The hottest Human experience Substack posts right now

And their main takeaways
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Top Philosophy Topics

Two Faces of Modernity

News from Uncibal • 656 implied HN points • 24 Oct 24
📖 Philosophy Modernity Enlightenment Government Society Human experience
  1. Modernity has both helped and hurt humanity. While it has brought material improvements like electricity and medicine, it has also led to government systems that might control every aspect of our lives.
  2. The problems we face today, like economic issues and government overreach, are partly a result of modern ideas from the Enlightenment. Simply going back to those ideas won't solve our problems.
  3. Many debates today focus on how the state should act in the world, often pushing for more government control instead of less. We may need a new way of thinking that goes beyond modernity to find real solutions.

How To Be Happy In A Genocidal Dystopia On A Dying World

Caitlin’s Newsletter • 3306 implied HN points • 14 Jan 25
📖 Philosophy Existentialism Happiness Dystopia Human experience Perception
  1. You can find joy even in tough times. Appreciate the little things like nature and moments of beauty.
  2. It's okay to feel sad about the world, but don't let it steal your happiness. Engage with reality and feel all the emotions.
  3. Focus on recognizing the amazing parts of life. Shift your mindset to see the good things around you every day.

The Cat in the Tree: Why AI Content Leaves Us Cold

The Convivial Society • 2628 implied HN points • 03 Jan 25
🎭️ Culture Art Technology Philosophy Human experience Society
  1. AI-generated content can be technically impressive but often feels dull and forgettable to many people. It lacks the emotional warmth that comes from human creativity.
  2. Unexpected discoveries, like finding a charming painting in nature, can bring genuine delight and a sense of connection. This feeling of surprise adds value to human-made art.
  3. The essence of art lies in human intention and presence. Simple acts of creativity can create a sense of companionship and joy, forming connections in a lonely world.

#204: When bad things happen

Maybe Baby • 1279 implied HN points • 12 Jan 25
🎭️ Culture Community Disaster Human experience Climate change Personal Reflection
  1. Losing a home in a disaster is more than just losing a building; it can feel like losing your entire world and memories. It's really hard to imagine what that must be like.
  2. When big disasters happen, people often struggle with how to process the pain. It can be confusing to know whether to look closely at the suffering or to step back and avoid it.
  3. Feeling powerless during crises leads to different reactions. Some believe in personal responsibility, while others think a bigger movement is necessary to create real change.

How To Go On In A World Full Of Cruelty

Caitlin’s Newsletter • 2202 implied HN points • 03 Nov 24
📖 Philosophy Existentialism Ethics Beauty Human experience Nature
  1. Feeling overwhelmed by the world's cruelty is normal. It's okay to take a break and fully experience those emotions before getting back to work.
  2. Finding beauty in everything, even in dark and difficult situations, can help keep hope alive. You can appreciate the world's chaos while still fighting for a better future.
  3. Love for the planet and all its creatures is a powerful motivator. This love drives actions and encourages resilience, even amid challenging times.
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Underrated reasons to be thankful IV

DYNOMIGHT INTERNET NEWSLETTER • 1437 implied HN points • 28 Nov 24
📖 Philosophy Gratitude Well-being Science Human experience Mindfulness
  1. Meditation can help you feel really good, almost like drugs or other intense pleasures, and it’s cool that you can explore new ways to relax without getting addicted.
  2. Your brain can automate tasks as you practice, which makes it easier to do complex things without thinking too hard about every detail.
  3. Even though there are worries about pollution, some studies suggest that common plastics might not harm your health much, which is a relief.

Le Bureau des Légendes edition

Why is this interesting? • 361 implied HN points • 27 Nov 24
🎭️ Culture Television Fiction Drama Intelligence Human experience
  1. Le Bureau des Légendes is a French spy drama that focuses on the emotional side of intelligence work. It shows how the personal lives of agents are affected by their dangerous missions.
  2. The show differs from typical American spy thrillers by being slow-paced and realistic. It emphasizes psychological complexity and real-world geopolitical issues instead of explosions and action.
  3. Fiction can reflect reality in unique ways. Just like the writer Gérard de Villiers, who often wrote about future events based on insights from the intelligence community, 'Le Bureau' offers deep understanding of current world issues through its storytelling.

Iris Murdoch, a novelist for now.

The Common Reader • 1630 implied HN points • 12 Feb 24
📚 Literature Philosophy Art Gender Human experience
  1. Iris Murdoch's novels focus on shocking readers out of themselves rather than offering consolation.
  2. Murdoch's works cover a wide range of themes like adultery, repression, homosexuality, and existential struggles.
  3. She believed art should entertain while also delving into the battle between good and evil, urging readers to escape the 'fat relentless ego.'

Five Widows

Splattern • 59 implied HN points • 08 Aug 24
🎭️ Culture Human experience Social Issues Charity Community Personal narrative
  1. Many widows are struggling to feed their children and face hardships after losing their husbands. They are often left with little income and rely on small daily sales for survival.
  2. The visits highlighted the importance of understanding individual situations before providing help. There’s a need for respect and genuine connection when discussing challenges.
  3. Directly providing food instead of money is suggested as a better way to help these families. It helps to ensure the support reaches those in need without creating additional problems.

The Wisdom of Insecurity

peoplefirstengineering • 17 implied HN points • 29 Jan 25
📖 Philosophy Existentialism Mindfulness Mental health Human experience
  1. Life is full of uncertainties, and it's important to accept that things will not always be stable. Embracing this uncertainty can lead to less anxiety.
  2. Our focus on the past and future often distracts us from enjoying the present moment. Learning to be aware of now can help reduce feelings of insecurity.
  3. Connecting with others and fostering community can help combat feelings of isolation and anxiety. Building strong relationships provides valuable support during tough times.

The Most Dangerous Idea

Secretum Secretorum • 1161 implied HN points • 02 Mar 24
📖 Philosophy Metaphysics Reality Consciousness Spirituality Human experience
  1. Traumatic transcendence challenges the concept that extreme states of consciousness can manipulate physics, prompting a need for deeper understanding through experiments induced by profound suffering.
  2. Evidence and reasoning suggest that consciousness may transcend normal physics, as seen in tales from folklore and religious history, trauma-related phenomenon, and philosophical arguments against materialism.
  3. Love plays an integral role in traumatic transcendence and mystical experiences, emphasizing a connection between profound experiences and emotion, challenging traditional metaphysical paradigms.

Nationalise YouTube

The Rectangle • 56 implied HN points • 22 Nov 24
🎭️ Culture Media Technology Society Human experience
  1. YouTube is a huge part of our culture and memory, acting like a big diary of our lives. It holds countless videos that showcase many different human experiences.
  2. There is a worry that in times of economic pressure, YouTube might start deleting older or less popular videos. This could mean a lot of memories could disappear.
  3. The internet can be fragile, and our cherished sites might not last forever. Because of this, some suggest YouTube should be nationalized to ensure it remains safe and accessible for everyone.

The Profound Pleasure of Physical Tasks

The Analog Family • 319 implied HN points • 16 Nov 23
🎭️ Culture Crafting Construction Wellbeing Human experience
  1. Doing physical tasks can bring a lot of joy. It often feels satisfying to work with your hands and see real results from your efforts.
  2. Many people feel tired or unfulfilled after long periods of only using screens. Engaging in hands-on activities can help us feel more connected to ourselves and the world around us.
  3. There is a real need to create and use our hands. Participating in craft or physical hobbies can boost our emotional well-being and give us a sense of achievement.

What We Suffer For

Living Fossils • 19 implied HN points • 04 Dec 24
📖 Philosophy Existentialism Identity Ethics Human experience Decision-making
  1. Writing can be a double-edged sword. It brings joy and purpose, but it can also take you away from real-life experiences.
  2. Many people accept suffering to fit in and maintain their identity. They often fear what they would become if they let go of that identity.
  3. People often endure pain to avoid loss. They may stick with unhappy jobs or relationships just to prevent the fear of losing something they have.

The Erosion of Memory

do clouds feel vertigo? • 19 implied HN points • 25 Jul 24
📖 Philosophy Legacy Memory Cultural values Human experience
  1. Legacy today is changing as we create less permanent records, like videos and posts, instead of lasting monuments. Our descendants might have more data about us, but that doesn't mean they will remember us.
  2. The concepts and contributions that stand out are often shaped by their timing and the culture around them. What’s valued in society can change, making some legacies fade while others endure.
  3. Many legacies are the result of collective efforts rather than just individual actions. The connections between ideas and how they spread play a big role in determining what is remembered.

Responding to Loss with Courage and Compassion

Journal of Free Black Thought • 16 implied HN points • 28 Nov 24
🎭️ Culture Leadership Emotional Intelligence Human experience Personal Growth Community Engagement
  1. Leaders should face their losses openly instead of ignoring them. This helps them understand their emotions and grow stronger.
  2. True grit involves recognizing fears and failures, while false grit is about pretending everything is fine. Leaders should embrace vulnerability to inspire real courage.
  3. Understanding the emotional impact of loss is key for effective leadership. Leaders must help others process their losses to facilitate positive change.

Shadows Cast by Tomorrow - Part I

10-year Horizon • 139 implied HN points • 31 Dec 23
📖 Philosophy Human experience
  1. Life is guided by predictive forces, with prediction playing a key role in human experiences.
  2. Tension is a crucial aspect of our predictive machinery, serving as a form of restriction and steering mechanism.
  3. Our psychosomatic bridge combines the vascular, neural, and conscious systems to optimize prediction in emotional states.

In Defense of Human Senses

Cybernetic Forests • 119 implied HN points • 30 Apr 23
🕹 Technology Artificial Intelligence Human experience Data Analysis AI Art
  1. Human perception of images is deeply intertwined with personal experiences and emotions, shaping how images are interpreted and associated with memories.
  2. Creating art involves a fusion of individual lived experiences and learned skills over time, contrasting with the quick generation of images by AI devoid of personal experiences.
  3. AI images are structured based on categories and datasets, emphasizing the need for artists to negotiate these categories and infuse individualized interpretations into the process.

The Sacred Wound

Jyri And • 39 implied HN points • 23 Mar 24
🎭️ Culture Personal Growth Human experience Conflict Literature Identity
  1. Sometimes, a fight can feel like a big deal, but it can also show us our limits and what we're truly willing to face. In this story, the fight led to an important lesson about standing up for oneself.
  2. Giving up isn't always a sign of weakness. It can be a way to let things go and move on from a situation that feels too heavy to handle.
  3. Our struggles can lead us to better paths in life. Even when things seem tough, they can guide us to discover who we really are and what we want to do.

Reading philosophy for the examples

Overthinking Everything • 419 implied HN points • 27 Feb 23
📖 Philosophy Ethics Examples Analogies Human experience
  1. Reading philosophy books can offer stellar examples that stand out and make you think beyond the theories presented.
  2. The examples in philosophy books can be more memorable and impactful than conceptual tools, helping to anchor thoughts and ideas in a relatable context.
  3. Stories in philosophy books, rich with human experiences, can provide valuable insights and prompts for reflection on ethical dilemmas and thought processes.

Paradise In A Rotted Apple

Square Circle • 7 implied HN points • 26 Nov 24
⛪ Faith & Spirituality Philosophy Personal Reflection Human experience
  1. Acknowing,,vTo,find,good,or,joy,within,improbity,compromition,ghto,thinging,itho,witht,witho,or,not,gniog,top,ith,ithRth,good,or,joy,within,improbity,compromition,ghto,thinging,itho,witho,or,not,gniog,top,ith,
  2. In,ong,ithith,or,or,not,hicthmmt,htIn,y,rong,ihgAin,ith,mbrrdon,y,or,or,not,hniog,for,or,momdointhmmt,cotgdoithmgtgyr,ithgIn,or,to,gdgI,or
  3. Cto,hond,oryb,orbthSnot,ydynIn,othndonyd,or,imOnong,tFor,or,gwith,

Your Two-Hour Walk Became a Twenty-Minute Drive. Then What?

WriMoReMo • 3 implied HN points • 03 Jan 25
🕹 Technology Society Impact Automation Mental health Human experience
  1. We try to make life easier with technology, but it often speeds everything up instead of enhancing our experiences. This can lead to feeling overwhelmed and exhausted.
  2. People have become so busy trying to fill every moment that they forget how to be still and just exist. It's important to slow down and take time to truly process life.
  3. In our rush to connect everyone and share opinions, we risk losing our ability to think deeply and reflect. Preserving our humanity is a big challenge in this fast-paced world.

Dancing at Elsewhere

Splattern • 59 implied HN points • 20 Nov 23
🎭️ Culture Personal Growth Relationships Human experience Music Events Psychedelics
  1. Don't let fear stop you from doing what you want. Imagine doing it without fear and just go for it if you would do it then.
  2. Falling in love can be a beautiful experience. It's okay to enjoy that feeling without overthinking it.
  3. Taking time to connect with others and enjoy simple moments, like sharing a meal or reminiscing, is really rewarding.

Approaching the wood

The Uncertainty Mindset (soon to become tbd) • 119 implied HN points • 22 Feb 23
📖 Philosophy Existentialism Human experience
  1. Not-knowing is something we all deal with, but it can be seen as a chance to learn and grow rather than just a problem to handle. Embracing not-knowing can lead to better outcomes.
  2. When working with materials like wood, we can either try to eliminate imperfections or learn to work with them to enhance our final product. This approach can lead to more unique and lively creations.
  3. The way we handle uncertainty in life can be similar to how we deal with materials. Instead of seeing constraints as negative, we can view them as opportunities to creatively adapt and improve.

Things of the Heart

Apposition • 39 implied HN points • 01 Jul 23
📖 Philosophy Existentialism Materialism Digital Age Human experience
  1. Objects hold hidden stories and memories, forming a connection between their history and our own.
  2. In the Digital Age, information dominates over physical objects, impacting how we interact with the world.
  3. Slowing down, forming personal relationships with objects, and engaging in meaningful action are keys to resisting the overwhelming pace of the digital world.

Consciousness

Splattern • 19 implied HN points • 11 Oct 23
📖 Philosophy Consciousness Cognition Neuroscience Mindfulness Human experience
  1. Consciousness includes wakefulness, attention, and conscious access. These are key ideas that help us understand how we experience awareness.
  2. The author believes consciousness acts like a tool that helps us pick which thoughts to focus on. This means we can choose to think about positive things and let go of the negative ones.
  3. Studies about consciousness rely on people sharing their experiences. This means the subject is important, as they need to report when they are aware of something.

Bobbsey Twins

Castalia • 59 implied HN points • 16 Sep 22
🎭️ Culture Literature Film Storytelling Documentary Human experience Social Commentary
  1. Documentary work often uncovers unexpected stories that don't fit into the main narrative. These side experiences can leave lasting impressions and enrich the overall understanding of the subject.
  2. The lives of the physicist's family members reflect contrasting lifestyles, showing both simplicity and complexity in relationships. Even with a famous father, personal struggles shaped their identities significantly.
  3. Community and connection can provide a sense of belonging, illustrated by the lively porch gatherings. The joy and camaraderie in these moments highlight the importance of social interactions in life.

On The Loaded Word Spiral

Castalia • 39 implied HN points • 03 Feb 23
🎭️ Culture Philosophy Literature Psychology Religion Human experience
  1. The word 'spiral' often has a negative vibe, suggesting someone is struggling or facing setbacks. But it might be more human to recognize that these tough moments can be part of life.
  2. Success is often celebrated, but there's value in reflecting on the past and being absorbed by our interests. This kind of deep thinking can lead to real growth.
  3. While many focus on happiness and success, there's beauty in the struggle and in the process of 'spiraling.' It's important to acknowledge that suffering can have meaning and purpose too.