The hottest Human nature Substack posts right now

And their main takeaways
Category
Top Philosophy Topics

Freedom

Black Lodges • 19 implied HN points • 12 Jan 24
📖 Philosophy Freedom Human nature Liberation Reality
  1. Freedom is important and requires a deeper understanding beyond what we are taught in the West.
  2. Question the indoctrination about capitalism and the free market that we have grown up with.
  3. Explore the historical context of freedom from the bourgeois revolutions to Marx's work on the subject.

The United States Of You

Weekly Wisdom • 79 implied HN points • 20 Jul 23
⛪ Faith & Spirituality Consciousness Philosophy Mysticism Teachings Human nature States
  1. States of consciousness include waking, dreaming, and deep sleep, each corresponding to different aspects of the self.
  2. Emotional states can be categorized based on valence and physiological arousal, affecting decision-making and interactions.
  3. Align your physiological, emotional, and motivational states for optimal performance and well-being.
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Chapter 17, pp.346-351 - Reading Club posting 62

Journal of Gurdjieff Studies • 19 implied HN points • 01 Dec 23
📖 Philosophy Self-Improvement Mind-Body Connection Control Practices Human nature
  1. Gurdjieff emphasizes the necessity of schools in working on oneself due to man's inability to keep watch on all aspects of himself without assistance.
  2. Man is described as the slave of his body, highlighting the importance of controlling muscular tension and the need for schools to help in this effort.
  3. Control over the body starts with acquiring control over muscular tension, beginning with the relaxation of facial muscles according to Gurdjieff's teachings.

toward a system of neo-xunism

alice maz • 59 implied HN points • 03 Jul 23
📖 Philosophy Political theory Human nature Ethics
  1. The Spring and Autumn period in Chinese history reflects a time of transition and decline of central power.
  2. Xunzi offers insights on power, governance, and human nature, advocating for self-cultivation and practical solutions in politics.
  3. Xunzi's philosophy combines elements of Confucianism, Daoism, Legalism, emphasizing learning, ritual, meritocracy, and adaptability.

You are not entitled to feel proud of your ancestors

Philosophy bear • 69 implied HN points • 16 Apr 23
📖 Philosophy Identity Ethics Beliefs Human nature
  1. You are not automatically entitled to feel proud of your ancestors without considering their actions and impact
  2. Defending ancestors without acknowledging their faults is a form of bad faith and identity politics
  3. It's more meaningful to face the world as yourself, recognizing the diverse range of experiences and personalities in your ancestry

The Nature of Evil

We're Gonna Get Those Bastards • 9 implied HN points • 08 Jan 24
📖 Philosophy Evil Human nature Virtues Success
  1. Evil is not just about extreme actions like murder or destruction, but can also be seen in subtle forms like character assassination.
  2. Hatred of the good for being good is a key aspect of evil - being envious or resentful of someone's success or virtues is a manifestation of this.
  3. Being able to genuinely celebrate and feel happy for someone else's achievements is a mark of goodness, while harboring resentment towards others for their success is a sign of evil.

Understanding human stupidity in a post-truth era

Klement on Investing • 9 implied HN points • 05 Jan 24
📖 Philosophy Human nature Reasoning Social influence Education Satire
  1. Human stupidity involves a temporary inability to properly reason, plan, or learn.
  2. Stubbornness often accompanies stupidity, making people hold on to disproven beliefs.
  3. In a post-truth era, combating human stupidity requires strong institutions, satire, education, and sometimes allowing people to face the consequences of their beliefs.

No Need For Profit

Black Lodges • 58 implied HN points • 27 Feb 23
📖 Philosophy Human nature Innovation
  1. The internet was originally intended for decentralized communication and information exchange, not profit.
  2. Questioning the belief that a profit-driven economic model guarantees progress and innovation.
  3. Greed is not a definitive trait of human nature, and alternative motivators for innovation exist beyond profit, such as public good and intrinsic motivation.

The Human Need for Frontiers

Ulysses • 39 implied HN points • 12 Jul 23
📖 Philosophy Human nature Technology Exploration Struggle
  1. The human spirit thrives on challenges and the unknown, displaying a will to power for growth and overcoming obstacles.
  2. Historically, physical frontiers provided opportunities for exploration and growth, but technology has led to their shrinkage.
  3. While technology closes some physical frontiers, it opens up new frontiers in information, communication, and innovation, providing spaces for struggle and growth.

Love Your Enemies

Based Meditations • 19 implied HN points • 29 Sep 23
📖 Philosophy Human nature Morality Conflict Nature Perspective
  1. Enemies are not just human-made, but also a fundamental force of nature due to competition for survival and resources.
  2. Embracing and understanding enemies can lead to personal growth and motivation, culminating in greatness.
  3. Conflict and competition, even with enemies, can lead to creativity, abundance, and mutualistic relationships, showcasing the importance of both love and hate in life.

into the void

alice maz • 44 implied HN points • 20 Feb 23
🎭️ Culture Science fiction Society Fantasy Worldbuilding Human nature
  1. The future depicted in sci-fi can range from harsh and plausible like 'Void Star' to sophisticated and refined like 'A Memory Called Empire'.
  2. Technology influences society by changing constraints and rewriting rules - it's not always good, but it matters.
  3. Fiction, like 'To the Stars', offers a fantasy world where incredible feats are possible through suffering and teamwork, depicting an ideal that reality often falls short of.

Short Thoughts on Desire

Autoscriptorium • 39 implied HN points • 05 Apr 23
📖 Philosophy Human nature Language Ethics
  1. There is a human compulsion to organize and categorize information to make sense of the world.
  2. Rating everything one encounters is a common habit to communicate feelings in a quantified manner.
  3. The concept of 'love' has evolved over time, from acts of ostenstion to self-oriented positive feelings.

Taste games

DYNOMIGHT INTERNET NEWSLETTER • 2 HN points • 15 Feb 24
🎭️ Culture Taste Art Social Behavior Human nature
  1. Our tastes are influenced by our social context and cultural knowledge, often unconsciously driven by benefits and social hierarchy.
  2. People gravitate towards different types of games based on their mix of economic and cultural capital.
  3. Taste games, like the choices we make in food, fashion, and art, are deeply intertwined with social status, class, and unconscious influences.

Waste Your Time, Your Life May Depend On It

The Convivial Society • 4 HN points • 12 May 23
📖 Philosophy Existentialism Ethics Technology Human nature Society
  1. Beware of falling into the 'tyranny of tiny tasks' that can lead to exhaustion and dissatisfaction.
  2. Question the societal pressure to save time and optimize efficiency, considering what tasks truly elicit fidelity and care.
  3. Embrace a form of life that values meaningful engagement, care, and relationships over productivity and automation.

The Observer Effect

Vic's Verdict • 1 implied HN point • 23 Feb 23
📖 Philosophy Ethics Human nature Education Society Nature
  1. People behave differently when they know they are being observed, leading to pseudo-events.
  2. Allowing individuals the freedom to make mistakes, while punishing those that harm others, creates a positive-sum society.
  3. Building micro-hives of collaboration and curiosity encourages improvement without the negative impact of top-down surveillance.

Fragments, Chapter 3, pp.53-9 - Reading Club posting 10

Journal of Gurdjieff Studies • 0 implied HN points • 11 Nov 22
📖 Philosophy Human nature Consciousness Evolution Individuality Knowledge
  1. Man is not a singular entity but a collection of changing 'I's, each with its own characteristics and tendencies.
  2. The evolution of man involves conscious struggle and development of untapped potential, rather than a predetermined, mechanical process.
  3. Individual human evolution is possible through self-realization and growth, but mass evolution is not in nature's interest and may be hindered by external forces.

Huxley's Vision of a Manufactured Utopia: A Review of "Brave New World"

Wayne's Earth • 0 implied HN points • 11 Oct 23
📚 Literature Dystopian Human nature
  1. Aldous Huxley's 'Brave New World' critiques a society overly reliant on technology, drugs, and control systems, warning of the dangers of sacrificing individual freedom and genuine experiences for the sake of stability and happiness.
  2. The World State in the novel represents a utopia with no war, poverty, or disease, achieved through suppression of personal freedoms and the use of tools like soma that hinder authentic emotions.
  3. Characters like Bernard and John in the novel question the values of the World State, illustrating the high cost of trading human essence for artificial contentment and the loss of deeper human connections.

The Power of Human Nature: Goethe’s Words on Motivation and Willpower

Wayne's Earth • 0 implied HN points • 27 Dec 22
📚 Literature Human nature Motivation
  1. Decisions are often influenced by emotions rather than reason, leading to actions driven by a compelling force that is not always clear.
  2. External factors like rewards or punishments, such as food or discipline, can significantly impact our actions, sometimes more than our true feelings or intentions do.
  3. It's normal to sometimes feel lost or overwhelmed, similar to how children wander about without a clear direction. These moments are a natural part of the human experience.

How Adam Smith’s Theory of Human Nature Can Help Us Be More “Lovely”

Wayne's Earth • 0 implied HN points • 18 Dec 22
📖 Philosophy Human nature Kindness Empathy Acceptance Relationships
  1. Adam Smith promoted the idea of being 'lovely' by showing kindness, generosity, humility, and empathy towards others.
  2. To be 'lovely' in our daily lives, we can get involved with our community, understand diverse perspectives, and be mindful of our actions to create positive relationships.
  3. Striving to be 'lovely' according to Adam Smith can lead to more positive relationships, understanding between different groups, and a harmonious society.

Book Review: “Wanting” by Luke Burgeis 4/5

Poczwardowski Notes • 0 implied HN points • 05 Nov 22
📖 Philosophy Desire Happiness Human nature Psychology
  1. Controlling our perception is crucial for happiness. The book delves into the origin of desires and offers strategies to prioritize significant desires over trivial ones.
  2. The book provides insights into human nature, leadership, and psychology. It goes beyond just mimicking desires to explore deeper aspects of desire and fulfillment.
  3. The author's authentic storytelling makes the book engaging and informative. It reveals intriguing facts about cognition and offers a fresh perspective on desires.

Newtons Third Law++

ExpandAI Newsletter • 0 implied HN points • 30 Jun 23
📖 Philosophy Human nature Physics
  1. Newton's Third Law states 'For every action, there is an equal and opposite reaction.'
  2. This law applies beyond physics to areas like economics, politics, and relationships.
  3. Physics was once a part of Natural Philosophy and may hold the key to understanding the universe in its entirety.