The hottest Knowledge Substack posts right now

And their main takeaways
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Top Technology Topics

Introducing not-knowing.

The Uncertainty Mindset (soon to become tbd) β€’ 199 implied HN points β€’ 11 Jan 23
πŸ“– Philosophy Knowledge
  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.

Links to Consider, 2/22

In My Tribe β€’ 243 implied HN points β€’ 22 Feb 24
πŸ“– Philosophy Knowledge
  1. The concept of equalitarianism promotes the idea that groups are equal, but in reality, this ideology leads to harmful outcomes and false narratives.
  2. Traditional economic measurements may not fully account for unpaid work like caregiving, which can distort GDP calculations and signify the need for broader economic perspectives.
  3. Philosophy, unlike settled scientific areas, remains a field of exploration for unresolved questions, making classic philosophical texts important for contemplating ongoing uncertainties.

65 Years β€œTwo Cultures” – Time for a Celebration?

Heterodox STEM β€’ 92 implied HN points β€’ 29 Dec 24
🎭️ Culture Knowledge
  1. There's a divide between the humanities and STEM fields, which can lead to a lack of understanding and cooperation. This split has been growing over the years and is sometimes seen as a 'culture war.'
  2. Non-knowledgeable behaviors, like group think and over-emphasizing feelings, are affecting how knowledge is developed and shared. It's important to stick to processes that encourage truth and understanding.
  3. In academia, different cognitive traits can be found in STEM compared to the humanities. Recognizing these differences might help us understand the ongoing issues in knowledge creation and communication.

In Praise of Passivity

Fake NoΓ»s β€’ 277 implied HN points β€’ 23 Sep 23
πŸ“– Philosophy Knowledge
  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.

Why to explain things you already know

Overthinking Everything β€’ 279 implied HN points β€’ 26 Sep 23
πŸ“– Philosophy Knowledge
  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.
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The Illegible Real

What Is Called Thinking? β€’ 53 implied HN points β€’ 20 Feb 25
πŸ“– Philosophy Knowledge
  1. Tacit knowledge, or understanding gained from experience, is very important and can't always be explained by rules or theories. It's like how a farmer knows their land or a musician feels the right moment to improvise.
  2. The world often values what can be measured and categorized, but this can miss the deeper, lived knowledge that guides real-life decisions. There's more to learning than just reading books or following formal education.
  3. In a future filled with data and technology, the ability to mix both formal knowledge and experiential wisdom will be really valuable. It's important to recognize the strengths and limitations of both types of knowledge.

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 Knowledge
  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

Trivially Important Semantic Context

Brain Lenses β€’ 39 implied HN points β€’ 21 Mar 23
πŸ”¬ Science Knowledge
  1. Our minds can extend beyond our brains into tools and spaces we use.
  2. We might overestimate our capabilities after experiencing 'fluent experiences'.
  3. Tools and knowledge in our environment can influence our confidence and what we think we know.

On Education

Smarter Thinking β€’ 39 implied HN points β€’ 01 Mar 23
🚌 Education Knowledge
  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 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.

The Screens are the Symptom.

Data: Made Not Found (by danah) β€’ 153 implied HN points β€’ 26 Sep 23
πŸ“š Literature Knowledge
  1. Fahrenheit 451 warns about the dangers of banning books and substituting knowledge with screens.
  2. The book also critiques societal attitudes towards children in the 1950s.
  3. It highlights the importance of not just fighting symptoms, but understanding the structural conditions that enable repression.

My Cup Runneth Over

Investing 101 β€’ 46 implied HN points β€’ 19 Oct 24
πŸ“– Philosophy Knowledge
  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.

Overloading and appropriation

The Uncertainty Mindset (soon to become tbd) β€’ 39 implied HN points β€’ 17 May 23
πŸ“– Philosophy Knowledge
  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.

Inadmissable knowledge: Introducing a concept

Philosophy bear β€’ 107 implied HN points β€’ 11 Nov 23
πŸ“– Philosophy Knowledge
  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.

On books

PartiallyNerdy, sometimes fully too! β€’ 2 HN points β€’ 03 Jul 24
πŸ“š Literature 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.

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

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

Pawel about Pawel

Pav writes β€’ 19 implied HN points β€’ 03 Jun 23
🚌 Education Knowledge
  1. PaweΕ‚ values distilling knowledge and brevity in writing
  2. He aims to overcome cognitive biases and prioritize precision in arguments
  3. PaweΕ‚'s writing focuses on simplicity and communicating complex ideas in an understandable way

Position to Know

The End(s) of Argument β€’ 19 implied HN points β€’ 11 Jul 23
🚌 Education Knowledge
  1. Facts are things generally undisputed by those in a position to know.
  2. Being in a 'position to know' entails having expertise or opportunity to understand a situation.
  3. When evaluating sources, it's crucial to consider what unique perspective or knowledge each person brings to the table.

Why the Principle of Sufficient Reason is Self-Evident and its Criticisms are Self-Defeating

Ethics Under Construction β€’ 20 implied HN points β€’ 01 Feb 25
πŸ“– Philosophy Knowledge
  1. The Principle of Sufficient Reason (PSR) states that everything has a reason for existing. It means for every fact, there's an explanation behind it.
  2. Critics of the PSR often make self-defeating arguments because they need reasons to argue against it. Thus, denying the PSR actually supports its validity.
  3. PSR is important for understanding the world and making sense of knowledge. It encourages us to seek underlying reasons rather than accept things as random.

Predicting Future Knowledge

Unfashionable β€’ 114 implied HN points β€’ 10 Mar 23
πŸ”¬ Science Knowledge
  1. We can't predict all future knowledge because if we could, we'd already have it.
  2. By looking at incentives and motives, we can make educated guesses about future scientific findings.
  3. It's important to be skeptical of information that comes from sources with vested interests or under external pressures.

illusory expertise

Midnight Musings β€’ 39 implied HN points β€’ 05 Dec 22
πŸ“– Philosophy Knowledge
  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 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.

Post Replications!

Cremieux Recueil β€’ 72 implied HN points β€’ 25 Aug 23
πŸ”¬ Science 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.

Knowledge vs. Understanding

Integrity Talk β€’ 66 implied HN points β€’ 27 Aug 23
🎭️ Culture Knowledge
  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.

Truth in Inconvenience

Breaking Smart β€’ 90 implied HN points β€’ 25 Feb 23
πŸ•Ή Technology Knowledge
  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.

Rabbitholes as Portals

Working Theorys β€’ 35 implied HN points β€’ 14 Mar 24
πŸ“– Philosophy Knowledge
  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.

Contrasts between Aristotelianism and Liberalism

Logos and Liberty β€’ 19 implied HN points β€’ 13 Dec 22
πŸ“– Philosophy 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.

Help Technically get better next year

Technically β€’ 10 implied HN points β€’ 19 Dec 24
πŸ•Ή Technology Knowledge
  1. Technically wants to improve in 2025, and they need feedback from users to do that.
  2. They have two surveys: one to help organize their learning materials and another to find out what AI topics users want to learn about.
  3. Participating in the surveys is quick and easy, and it will help make Technically more valuable for everyone next year.

Why Math Mondays

Technology Made Simple β€’ 19 implied HN points β€’ 14 Mar 22
🚌 Education Knowledge
  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 Knowledge
  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.

The accumulation of knowledge

Theory Matters β€’ 21 implied HN points β€’ 29 May 23
πŸ“– Philosophy Knowledge
  1. Living in an era of information abundance can make us feel like we do not have enough time.
  2. Reflecting on what we learn may be more beneficial than constantly striving for productivity.
  3. Focusing on constant productivity can lead to anxiety and a false sense of progress.

Meta-knowledge

Metarational β€’ 19 implied HN points β€’ 26 Apr 21
🚌 Education Knowledge
  1. Meta-knowledge involves the understanding of other people's knowledge, leading to concepts like meta-meta-knowledge and common knowledge.
  2. Puzzles, like the blue eyes puzzle, are great examples to demonstrate the complexity and power of different levels of meta-knowledge.
  3. Understanding meta-knowledge is crucial in various contexts, helping to make sense of social customs and intuitions that may otherwise seem arbitrary or senseless.