The hottest Knowledge Substack posts right now

And their main takeaways
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Top Technology Topics

Why to explain things you already know

Overthinking Everything β€’ 279 implied HN points β€’ 26 Sep 23
πŸ“– Philosophy Understanding Knowledge Teaching Engagement
  1. Sometimes explaining something you already know can help you understand it better.
  2. Vertical explanations build on existing knowledge, while lateral explanations connect different parts of your knowledge.
  3. Lateral explanations can create a more solid foundation for understanding, making it easier to build vertical explanations on top.

In Praise of Passivity

Fake NoΓ»s β€’ 277 implied HN points β€’ 23 Sep 23
πŸ“– Philosophy Knowledge Values Rationality Social theory
  1. History shows that solutions without proper knowledge often do more harm than good.
  2. Public ignorance and the dismissal of expert advice are major obstacles in policymaking.
  3. Rational ignorance, lack of clear motives, and the complexity of social issues contribute to our inability to effectively address societal problems.

My Cup Runneth Over

Investing 101 β€’ 46 implied HN points β€’ 19 Oct 24
πŸ“– Philosophy Beliefs Wisdom Learning Knowledge Decision-making
  1. It's really important to figure out what you believe and why you believe it. By understanding your beliefs, you can make better decisions in life.
  2. Learning isn't just good for personal growth; it's also important for keeping a free society. When people are informed, they can make better choices as citizens.
  3. When exploring ideas, try to do so based on your own research instead of just following popular trends. This way, you can discover unique insights that others might overlook.
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Introducing not-knowing.

The Uncertainty Mindset (soon to become tbd) β€’ 199 implied HN points β€’ 11 Jan 23
πŸ“– Philosophy Uncertainty Knowledge Decision-making Existentialism Cognition
  1. Understanding not-knowing helps us deal with uncertainty in our lives. It’s important to recognize that we often face different types of not-knowing that affect our decision-making.
  2. The world is more interconnected today, which means uncertainties can spread faster. We need to be aware that one issue in one part of the world can quickly impact others.
  3. It's important to accept that we can't know everything. Recognizing our limits can help us manage our emotions better and make clearer decisions in uncertain situations.

Inadmissable knowledge: Introducing a concept

Philosophy bear β€’ 107 implied HN points β€’ 11 Nov 23
πŸ“– Philosophy Ethics Knowledge Consequentialism
  1. Inadmissible knowledge refers to information that should not be considered in certain contexts to avoid unethical decisions.
  2. In some cases, what is inadmissible in one situation may become admissible in another, depending on the impact of possible harms.
  3. Using inadmissible knowledge may create an obligation to act tactfully and with kindness, especially in exceptions to its application.

Don't Shoot the Philosopher: Ethics and the Pursuit of Moral Integrity

Humanities in Revolt β€’ 139 implied HN points β€’ 02 Jul 22
πŸ“– Philosophy Ethics Morality Beliefs Knowledge Humanity
  1. Ethics and morality are frequently confused, but they have distinct meanings and play vital roles in personal, social, and political contexts
  2. Philosophy through ethics challenges us to critically examine our moral beliefs and strive for intellectual integrity
  3. Thinking ethically requires addressing complex moral questions, confronting inconsistencies, and engaging in meaningful dialogue to enhance mutual understanding

Great Investors See Things Differently (Are Mental Models Actually Pointless?)

Neckar’s Notes β€’ 153 implied HN points β€’ 19 May 23
πŸ’° Finance Investing Mental models Knowledge Curiosity Experience
  1. Great investors have a unique perspective that allows them to know more and perceive better than others.
  2. Accumulating knowledge and remaining open-minded are key traits for successful investing.
  3. Successful investors are curious, open-minded, and willing to update their beliefs based on new information.

On Education

Smarter Thinking β€’ 39 implied HN points β€’ 01 Mar 23
🚌 Education Mental models Knowledge Skills
  1. Getting a degree is important, but education is an ongoing process beyond school.
  2. Building accurate mental models through education is crucial for better reasoning.
  3. Education not only imparts knowledge but also equips you with skills to apply what you've learned.

How you can quickly retrieve solution so you can improve productivity

Weekend Developer β€’ 39 implied HN points β€’ 22 Jul 23
πŸ•Ή Technology Organization Information Management Productivity Tools Knowledge
  1. The PARA framework can help organize digital information into Projects, Areas, Resources, and Archives to improve productivity.
  2. With the PARA framework, information is stored based on when you plan to act on it, making it easier to access and utilize.
  3. Tools like Evernote, Notion, and Roam Research can be used to implement the dynamic PARA system and have information accessible across devices.

Rabbitholes as Portals

Working Theorys β€’ 35 implied HN points β€’ 14 Mar 24
πŸ“– Philosophy Curiosity Knowledge Learning Purpose Existence
  1. Delving into rabbitholes, or diving deep into random topics out of curiosity, can lead to valuable and unique knowledge.
  2. Rabbitholes can offer unexpected insights and lead you to passionate areas you never knew you cared about.
  3. It's crucial to differentiate between rabbitholes that are traps, focusing on winning a game, and those that are portals to genuine learning experiences.

Post Replications!

Cremieux Recueil β€’ 72 implied HN points β€’ 25 Aug 23
πŸ”¬ Science Genetics Research Knowledge
  1. Public support for gene therapies and embryo selection is increasing, especially among educated individuals and those who would benefit from these technologies.
  2. There is a debate about whether knowledge is empowering or dangerous, with some advocating for caution in sharing scientific findings to avoid offense or harm.
  3. A study on attitudes towards gene therapy in infertility patients showed a high acceptance rate for various genetic editing purposes, with varying levels of acceptance based on political, religious, and educational backgrounds.

Audio Dispatch for Paid Subscribers (9)

The Joyous Struggle β€’ 19 implied HN points β€’ 19 Nov 23
β›ͺ Faith & Spirituality Celebration Reflections Poetry Knowledge Connection
  1. The post discusses musings on Diwali, reflections on props used in a speech, and the zetetic knowing concept.
  2. There is a reading from a book by David Hinton that explores poetry's attempt to describe our contact with reality.
  3. Substack serves as a platform encouraging continued writing, thinking, and sharing among people.

Overloading and appropriation

The Uncertainty Mindset (soon to become tbd) β€’ 39 implied HN points β€’ 17 May 23
πŸ“– Philosophy Language Knowledge Epistemology Uncertainty
  1. Overloading 'risk' means using the word for many situations that aren't really risky. This can lead to confusion and poor decision-making because we apply the wrong methods to deal with those situations.
  2. Appropriating 'uncertainty' refers to using the term in ways that suggest it can be easily measured or controlled. This misleads us into thinking we can manage all unknowns when some can't be quantified and should be treated differently.
  3. Both overloading and appropriation give us a false sense of comfort. They make scary unknown situations feel more manageable when, in reality, we might be ignoring important nuances.

Knowledge vs. Understanding

Integrity Talk β€’ 66 implied HN points β€’ 27 Aug 23
🎭️ Culture Knowledge Understanding Narrative Social media AI
  1. The distinction between knowledge and understanding is essential: knowledge focuses on facts, while understanding delves deeper into the meaning behind the facts.
  2. Storytelling is a fundamental part of how humans communicate and understand the world around them.
  3. Using AI to synthesize information may lead to an increase in misinformation and a lack of in-depth understanding.

On books

PartiallyNerdy, sometimes fully too! β€’ 2 HN points β€’ 03 Jul 24
πŸ“š Literature Books Reading Knowledge
  1. Books are physical manifestations of potential and represent the hopes and dreams of humanity materialized.
  2. Saying goodbye to unread books can evoke a sense of loss and regret for the untapped knowledge and experiences they contain.
  3. Despite the pain of leaving behind unread books, the act of holding onto physical books serves as a symbol of hope and the possibility of transformation.

Truth in Inconvenience

Breaking Smart β€’ 90 implied HN points β€’ 25 Feb 23
πŸ•Ή Technology AI Data Engineering Knowledge Reality
  1. Real-world friction connects big zeitgeist things and teaches about truth in inconvenience.
  2. Meccano vs Lego: Meccano models offer higher realism, messiness and inconveniences, while Legos offer convenience and smoothness.
  3. AI entering the world may encounter a real, high-interest world like a Meccano world, where knowledge shock requires adjusting ambitions to balance design knowledge and friction knowledge.

CxDπŸ“š'23 #14: ⭐️⭐️⭐️ The History of Philosophy

CxD Newsletter β€’ 19 implied HN points β€’ 16 Mar 23
πŸ“– 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.

illusory expertise

Midnight Musings β€’ 39 implied HN points β€’ 05 Dec 22
πŸ“– Philosophy Self-reflection Knowledge Confidence Human behavior Cognitive Biases
  1. People often think they know more than they really do, which is called the Dunning-Kruger effect. This means we can be really confident but also very clueless at the same time.
  2. It's common to focus on sharing our opinions rather than listening to others. This can lead to misunderstandings and make it harder to work together and empathize with different viewpoints.
  3. Knowledge comes in two types: explicit (things you can easily write down) and tacit (things learned through experience). True understanding requires experience, not just knowing facts.

βœ… Research management: keeping track of literature and building knowledge

Wadds Inc. newsletter β€’ 19 implied HN points β€’ 15 Jun 23
🚌 Education Research Management Tools Literature Knowledge
  1. Research management software needs to improve. Many current options just store information but don't help in building knowledge.
  2. Using tools like Notion can improve how you track and review research materials. You can create a system that organizes and summarizes papers effectively.
  3. It's important to find smarter tools and methods for research management instead of just using what's popular. Breaking tasks down can help you work better and more efficiently.

Contrasts between Aristotelianism and Liberalism

Logos and Liberty β€’ 19 implied HN points β€’ 13 Dec 22
πŸ“– Philosophy Ethics Metaphysics Politics Religion Knowledge
  1. Aristotle's value theory focuses on what people should want, while Liberal value theory is based on what people do want.
  2. Aristotle emphasizes the importance of human association within a community, while Liberalism tends to focus on individualism to an extreme extent.
  3. Aristotle acknowledges spirituality and a transcendent reality, contrasting with the scientistic approach of many Liberal thinkers.

Why Math Mondays

Technology Made Simple β€’ 19 implied HN points β€’ 14 Mar 22
🚌 Education Math Interview Preparation Knowledge Data Structures Algorithms
  1. Understanding the importance of Math in preparation can help with solving problems better.
  2. Knowledge about subjects, problem interpretation, and connections between topics are crucial in problem-solving.
  3. Math Mondays aim to show how mathematical knowledge can enhance problem-solving skills and help make connections between different concepts.

Introducing: The Pole | #0

The Pole β€’ 19 implied HN points β€’ 16 Jan 22
πŸ“– Philosophy Truth Knowledge Ethics Communication Self-awareness Game Theory Morality
  1. Truth is what's consistent with reality, and knowledge is the relevant, useful part of truth that helps us understand and better ourselves.
  2. Making mistakes is inevitable, but learning from them can lead to positive outcomes like saving time, making money, and achieving great things.
  3. The Pole newsletter aims to explore self-awareness, game theory, investing, engineering, and more to help readers understand how to obtain good results.

What is Price Theory?

Economic Forces β€’ 7 implied HN points β€’ 05 Oct 23
🚌 Education Economics Models Theory Knowledge Opportunity Cost
  1. Price theory focuses on analyzing how real world agents arrive at agreeable prices through a process of exchange.
  2. Price theory emphasizes that competition is omnipresent and considers how firms strategically respond to rivals in a competitive context.
  3. Prices coordinate economic behavior across markets, carry important information, and contribute to resolving the coordination problem through mechanisms beyond price changes.

interestingness on demand

visa's voltaic verses ⚑️ β€’ 13 implied HN points β€’ 09 Jun 23
πŸ“š Literature Philosophy Self-reflection Expression Creativity Knowledge
  1. Life is a balance between the joy and curse of pursuing interestingness as a job.
  2. Strive to be interesting without trying too hard, walking the fine line of not exhausting the pursuit of interestingness.
  3. Internal conflict and perfectionism can hinder creativity; embracing imperfection and inner peace can lead to authentic expression.