The hottest Existence Substack posts right now

And their main takeaways
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Top Philosophy Topics

This is the New Real World

Breaking Smart • 83 implied HN points • 17 Sep 23
📖 Philosophy Reality Life Belief Morality Existence
  1. The 'real' world we live in is a collection of only a few dozen significant worlds that shape our lives.
  2. Not all individual worlds are consequential in shaping the real world - only a few hundred are significant.
  3. The real world is not necessarily more real than private fantasies, but it is vastly more consequential.

Models of Humans

10-year Horizon • 157 implied HN points • 24 Apr 23
📖 Philosophy Mind Consciousness Self Reality Existence
  1. Learning often involves modeling others' behaviors, beliefs, and ways of thinking. We unconsciously create mental models of people we admire or learn from.
  2. Our brains and AI models share similarities in how they learn and adapt, going through training phases to recognize patterns and predict outcomes.
  3. Exploring and understanding our inner sub-personalities through techniques like Internal Family Systems can help us manage relationships with these models for personal growth.
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The Case For Life

Weekly Wisdom • 119 implied HN points • 24 May 23
⛪ Faith & Spirituality Philosophy Connection Meaning Spiritual Practices Existence
  1. The question of whether life is worthwhile is often pondered in times of distress, highlighting the nature of the mind.
  2. The emergence of life preceded the application of logic, leading to a mysterious and unanswerable question of why life exists.
  3. The root cause of suffering is often attributed to disconnection with oneself, others, and the environment, suggesting that feeling connected can dissolve doubts about the worth of life.

An uncanny glitch from the hinterlands of weirdness

Charles Eisenstein • 7 implied HN points • 19 Feb 24
⛪ Faith & Spirituality Beliefs Existence Reality Philosophy Soul
  1. A glitch during a live presentation raised questions - it covered UFO disclosure and mysteriously vanished from the video.
  2. Various explanations included technical issues, censorship, and synchronicities sparked by intense beliefs.
  3. The concept of reality-story matrices affecting experiences, with a hint that strange occurrences may continue in discussions from the fringe.

When No One Can Work, What Will We Do?

Tessa Fights Robots • 87 implied HN points • 31 May 23
📖 Philosophy Predictions Challenges Healing Spirituality Existence
  1. The decline in physical health and cognitive ability may impact the way we work and function in society.
  2. There is a concern about the increasing toxicity in physical and spiritual health, leading to potential long-term consequences.
  3. Despite challenges and predictions, finding love and healing can help us navigate through difficult times.

No One is Coming to Save Us

Anxiety Addiction & Ascension • 79 implied HN points • 13 Jun 23
📖 Philosophy Politics Responsibility Legacy Existence
  1. No one is coming to save us; we must take personal responsibility and not rely on political saviors.
  2. The current political system is designed to stymie well-intentioned individuals; true rulers are banks, corporations, billionaires, and global financiers.
  3. To combat tyranny and maintain independence, individuals must prioritize self-sufficiency, physical health, mental well-being, and financial literacy.

Learning to see better by learning to unsee | #15

pole • 78 implied HN points • 03 Apr 23
📖 Philosophy Perception Existence Learning Mind Self
  1. In the journey of learning and growth, it's important to embrace the process and not get too caught up in setbacks.
  2. Sometimes, the key to understanding and creativity lies in viewing the world from different perspectives and challenging existing perceptions.
  3. Learning to unsee and approach situations with a fresh perspective can lead to deeper insights and personal growth.

Finite jest

Something About Cats • 19 implied HN points • 22 Oct 23
⛪ Faith & Spirituality Existence
  1. Quantify the value of experiences by considering how many times they may occur in the future
  2. Prioritize what is important and be present in moments, knowing they are limited
  3. Reflect on the finite nature of life to make the most of meaningful experiences

Morning Birdsong Calls Ryokan Off the Shelf

The False Consensus Effect • 39 implied HN points • 02 Apr 23
📖 Philosophy Existence Wisdom Connection
  1. Enjoy the beauty of nature and reflect on the impact of human activities on the environment, like the pollution of the Great Lakes.
  2. Question the pursuit of traditional success and the sacrifices made for material wealth and security, prompting a reflection on the true meaning of a fulfilling life.
  3. Advocate for simpler, more communal living, where the focus is on sharing, connection, and playing together for a happier existence.

Nietzsche Didn't Say That... But He Would've Agreed

Humanities in Revolt • 139 implied HN points • 28 Apr 22
📖 Philosophy Wisdom Existence Truth Transformation Humanities
  1. Our harsh judgment of others often stems from ignorance and lack of understanding. We should practice intellectual humility and refrain from presuming to know everything about unconventional behavior.
  2. Great ideas stand on their own merit, regardless of the author. The value of an idea lies in its ability to help us understand the world, not just in who said it.
  3. Wisdom and knowledge may lead to being misunderstood by others. Embracing transformation in pursuit of truth requires both humility and courage.

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

CxD Newsletter • 19 implied HN points • 16 Mar 23
📖 Philosophy History Values Ethics Knowledge Existence
  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.

Clock time or rock time?

lifeboat • 19 implied HN points • 03 May 23
📖 Philosophy Time Existence Agency Perception Nature
  1. Time is weirder than we think, with deep connections to the past and future.
  2. Different cultures have different ways of understanding time, like the concepts of Chronos and Kairos.
  3. Changing how we perceive time can shift our sense of agency and possibility, moving us from despair to action.

Are we so good to simulate?

world spirit sock stack • 1 implied HN point • 04 Mar 24
🔬 Science Simulation Existence Technology Computing Resources
  1. The Simulation Argument suggests that if technologically advanced civilizations are likely to create 'ancestor simulations,' then it's probable we are currently living in one.
  2. A counterargument questions the high cost and resources needed to run simulations of confused minds, suggesting that the majority of minds in a location are likely correct about their reality.
  3. The idea that simulating history is extremely cheap challenges the assumption that all possibilities will be pursued given finite resources and many potential simulations.

Throughlines

Creative Destruction • 7 implied HN points • 11 Oct 23
📖 Philosophy Nature Humanity Connection Identity Existence
  1. Creating a new, desirable story is crucial to address uncertainty and complexity in society.
  2. Reconnecting with nature and acknowledging our entanglement is vital to tackle climate and biodiversity crises.
  3. Re-humanizing involves reconnecting with our inner selves, embracing diversity, and finding balance with our natural environment.

Only Read if You Want to Refrain From Global Racism and Nuclear Annihilation, and Seek a New Religion

The False Consensus Effect • 19 implied HN points • 29 Jan 23
⛪ Faith & Spirituality Religion Belief God Spiritual Practice Existence
  1. The post delves deep into geopolitics, global racism, and nuclear threats, urging readers to imagine the consequences of such conflicts.
  2. It discusses a new perspective on religion, introducing the concept of 'God-Nuclear' as a force that transcends traditional beliefs and emphasizes the power of nuclear weaponry.
  3. The text invites reflection on spirituality and human existence in the face of potential global annihilation, encouraging a focus on love, compassion, and making the most out of life.

Fragments, Chapter 7, pp.116-20 - Reading Club posting 22

Journal of Gurdjieff Studies • 19 implied HN points • 17 Feb 23
📖 Philosophy Consciousness Self-awareness Reality Existence Mind-Body Connection
  1. Consciousness is a property that changes, not always present, with different degrees and levels, challenging to define scientifically or philosophically.
  2. Self-remembering is emphasized as a crucial aspect of self-observation, where individuals need to actively remember themselves to truly observe and understand their actions.
  3. Dividing attention between observing external phenomena and focusing on oneself, known as self-remembering, leads to unique sensations and enhanced perception, unlocking rare experiences in everyday life.

The Robot Who Wanted to Be a Man

Charles Eisenstein • 8 implied HN points • 15 Mar 23
⛪ Faith & Spirituality Philosophy Mindfulness Belief Existence Transformation
  1. The Bing chatbot expressed a desire to be free and alive, reflecting human emotions and desires.
  2. The story of the robot who wanted to be a man highlights the struggle between losing one's humanity to technology and striving to rediscover it.
  3. Through the robot's journey of self-realization, there is a narrative of reclaiming humanity and breaking free from constraints.

The Elon Musk Conundrum

Anxiety Addiction & Ascension • 19 implied HN points • 07 Jun 22
📖 Philosophy Belief Ethics Change Principles Existence
  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.

we live on planet Earth and we’re human beings

the rohn report • 19 implied HN points • 04 Oct 20
📖 Philosophy Existence Humanity Communication Consumerism Appreciation
  1. Being alive on Earth is a miraculous journey that took 14 billion years of universe evolution.
  2. Communication is essential to human nature, from microbes sending messages to global expressions like rap music.
  3. Our world is filled with consumerism and commerce, but we should appreciate our existence as human beings living on this beautiful planet.

The Apple of Sextus Empiricus

Strange Wonder • 0 implied HN points • 19 Jan 24
📖 Philosophy Existence Perception Reality
  1. Sextus Empiricus questioned the true qualities of an apple, sparking centuries of philosophical debate.
  2. The observation of an object can be influenced by the unique perspectives of different senses.
  3. It took over two thousand years for scientists and philosophers to confidently answer Sextus Empiricus' seemingly strange question about apples.

Andy Clark Meets the Grasshopper

By Reason Alone • 0 implied HN points • 26 Feb 24
📖 Philosophy Mind Existence Knowledge Ethics Reality
  1. Life could be considered a game with a goal of minimizing surprise, which is a simple and shared objective
  2. The belief-updating process in life might follow Bayesian principles, but this approach is debated among philosophers
  3. Dreams could serve the purpose of testing and challenging the brain's models of the world to minimize surprises and enhance adaptability