The hottest Free will Substack posts right now

And their main takeaways
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Top Philosophy Topics

98 - Emotion Stories

Nick Burdick: Writing from California β€’ 99 implied HN points β€’ 13 Oct 24
πŸ“– Philosophy Buddhism Emotion Free will Mental health
  1. Emotions can be primal, like fear and craving, which we can't fully control right away. It's important to create safeguards to keep these emotions from guiding our decisions.
  2. Some emotions are based on stories we create, like anger or jealousy. Recognizing these as stories helps us react better and keep our thoughts clear.
  3. It's crucial to be mindful of what we feed our minds, like avoiding negative news and social media. Quality content gives us better reactions and lessens harmful habits.

The Free Will Debate Is Dead, but It Shambles On

American Dreaming β€’ 123 implied HN points β€’ 06 Jan 25
πŸ“– Philosophy Free will Determinism Compatibilism Ethics Metaphysics
  1. The debate over free will is mostly settled among thinkers, with most agreeing it doesn't exist as we traditionally think. We're influenced by many outside factors we can't control, which affects our actions and decisions.
  2. Many people feel they have free will, but this belief doesn't necessarily reflect the reality of how our minds work. Most academics lean towards compatibilism, which tries to redefine free will to fit our experiences.
  3. Understanding that free will might not exist can actually lead to a kinder society. It helps us see people's actions in context, promoting better ways of handling crime and punishment without the harshness that comes from believing everyone is fully responsible.

The New York Times Memorializes Daniel Dennett Without Reading Him

Philosophy for the People w/Ben Burgis β€’ 419 implied HN points β€’ 28 Apr 24
πŸ“– Philosophy Free will Consciousness Compatibilism Obituary Critique
  1. Compatibilism argues that even in a deterministic universe, humans can still have free will.
  2. In the debate about free will, one needs to consider which aspects of 'free will' are crucial for concepts like moral responsibility.
  3. Criticism of Daniel Dennett highlights the importance of understanding a philosopher's actual positions before critiquing them.
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A Thoughtful Response to My Case for Hinduism

Going Awol β€’ 159 implied HN points β€’ 11 May 24
β›ͺ Faith & Spirituality Hinduism Reincarnation Karma Free will
  1. The response to the case for Hinduism reflects deep engagement with Hindu theology and philosophy, offering insights on concepts like eternal condemnation, grace periods for mukti, and the nature of devatās.
  2. The Hindu perspective presented raises points of contention and clarification on theological aspects, such as the nature of devatās, reincarnation, and the concept of karma as accumulated over infinite lifetimes.
  3. The discussion around karma as not solely being based on desert, but as a complex interplay of past actions, sañcita karma, prārabdha karma, and āgāmi karma, shows a nuanced understanding of the concept within Hinduism.

Hume in Hell (UNLOCKED)

Philosophy for the People w/Ben Burgis β€’ 758 implied HN points β€’ 01 Jan 23
πŸ“– Philosophy History Religion Ethics Morality Free will
  1. David Hume's essays on suicide and the afterlife delve into questioning common beliefs even when granting believers' core premises.
  2. Hume challenges the concept of suicide as a sin against God, arguing that humans cannot disrupt God's plan or transgress against it through suicide.
  3. The essays lead to a broader reflection that morality should be grounded in human considerations, not divine commands, opening up a secular perspective in philosophy.

Sam Harris Has Nothing Useful to Say About Free Will (UNLOCKED)

Philosophy for the People w/Ben Burgis β€’ 619 implied HN points β€’ 05 Feb 23
πŸ“– Philosophy Free will Compatibilism Determinism Morality Responsibility
  1. Sam Harris argues that free will doesn't exist because our decisions are influenced by factors we don't fully understand or control.
  2. The debate over free will involves complex questions about determinism, moral responsibility, and cognitive capacities.
  3. Compatibilist philosophers like John Martin Fischer redefine free will in terms of being reasons-responsive, rather than just the ability to act differently given the same circumstances.

Death smiles at us all

Becoming Noble β€’ 378 implied HN points β€’ 22 Mar 23
πŸ“– Philosophy Time Existence Fear Free will God
  1. Time is an alien force that impacts all of us, and we must learn to embrace it.
  2. Existence in time means every decision becomes permanent, leading into an unknowable future.
  3. Despite the fear of time and God's eternal view of our actions, individual agency is crucial, and we have a limited window to act.

The Mystery of Consciousness

startupdreams β€’ 741 implied HN points β€’ 01 Jun 23
πŸ”¬ Science Consciousness Free will Neuroscience Quantum physics
  1. Debate exists on whether the human brain operates like a finite state machine with predictable outputs based on inputs
  2. The concept of free will raises questions about human behavior being entirely predictable or not
  3. Exploring theories like the Quantum Mind suggests that consciousness may operate on a quantum level, intertwining with physics

Arguing with Slavoj Zizek About Free Will and Physics

Philosophy for the People w/Ben Burgis β€’ 179 implied HN points β€’ 10 Dec 23
πŸ“– Philosophy Free will Compatibilism Moral responsibility
  1. The post discusses a debate with Slavoj Zizek about free will, compatibilism, and incompatibilism, as well as the role of microphysics in free will and moral responsibility.
  2. The author mentions a chat about the essay on the This is Revolution podcast with Stefan Bertram-Lee, happening at 4 PM East Coast time.
  3. The post is for paid subscribers only, with an option to subscribe and access the content.

The Case for Embracing A "Choose Your Own Adventure" Philosophy

America 2.0 (by Gary Sheng) β€’ 235 implied HN points β€’ 28 May 23
πŸ“– Philosophy Peace Individuality Diversity Free will Consciousness
  1. Embracing a 'choose your own adventure' philosophy promotes acknowledging and appreciating differences.
  2. Allowing people to choose their own paths leads to self-organization without the need for central planning.
  3. Celebrating diverse ways of living can create a more peaceful and flourishing future.

Evolving Beyond Determinism

Holodoxa β€’ 199 implied HN points β€’ 31 Oct 23
πŸ”¬ Science Consciousness Evolution Free will Neuroscience Philosophy
  1. Consciousness and free will are gaining scholarly attention, moving beyond being considered intellectual backwaters.
  2. There is a growing interest in naturalistic explanations of the human mind, relying on science rather than mystical or religious beliefs.
  3. The book 'Free Agents: How Evolution Gave Us Free Will' by Kevin J. Mitchell offers a scientific defense of free will against determinism, emphasizing the role of conscious experience in guiding human behavior.

Harry Frankfurt (1929-2023): A Tribute (UNLOCKED)

Philosophy for the People w/Ben Burgis β€’ 219 implied HN points β€’ 06 Aug 23
πŸ“– Philosophy Free will Moral responsibility Determinism Compatibilism
  1. Harry Frankfurt's work had a significant impact on the philosophical debate on free will and moral responsibility.
  2. Frankfurt's argument challenges the Principle of Alternate Possibilities in determining moral responsibility, leading to a new understanding of free will.
  3. His work on free will and moral responsibility has sparked decades of discussion, reshaping philosophical perspectives and raising important questions about human agency.

How to Be a Leftist Without Being a Utilitarian or a Free Will Skeptic (UNLOCKED)

Philosophy for the People w/Ben Burgis β€’ 259 implied HN points β€’ 02 Apr 23
πŸ“– Philosophy Ethics Free will Justice Meritocracy Utilitarianism
  1. Rejecting free will or embracing utilitarianism is like burning down your house to kill a fly.
  2. Meritocracy doesn't justify extreme inequality; our society isn't a true meritocracy.
  3. Belief in moral rights maintains dignity and autonomy and challenges market-worshippers for a fairer society.

Slavoj Zizek and the Case for Compatibilism (UNLOCKED)

Philosophy for the People w/Ben Burgis β€’ 299 implied HN points β€’ 19 Feb 23
πŸ“– Philosophy Free will Compatibilism Determinism Moral responsibility
  1. Compatibilism can feel contradictory at first, but it offers a way to reconcile deep intuitions about control and responsibility with determinism.
  2. The debate around free will and determinism involves conflicting intuitions about moral responsibility, cosmic freedom, and the control condition for responsibility.
  3. The definition of free will can shift from a day-to-day understanding to a radical, cosmic sense when framed within the context of determinism, highlighting the complexity of philosophical concepts.

Tim Pool, Sam Seder, and Thanos: Is Lesser-Evil Voting Like Pushing People Onto Trolley Tracks? (UNLOCKED)

Philosophy for the People w/Ben Burgis β€’ 239 implied HN points β€’ 26 Mar 23
πŸ“– Philosophy Ethics Consequentialism Free will Justice
  1. Tim Pool's comparison of lesser-evil voting to the Trolley Problem and Thanos lacked depth and accuracy in understanding consequentialism and deontology.
  2. It's important to consider moral complexities beyond simple consequentialism when debating electoral strategies like third-party voting versus lesser-evil voting.
  3. The debate between deontology and consequentialism in voting ethics can lead to deeper discussions on philosophical principles and their application in political decision-making.

William Godwin's Libertarian Free Will

Outlandish Claims β€’ 39 implied HN points β€’ 29 Apr 24
πŸ“– Philosophy Free will Determinism Moral responsibility Introspection
  1. Our decisions are influenced by cause and effect, even if we feel like we have free will. Philosophically, 'free will' and 'cause and effect' are different ways of thinking, each important in its own domain.
  2. How we perceive free will depends on the context: assigning blame, scientific analysis, storytelling, or introspection.
  3. Science and introspection aren't in competition - they serve different purposes. Understanding free will involves acknowledging its complexity and varied applications.

Personhood, Justice, and Free Will: Wrapping Up the Debate with Eric Levitz

Philosophy for the People w/Ben Burgis β€’ 159 implied HN points β€’ 15 Oct 23
πŸ“– Philosophy Justice Free will
  1. The debate on free will and criminal punishment is being wrapped up by Ben Burgis and Eric Levitz.
  2. Eric Levitz argues that there is a meaningful sense in which conscious subjects do not have full agency over their actions.
  3. The post discusses how desires, thoughts, and decision processes influence our sense of agency and free will.

A Logical Case For Throwing the Fear Out

Tessa Fights Robots β€’ 38 implied HN points β€’ 12 Mar 24
β›ͺ Faith & Spirituality Destiny Spirituality Beliefs Free will Self-discovery
  1. Courage is innate, and the key is to find and use it, reminding ourselves that we are not accidents or victims, but capable of overcoming challenges and making the world more beautiful.
  2. Reflecting on the contrast between empowering beliefs and institutional views can help us understand the impact of framing human potential negatively.
  3. Facing pain can lead to uncovering our gifts and transforming it into love, as we remember our worth and spiritual validity, ultimately diminishing the power of fear.

Curator

Castalia β€’ 99 implied HN points β€’ 17 Dec 22
πŸ“– Philosophy Existentialism Determinism Ethics Political theory Free will Social theory
  1. Mimesis is a powerful force in our lives, meaning we often look to others to decide what to want or do. While it's strong, we still have the freedom to make choices within that influence.
  2. Fukuyama's ideas about the 'end of history' suggest that liberal democracy has won but might overlook the ongoing ideological conflicts that still exist. His views can be criticized for being overly optimistic about the state of the world.
  3. Peer review in science has been criticized for not working well, as it often misses errors and limits innovative ideas. Instead of helping, it may create a closed-off system that stifles true progress.

Discretion and absolution

The Jolly Contrarian β€’ 39 implied HN points β€’ 30 Sep 23
πŸ“– Philosophy Free will Contracts Legal
  1. Discretion is about freedom, choice, individuality, and happiness, but often made to seem complex by lawyers.
  2. Absolute discretion means you either have it or you don't, while reasonable discretion is bound by obligations like acting in good faith.
  3. Having an absolute discretion where a reasonable one would suffice can lead to unnecessary complications and inefficiencies in business relationships.

Freedom, Not Control

Splattern β€’ 19 implied HN points β€’ 12 Dec 23
πŸ“– Philosophy Existentialism Free will Freedom Self-Actualization Spirituality
  1. Freedom is about making choices that lead to a fulfilling life, rather than trying to control everything. Prioritizing sleep and good nutrition helps create that freedom.
  2. True community leaders listen and support people seeking guidance, creating meaningful connections. It's good to reach out to mentors or leaders when you're looking for direction.
  3. Managing health issues takes learning and adaptation, and it's important to verify information rather than just relying on labels. Taking care of ourselves and others is a journey, especially when it comes to health.

Is Retribution Illegitimate?

Gideon's Substack β€’ 38 implied HN points β€’ 14 Sep 23
πŸ“– Philosophy Justice Ethics Free will Authority
  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.

Nonsense, Irrelevance, and Invalidity

Ethics Under Construction β€’ 5 HN points β€’ 29 Oct 23
πŸ“– Philosophy Knowledge Free will Morality Ethics Logic
  1. Certain philosophical statements can be nonsense, like the liar's paradox, lacking basic truth-value and conveying no information.
  2. Statements can also be irrelevant, failing to provide any useful information, like stating obvious facts or redundant phrases.
  3. Logical gaps, like the is-ought gap, show that certain ideas are invalid and should be disregarded as meaningless.

Van Inwagen vs. Van Inwagen on Freedom and Randomness

Logos and Liberty β€’ 0 implied HN points β€’ 29 Apr 24
πŸ“– Philosophy Free will Determinism Metaphysics Morality Probability Theory
  1. Distinguishing freedom from randomness in human acts challenges the moral responsibility of individuals.
  2. Using probability theory to analyze free choices is problematic, as probabilities cannot be assigned to unique, free choices.
  3. The concept of resetting the universe to examine free choices showcases the difference between chance occurrences and true freedom.