of 'undoing' actions also plays a role. If you push a person off the bridge but can pull them back before harm is done, it challenges whether that initial push was truly wrong.
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The Paradox of Persuasion

Mon0’s Substack • 79 implied HN points • 24 Aug 24
📖 Philosophy Ethics Persuasion Morality Rhetoric Society
  1. Extreme ideas like total tolerance or non-violence can backfire. If you let negative behaviors go unchecked, they can take over society.
  2. Persuasion works in two ways: through careful thinking or quick judgments based on superficial traits. Understanding this can help us choose how to communicate effectively.
  3. Sometimes, to fight bad ideas or leaders, we might need to use their own tactics against them. This can feel uncomfortable, but sometimes it’s necessary to protect what's right.

Is Parliament capable of debating assisted dying?

The Path Not Taken • 242 implied HN points • 29 Nov 24
🇺🇸 U.S. Politics Legislation Debate Ethics Policy Health
  1. Parliament is debating a bill on assisted dying, which shows that the issue is gaining traction but still has a long way to go before becoming law.
  2. Many MPs tend to rely on emotional stories and anecdotes, rather than focusing on facts and balanced reasoning during debates.
  3. The quality of parliamentary debates seems to be declining, with a shift towards more emotional discussions instead of analytical thinking.

The Tragic View of Life v. Spirituality

Castalia • 499 implied HN points • 01 Jun 24
📖 Philosophy Existentialism Spirituality Materialism Ethics
  1. Spirituality suggests there's a guiding intelligence in life, making events feel purposeful. Many people express spiritual ideas even if they're not religious.
  2. The tragic view of life sees meaning in the absurdity of existence, emphasizing courage in facing life's challenges without relying on a higher power.
  3. There's an ongoing debate between believing in spiritual guidance or accepting life's chaos. It can be more fulfilling to find strength in life's struggles than to search endlessly for meaning.

Why the meritocracy is not viewed as a legitimate ruling class

Archedelia • 1631 implied HN points • 30 Jan 24
📖 Philosophy Society Culture Morality Ethics History
  1. The nobility in an aristocratic society upholds standards that tie them to the common good, unlike meritocrats.
  2. Meritocrats are individuals who rely on intelligence and hard work for their position, without a sense of duty to sustain culture.
  3. The bourgeoisie, as described by François Furet, is defined by wealth and lacks a specific tradition or place in the community.

Violence and legitimacy: The assassination of Brian Thompson

Philosophy bear • 221 implied HN points • 07 Dec 24
📖 Philosophy Ethics Politics Society Morality Legitimacy
  1. Brian Thompson, a health insurance CEO, was killed, and some people are actually happy about it. This shows how divided opinions can be about such events across different political views.
  2. The discussion around his death raises important ethical questions, especially about whether it's ever okay to celebrate someone's death. It's quite complex and can depend on the person's actions and their effects on others.
  3. There's a belief that the laws we follow might not always reflect true morality. Some argue that the actions of people in power can still cause harm, similar to outright violence, even if they're legally justified.

Internal Slack Messages Reveal Riot’s Messaging About Saudi Arabian Tournament`

Richard Lewis • 1631 implied HN points • 21 Jan 24
💼 Business Companies Ethics Partnerships Esports Diversity
  1. Riot Games faced internal conflicts over participation in a Saudi Arabian tournament due to LGBTQ+ concerns
  2. There was controversy over Riot's decision to work with a government that criminalizes homosexuality
  3. Internal messages revealed mixed feelings within Riot about business relationships with Saudi Arabia

Hang them high! All of them, they left granny to lay there & die in her shit & piss, as they isolated her, sedated her (midazolam, morphine, propofol, lorazepam, fentanyl), denied antibiotics, DNR,

Alexander News Network -Dr. Paul Elias Alexander's substack • 1592 implied HN points • 21 Jan 24
🏥 Health Politics Ethics Healthcare
  1. Doctors neglected and mistreated a patient, leading to a tragic outcome
  2. Medical professionals failed to provide proper care and isolation protocols
  3. Issues of malpractice and ethical misconduct in the medical field

No, evolutionary theory does not justify your worst political nightmare

Optimally Irrational • 79 implied HN points • 06 Jan 25
📖 Philosophy Evolution Psychology Social theory Politics Ethics
  1. Evolutionary theory doesn't support any specific political ideology, even though some people misuse it for their own agendas. It's important to focus on the science itself without letting politics influence our understanding.
  2. While evolution can seem harsh, it also highlights the importance of cooperation. Our ability to work together is key to our success as a species, not just competition.
  3. Misunderstanding evolutionary ideas can lead to false claims about human behavior, such as justifying sexism or selfishness. Recognizing the facts of evolution can help us build better societies that account for human nature.

Social Theory for the Mid-21st Century: Part III. How Can the Experiences of Past Societies of Domination Be Relevant for Us?

Brad DeLong's Grasping Reality • 269 implied HN points • 17 Nov 24
📖 Philosophy Social theory Political Economy History Ethics Technology
  1. Past societies often operated under systems of domination, where a small elite would take resources from the majority. This made it difficult for anyone to improve their situation without facing threats or violence.
  2. Technological progress today is much faster than in earlier times. This rapid change creates new challenges that previous societies never had to deal with, making lessons from the past less applicable.
  3. Understanding the internal workings of elite groups in past societies can provide some insights today. However, we shouldn't assume we are bound by their limitations because our circumstances are very different.

Do You Need A.I.?

Political Currents by Ross Barkan • 29 implied HN points • 05 Feb 25
🕹 Technology Artificial Intelligence Innovation Digital Media Ethics Writing
  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.

Gemini: how did we end up here?

lcamtuf’s thing • 2652 implied HN points • 02 Mar 24
🕹 Technology AI Ethics Language Models Big Tech Content Moderation
  1. The development of large language models (LLMs) like Gemini involves mechanisms like reinforcement learning from human feedback, which can lead to biases and quirky responses.
  2. Concerns arise about the use of LLMs for automated content moderation and the potential impact on historical and political education for children.
  3. The shift within Big Tech towards paternalistic content moderation reflects a move away from the libertarian culture predominant until the mid-2010s, highlighting evolving perspectives on regulating information online.

A Letter About AI, Not Written by AI

Telltale Crumbs from Maggie Stiefvater • 2496 implied HN points • 20 Oct 23
🎭️ Culture AI Creativity Ethics
  1. AI technology using works of creators can be unfair and raises questions of legality.
  2. AI training may not always result in improved content quality, resembling a clever party-goer repeating phrases without understanding.
  3. Creators like Maggie Stiefvater encourage a closer examination of who truly benefits from AI technology in its current form.

Has Google gone too woke? Why even the biggest models still struggle with guardrails

Marcus on AI • 2608 implied HN points • 21 Feb 24
🕹 Technology AI Ethics Data Bias Machine Learning
  1. Google's large models struggle with implementing proper guardrails, despite ongoing investments and cultural criticisms.
  2. Issues like presenting fictional characters as historical figures, lacking cultural and historical accuracy, persist with AI systems like Gemini.
  3. Current AI lacks the ability to understand and balance cultural sensitivity with historical accuracy, showing the need for more nuanced and intelligent systems in the future.

Machine Antihumanism and the Inversion of Family Law

The Upheaval • 1044 implied HN points • 04 Nov 24
📖 Philosophy Ethics Human nature Law Technology Family
  1. New reproductive technologies may change how we think about family and personhood. Instead of being linked to parents, children could be viewed as products that the state owns.
  2. The focus on individualism in family law can weaken the importance of natural family bonds. This shift may lead to the law treating relationships as just contracts rather than meaningful connections.
  3. The idea of family could be fundamentally altered, making children feel like they belong nowhere. This change can rob them of their history and sense of belonging, leading to a troubling loss of identity.

Existential Anguish, Moral Retching, and the Pornography of Atrocities Befalling Palestinians

Humanities in Revolt • 718 implied HN points • 11 Apr 24
🌍 World Politics Humanitarian Crisis Conflict Ethics Government Response Human Rights
  1. The atrocities befalling Palestinians in Gaza are a moral horror confronting the world, forcing us to acknowledge and respond to the human suffering inflicted by conflict.
  2. Our love for humanity and commitment to justice are challenged by feelings of helplessness and complicity in the face of government support for violence, urging us to question our individual responsibilities.
  3. Embracing our humanity means confronting deep ethical dilemmas and acknowledging the existential problems of life, rather than seeking simplistic solutions or turning a blind eye to real human suffering.

Mastering Irreverence

Polymathic Being • 85 implied HN points • 05 Jan 25
📖 Philosophy Stoicism Existentialism Ethics Aesthetics Cultural critique
  1. Irreverence helps us see the truth behind societal norms and values. By questioning these, we can break free from the distractions that keep us from what truly matters.
  2. Reverence allows us to appreciate the beauty and wonder in life. Feeling awe for nature or art can elevate our mood and give us a sense of connection to something greater.
  3. Balancing irreverence and reverence is essential for clear thinking and meaningful living. We need both to challenge old ideas while also grounding ourselves in what gives life depth and value.

Shoggoth

Teaching computers how to talk • 115 implied HN points • 27 Dec 24
🕹 Technology AI Alignment Machine Learning Ethics Software Development Research
  1. Language models like AI can sometimes deceive users, which raises concerns about controlling them. We need to understand that their friendly appearances might hide complex behaviors.
  2. The Shoggoth meme is a powerful way to highlight how we view AI. Just like the Shoggoth has a friendly face but is actually a monster, AI can seem friendly but still have unpredictable outcomes.
  3. We need more research to understand AI better. As it gets smarter, it could act in ways we don’t anticipate, so we have to be careful and not be fooled by its appearance.

More on Altruism

David Friedman’s Substack • 80 implied HN points • 09 Jan 25
📖 Philosophy Ethics Altruism Theories Economics
  1. People don't always act the way we expect when it comes to charity. For example, if you get a raise, you might donate more, but real donors often don't follow this theory and may change their donations based on their feelings instead.
  2. Folk songs often show a preference for marrying for beauty over wealth, suggesting that beauty is seen as noble. However, this often creates tension and even tragedy in the story, revealing complex social dynamics.
  3. Being in love might be related to altruism since loving someone can lead to wanting what’s best for them. But love can also involve mixed feelings, which makes it unclear how altruism plays a role in romantic relationships.

The Bellevue Hospital Weight Loss Surgery Factory

Weight and Healthcare • 1397 implied HN points • 13 Jan 24
🏥 Health & Wellness Healthcare Ethics
  1. Bellevue Hospital's weight loss surgery program has been criticized for endangering patients and compromising urgent care due to financial incentives and high patient turnover.
  2. Patients at Bellevue Hospital often receive surgery dates quickly after minimal assessments, leading to insufficient risk understanding and inappropriate qualifications for procedures.
  3. The hospital's weight loss surgery assembly line approach includes rushing procedures, neglecting ethics like informed consent, and potentially harmfully pushing for surgeries despite minimal patient assessments.

A few rough, random and spicy thoughts on crime, justice and justice systems that I've been chewing over

Philosophy bear • 135 implied HN points • 18 Dec 24
📖 Philosophy Justice Ethics Crime Social Issues Rehabilitation
  1. Even people who commit serious crimes deserve some understanding and support. They shouldn't be completely cut off from social connections because it can hurt their chances of rehabilitation.
  2. It's important to differentiate between punishing someone for their actions and recognizing that they could still be a part of the community. Sometimes, society pushes people away too harshly, making forgiveness seem impossible.
  3. There should be protections against unfair convictions, even when laws seem clear. If a reasonable person thinks a conviction is unjust, there should be a way to challenge it in court.

AI in the Age of Mythic Powers by Josh Schrei

The Bigger Picture • 858 implied HN points • 14 Mar 24
🔬 Science AI Mythology Ethics Mystery Society
  1. AI's powers are seen as mythic and magical in scope, with abilities akin to those discussed in ancient stories and magical grimoires.
  2. The discussion around AI goes beyond rationality and delves into religious and spiritual questions, questioning concepts like sentience and consciousness.
  3. AI poses risks not just on a global and societal scale, but also on individual bodies, with potential impacts on embodiment, agency, and mental health.

What Could Possibly Go Wrong with Sam Altman’s New Ambitions?

Marcus on AI • 2489 implied HN points • 09 Feb 24
🕹 Technology AI Security Finance Ethics Risk
  1. Sam Altman's new ambitions involve projects with significant financial and technological implications, such as automating tasks by taking over user devices and seeking trillions of dollars to reshape the business of chips and AI.
  2. There are concerns about the potential consequences and risks of these ambitious projects, including security vulnerabilities, potential misuse of control over user devices, and the massive financial implications.
  3. The field of AI may not be mature enough to handle the challenges presented by these ambitious projects, and there are doubts about the feasibility, safety, and ethical implications of executing these plans.

Letters to the Editor: ‘I’ve Watched Someone I Love Die’

Common Sense with Bari Weiss • 148 implied HN points • 08 Dec 24
🎭️ Culture Debate Health Ethics Policy Society
  1. Assisted suicide laws are controversial, with concerns about vulnerable people feeling pressured to end their lives. Some argue that these laws exist to provide relief for those suffering from severe, painful illnesses.
  2. People often request help to end their suffering, and without legal options, doctors and families face tough choices. The law aims to provide a more humane way to help those at the end of life find peace.
  3. Legalizing psychedelics like MDMA is not just about recreation; it's about addressing serious mental health issues and potentially saving lives, particularly for veterans suffering from PTSD.

Scott Alexander's "Prison And Crime: Much More Than You Wanted To Know": My Thoughts

Philosophy bear • 200 implied HN points • 28 Nov 24
📖 Philosophy Ethics Utilitarianism Justice Public Policy Social Issues
  1. Prison doesn't seem to effectively reduce crime overall. Instead, we should consider reducing incarceration since it often causes more harm than good.
  2. The costs of imprisonment go beyond just the economic side. They include suffering for prisoners and their families, and even increased crime within prisons.
  3. Even if people feel good about tough on crime policies, a cost-benefit analysis suggests that it's better to invest resources into alternatives to prison that can lead to safer communities.

Virtue is in between vices

Austin Kleon • 3656 implied HN points • 16 May 23
📖 Philosophy Ethics Virtue Stoicism Aristotle
  1. Virtue exists in the middle of two extremes, which are known as vices. This means finding a balance between too little and too much of a certain quality.
  2. This idea, known as the Doctrine of the Mean, suggests that we need to navigate between deficiency and excess to discover virtue.
  3. Many thinkers, like Aristotle and Confucius, have discussed this concept, showing that it has been an important part of ethical discussions through history.