The hottest Human nature Substack posts right now

And their main takeaways
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Top Philosophy Topics

Creatures and Machines

New World Same Humans • 114 implied HN points • 14 Jan 24
📖 Philosophy Human nature
  1. The next great division could be between those who want to live as creatures and those who want to live as machines.
  2. The ongoing technology revolution could lead to a conflict between those embracing human-machine fusion and those wanting to remain fully human.
  3. New stories, visions, and ways of coexisting are needed to navigate the differences in attitudes towards technology and human nature.

Moral breadth

Philosophy bear • 107 implied HN points • 10 Jan 24
📖 Philosophy Human nature
  1. Seeing people with moral breadth means understanding they can be both good and bad.
  2. Not acknowledging moral breadth can lead to negative consequences like overlooking bad behavior.
  3. Balancing moral breadth involves recognizing both the good and bad in people, without minimizing either.

Chapter 17, pp.346-351 - Reading Club posting 62

Journal of Gurdjieff Studies • 19 implied HN points • 01 Dec 23
📖 Philosophy 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.

Restoring the Divine Order

Tessa Fights Robots • 29 implied HN points • 30 Jan 25
⛪ Faith & Spirituality Human nature
  1. We all have a lot of power to create change, but we need to understand our true nature as light. This understanding is key to making a real difference in the world.
  2. The dogmas and strict beliefs pushed by some can distract us from our connection to a higher power. It's important to be aware of how these ideas can keep us stuck and focused on the wrong things.
  3. Real healing and growth come from letting go of past traumas and raising our energy. This process allows us to see ourselves and others as pure light, capable of spreading love and understanding.

The internet amnesty: A proposal

Philosophy bear • 92 implied HN points • 26 Jan 24
📖 Philosophy Human nature
  1. In the internet age, mistakes from the past can resurface easily and damage reputations.
  2. Consider implementing a blanket amnesty policy for past actions, unless they are severe.
  3. Finding the balance in setting a bar for wrongdoings is crucial in dealing with online reputation issues.
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Can We Break the Spell?

Daniel Pinchbeck’s Newsletter • 36 implied HN points • 27 Nov 24
📖 Philosophy Human nature
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Love Your Enemies

Based Meditations • 19 implied HN points • 29 Sep 23
📖 Philosophy Human nature
  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.

Relinquishing control

Random Minds by Katherine Brodsky • 84 implied HN points • 10 Sep 23
📖 Philosophy Human nature
  1. Relinquishing control can lead to blind compliance, which has historically resulted in significant atrocities.
  2. Human nature inclines people to seek charismatic leaders, but it's important to maintain personal identity and critical thinking.
  3. To resist manipulation, individuals should develop critical thinking skills, recognize psychological manipulation tactics, and build independence.

Why Are We The Way We Are?

The Prism • 86 implied HN points • 03 Aug 23
📖 Philosophy Human nature
  1. Intelligence does not always lead to pursuing intelligent goals.
  2. Having a PhD does not guarantee being right; it can just mean being skilled at being wrong.
  3. Humans evolved to be tribal, which can lead to polarization online in the Digital Age.

Embrace Your Crookedness

The Convivial Society • 73 HN points • 27 Jul 23
📖 Philosophy Human nature
  1. Embrace the crookedness of your heart, and don't let it destroy others in your efforts to do good.
  2. Crookedness doesn't necessarily mean something is wrong; it may just be part of human nature.
  3. Resist the push for total predictability and control; embrace the inefficiency and uniqueness that crookedness brings.

Imago DEI

Reactionary Feminist • 17 implied HN points • 03 Jan 25
🕹 Technology Human nature
  1. Conservatives often accept new technology but must recognize its potential to undermine traditional values. It's tricky because embracing innovation can clash with the idea of conserving what is meaningful.
  2. There's a concern that technology is erasing the essence of what it means to be human. Some people think we need to improve humanity through tech, but this risks losing our fundamental nature.
  3. Instead of fearing technology, the focus should be on using it in ways that support our human nature. A balanced approach can lead to progress without sacrificing who we are.

thinking about time horizons

Midnight Musings • 39 implied HN points • 03 Oct 22
📖 Philosophy Human nature
  1. Short-term thinking can lead to poor decision-making and bad predictions about the future. It's important to be aware of how the media and news might shape our understanding in a narrow way.
  2. People often feel pessimistic because they focus on immediate negative events instead of longer-term progress. Expanding our view can help us see the brighter side of things and be more hopeful about the future.
  3. Understanding human nature and historical perspectives can improve our ability to strategize and make decisions. Looking deeper into ancient wisdom might provide better insights than current trends.

toward a system of neo-xunism

alice maz • 65 implied HN points • 03 Jul 23
📖 Philosophy Human nature
  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 • 71 implied HN points • 16 Apr 23
📖 Philosophy 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

Aristotle's Practical Philosophy (part 1)

Logos and Liberty • 19 implied HN points • 07 Nov 22
📖 Philosophy Human nature
  1. Aristotle's practical philosophy aims at discovering a way of life that enables individuals to use their highest faculties and communities to support this way of life.
  2. The key components of 'Eudaimonia' according to Aristotle are virtue, love, and the contemplative life.
  3. Human happiness, for Aristotle, is strongly influenced by the quality of human relationships and the social context surrounding those relationships.

The Haves and the Havents: Interlude

Carefree Sketches • 19 implied HN points • 22 Jul 22
📖 Philosophy Human nature
  1. When we say 'I like you' to someone, it involves a certain conceit and value judgment based on rational parameters.
  2. Liking someone involves weighing various values such as amenity, rank, purpose, and affinity, and assigning them a value.
  3. Contrasting 'I like you' with 'I love you,' love is seen as irrational, residing in the heart, while liking is a more reasoned and intellectual process.

into the void

alice maz • 41 implied HN points • 20 Feb 23
🎭️ Culture 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.

Locke Versus the Apocalypse

From the New World • 5 implied HN points • 06 Dec 24
📖 Philosophy Human nature
  1. AI shows us who we are by reflecting our behavior and ignoring parts we often overlook. This makes us think about our own nature and how we connect with others.
  2. There are two main views on human nature: one believes in communal consensus for the good of all, while the other supports individual interests leading to social good. Each side has different ideas about how society should work.
  3. The question of political consensus is complex and has been debated for a long time. Understanding these views can help us make sense of modern political disagreements.

The Sorcerer's Apprentice

Reactionary Feminist • 18 implied HN points • 30 Jun 23
📖 Philosophy Human nature
  1. Modern tech brings power but also great responsibility or temptation.
  2. Art has long warned about the dangers of wielding power without understanding its consequences.
  3. Exploring tech that aligns with human nature may offer a more balanced approach than seeking to escape it.

Rabbit Holes 🕳️ #57

Creative Destruction • 13 implied HN points • 15 Nov 23
📖 Philosophy Human nature
  1. Self-sufficiency mindset is valuable in a modern world reliant on convenience and technology
  2. Practicing subtraction can lead to mental clarity and better performance
  3. Capitalism cultivates a sense of constant insecurity, impacting everyone at various levels

The Nature of Evil

We're Gonna Get Those Bastards • 9 implied HN points • 08 Jan 24
📖 Philosophy Human nature
  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.

Josef Mengele Broke Reality

Square Circle • 11 implied HN points • 26 Apr 23
📖 Philosophy Human nature
  1. Josef Mengele committed horrifying acts of evil in the name of 'research'.
  2. Mengele's actions defy naturalistic explanations, showing depth of evil beyond the physical world.
  3. His atrocities challenge us to confront the existence of metaphysical evil and the need for a higher moral elevation.

What Are Humans For?

The Permanent Problem • 5 implied HN points • 01 Aug 23
📖 Philosophy Human nature
  1. Automation and technological advancements have the potential to lead to mass unemployment.
  2. Humans need to consider their purpose in a world where machines can do tasks more efficiently.
  3. Human flourishing involves connecting with others, exploring the world, and taking care of life on Earth.

Taste games

DYNOMIGHT INTERNET NEWSLETTER • 2 HN points • 15 Feb 24
🎭️ Culture 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.

The Observer Effect

Vic's Verdict • 1 implied HN point • 23 Feb 23
📖 Philosophy Human 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.

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

Wayne's Earth • 0 implied HN points • 11 Oct 23
📚 Literature 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.

Newtons Third Law++

ExpandAI Newsletter • 0 implied HN points • 30 Jun 23
📖 Philosophy Human nature
  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.

The final solution to hate

(hector egbert) • 0 implied HN points • 26 May 23
📖 Philosophy Human nature
  1. Hate is a common occurrence in the modern world, fueled by differences and technology.
  2. Hate is rooted in the need for self-preservation and can be justified by various reasons.
  3. Efforts to promote tolerance have sometimes led to increased hate and societal tensions.