The hottest Logic Substack posts right now

And their main takeaways
Category
Top Philosophy Topics

The Counterexample Comparison Confusion

Mon0’s Substack • 19 implied HN points • 08 Nov 23
📖 Philosophy Logic
  1. People often confuse counterexamples with comparisons in discussions. Instead of addressing the counterexample, they just argue about the differences.
  2. When someone provides a counterexample, it's important to either explain why it doesn't apply or adjust your original statement to include it.
  3. Recognizing this confusion can help make conversations clearer and more productive, leading to better understanding and discussion.

Problem 62: Arrange Robots by Model[Brilliant]

Technology Made Simple • 39 implied HN points • 27 Oct 22
🕹 Technology Logic
  1. The post discusses a puzzle about arranging robots by model, focusing on logic and problem-solving skills without coding.
  2. The author encourages readers to fill out surveys, engage with the content, and consider a premium subscription for more benefits.
  3. There is a special request for readers to support the newsletter's visibility by recommending it on Substack, showcasing community engagement.

The Parks puzzle

A Piece of the Pi: mathematics explained • 36 implied HN points • 11 Nov 24
🚌 Education Logic
  1. The Parks puzzle is a game where you place trees on a grid with specific rules, similar to Sudoku. Each row, column, and park needs a certain number of trees without them being next to each other.
  2. While checking if a proposed solution is correct is easy, finding that solution can be quite complex. Researchers found that the Parks puzzle belongs to a group of difficult problems called NP-complete.
  3. The puzzle can be used to model logical operations like AND and OR. This means it has connections to computer science concepts and can help explore complex problems.
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McKeon on Reasonableness

The End(s) of Argument • 19 implied HN points • 30 Jun 23
📖 Philosophy Logic
  1. Distinguishing between explanations and arguments is key - explanations provide reasons for the speaker, while arguments aim for the listener to adopt a position.
  2. When explaining something to someone, the goal is for them to understand your reasons or beliefs, even if you're not trying to change their mind.
  3. The concept of 'reasonableness' in online discourse challenges the traditional debate about intent, emphasizing a broader goal of argument that encompasses expression, explanation, and persuasion.

Interpretability

Infinitely More • 28 implied HN points • 30 Nov 24
📖 Philosophy Logic
  1. In math, we can understand one idea by using another. It's like using different languages to explain the same thing.
  2. Sometimes, when we translate ideas back and forth, we lose some meaning, similar to playing a game of telephone.
  3. To make this work, we create special objects in a new system that can help us relate and understand the original idea better.

A Kingdom of Wisdom

CTOrly • 39 implied HN points • 08 Aug 22
📖 Philosophy Logic
  1. Leadership requires philosophy, not just logic, to navigate people's irrationality.
  2. Being reasonable often trumps being purely rational in dealing with people.
  3. Mental models are better tools than logical formulas for understanding and interacting with people.

Problem 55:Playlist with Buffer[Apple]

Technology Made Simple • 39 implied HN points • 07 Sep 22
🕹 Technology Logic
  1. The post discusses a problem related to creating a suitable music playlist for a road trip, requiring a certain number of songs and buffer between repeats.
  2. It emphasizes the importance of dynamic programming, logic, and combinatorics in solving the mentioned playlist problem.
  3. The post also includes requests to engage with and share the newsletter, showcasing the value of community support and feedback.

Problem 78: Finding the Distance between 2 sets[Goldman Sachs]

Technology Made Simple • 19 implied HN points • 09 Mar 23
🕹 Technology Logic
  1. The problem discusses finding the distance between two sets in math and problem-solving contexts, with connections to logic and generation.
  2. Terms like R^n and |x| are explained, providing insight into real number n-dimensional spaces and calculating distances.
  3. The post encourages solving rare interview-style questions, useful for senior positions or competitive programs, showcasing the value of handling diverse problem scenarios.

Chomp

Infinitely More • 20 implied HN points • 31 Jan 25
🎭️ Culture Logic
  1. The game Chomp involves two players taking turns biting from a chocolate bar, and the goal is to avoid being the one to take the last bite. Players remove chocolate squares from the lower-left, taking away everything above and to the right of their chosen square.
  2. Winning strategies in Chomp can depend on whether you're going first or second, especially based on the size of the chocolate bar. Players need to think carefully about their moves to ensure they don't end up losing.
  3. Chomp is not just a fun game; it also teaches lessons about strategy and decision-making in game theory. Understanding how to analyze your options can give you an edge in winning.

In Deeper Darkness

What Is Called Thinking? • 106 implied HN points • 22 May 23
📖 Philosophy Logic
  1. Following knowledge may lead to deeper darkness than following action.
  2. The opposite of error is not truth, but another kind of error.
  3. Many traditions emphasize the importance of acknowledging one's own darkness and moving towards an affirmative stance.

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

Ethics Under Construction • 20 implied HN points • 01 Feb 25
📖 Philosophy Logic
  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.

[Solution]Problem 74: Find the First True in a Sorted Boolean Array [Stripe]

Technology Made Simple • 19 implied HN points • 10 Feb 23
🕹 Technology Logic
  1. The post discusses a problem of finding the first true in a sorted boolean array, sharing a solution and inviting readers to think about a key concept that helps in solving more challenging problems.
  2. The key concept highlighted in the post aims to enhance fundamental concepts, problem-solving skills, and preparation for Leetcode-style interviews.
  3. By focusing on solving problems and reinforcing fundamental concepts, one can better prepare for coding interviews and enhance problem-solving abilities.

[Solution]Problem 41: Create your own Datastructure with O(1) Time complexity (Dropbox)

Technology Made Simple • 39 implied HN points • 11 Jun 22
🕹 Technology Logic
  1. Creating a data structure with O(1) time complexity involves implementing functions like plus, minus, get_max, and get_min efficiently.
  2. Utilizing a Doubly Linked List allows for maintaining a sorted collection of keys, enabling quick access to elements with the lowest and highest values.
  3. Developing algorithms to handle key count increments and decrements while preserving the sorted order of the linked list is crucial for a functional solution.

Interpretability of theories

Infinitely More • 17 implied HN points • 11 Jan 25
📖 Philosophy Logic
  1. You can understand one theory by interpreting it through another theory. This means translating ideas from one set of concepts to another.
  2. Interpreting theories involves a consistent method to show how one theory fits within the framework of another. It connects the ideas and structures from both.
  3. The host theory provides a detailed explanation of how the interpreted theory operates, using only its own language and concepts. This helps clarify the relationships between different theories.

[Solution]Problem 38: Power Function[Stripe]

Technology Made Simple • 39 implied HN points • 20 May 22
🕹 Technology Logic
  1. The problem focuses on implementing a power function without using built-in functions, showcasing the importance of base mathematical operations.
  2. Starting with a simple brute-force solution can lead to more efficient solutions and impress interviewers by demonstrating a structured problem-solving approach.
  3. Optimizations can be made by leveraging mathematics to improve the linear time complexity of the solution.

Problem 38: Power Function[Stripe]

Technology Made Simple • 39 implied HN points • 19 May 22
🕹 Technology Logic
  1. The post discusses implementing a power function that calculates x raised to the power n without using built-in functions, focusing on math, logic, optimization, and recursion.
  2. Examples of the power function implementation are provided with input-output pairs to demonstrate how it should work.
  3. There is a special request for feedback and sharing of topics for future focus, along with encouragement to explore additional content and subscribe for further tips and assistance.

What is a "Reason"?

Ethics Under Construction • 15 implied HN points • 08 Feb 25
📖 Philosophy Logic
  1. A 'reason' is simply an objective explanation for something. It helps us understand truths by shedding light on unclear ideas.
  2. Objective explanations are thoughts that anyone can understand, giving everyone a similar view of the truth.
  3. To count as a reason, an explanation must be clear, logical, and able to be comprehended by anyone, not just a particular individual.

Problem 70: Pow(x,n) [Amazon]

Technology Made Simple • 19 implied HN points • 22 Dec 22
🕹 Technology Logic
  1. The post discusses the problem of calculating x raised to the power n, providing examples and constraints.
  2. The newsletter offers resources for AI and Machine Learning updates, with a free weekly summary available.
  3. There are promotions within the post, including discounts for newsletter subscriptions and sponsored segments.

Finding Fifteen

Infinitely More • 15 implied HN points • 20 Jan 25
🚌 Education Logic
  1. Finding Fifteen is a game where two players try to pick numbers that add up to 15. It's a fun way to learn about strategy and competition.
  2. Players take turns choosing numbers between 1 and 9, and they can't repeat numbers. The first player to use three numbers that sum to 15 wins.
  3. Some moves can be forced, meaning players may have to make certain choices to avoid losing immediately. This adds a layer of strategy to the game.

Mutual and bi-interpretation of models

Infinitely More • 17 implied HN points • 14 Dec 24
📖 Philosophy Logic
  1. Mutual interpretation means that two models can understand each other. Each model can be explained using the features of the other.
  2. When you interpret one model within another, it creates a loop of understanding. You can go back and forth between the two models, revealing deeper connections.
  3. Bi-interpretability is when both models not only understand each other but are actually related in a stronger way. This offers even more insights into their structure.

Permutations and combinations

Infinitely More • 17 implied HN points • 17 Nov 24
🚌 Education Logic
  1. A permutation is just a way to rearrange a list of objects. For example, with three letters like 'a', 'b', and 'c', you can arrange them in six different ways.
  2. The factorial of a number shows how many ways you can arrange that many objects. For example, 5! equals 120 because it's 5 times 4 times 3 times 2 times 1.
  3. When choosing items from a group without caring about the order, we use combinations. The formula for this is called 'n choose k', which helps calculate how many ways you can select items.

Buses Are For Commuting Not Polluting

Living Fossils • 6 implied HN points • 11 Jun 25
📖 Philosophy Logic
  1. Complex systems like transportation networks can create unintended effects, which means just because they cause pollution doesn't mean that's their goal.
  2. Birds and buses have functions, but we can't always tell what they were designed for based on what they do; one must look deeper to understand their true purpose.
  3. Some people might ignore logic about these systems just to attack others and blame them for negative outcomes, even when those effects were not intended.

Finite and infinite games

The Jolly Contrarian • 39 implied HN points • 17 Apr 22
📖 Philosophy Logic
  1. Carse distinguishes between finite games, which have fixed rules and a clear winner, and infinite games, which have no fixed rules and aim to continue playing without winners or losers.
  2. Infinite games are inclusive and allow for fluid boundaries, while finite games are exclusive and dominate attention while being played.
  3. It's crucial in life to discern when you are involved in finite games aimed at winning, and when you are part of infinite play focused on continuing and evolving.

The game of Nim

Infinitely More • 10 implied HN points • 07 Feb 25
🚌 Education Logic
  1. The game of Nim is based on a smart mathematical strategy that lets informed players almost always win against those who don't know the trick.
  2. In Nim, players take turns removing coins from piles, and the goal is to take the last coin to win.
  3. Anyone, even kids, can learn the winning strategy and easily beat more experienced players who don't know it.

The 15 Hats Problem

Metarational • 59 implied HN points • 23 Apr 21
🔬 Science Logic
  1. The 15 Hats Problem is a complex brain teaser that involves guessing the color of hats based on a strategy involving bitwise XOR operations.
  2. Strategies for simpler versions of the problem, like 3 hats, helped in understanding and developing a winning strategy for the 15 hats scenario.
  3. The key to solving the 15 Hats Problem involves clever observations about modular arithmetic, powers of 2, and the use of bitwise XOR operations.

Yes, Non-Existent Entities Exist (Part 1: The Nature of Abstract Objects)

Ethics Under Construction • 10 implied HN points • 26 Jan 25
📖 Philosophy Logic
  1. Abstract objects, like numbers and concepts, can exist independently of physical reality. Even though we can't touch them, they still have a place in our understanding of the world.
  2. Thinking proves our existence, which means thoughts must also exist. You can't doubt your own thinking; without thoughts, you can't claim to exist.
  3. For a thought to count as an objective idea, it needs to be understandable to others. If something is too private or confusing, it isn't a true thought that can be shared.

The eventual domination order

Infinitely More • 30 implied HN points • 11 Jan 24
🔬 Science Logic
  1. The eventual domination order involves comparing functions in a specific way
  2. In the eventual domination order, every countable sequence of functions is strictly bounded
  3. This order prohibits one from climbing a simple ladder to reach the top

[Solution]Problem 45:Robot Bounded In Circle [Amazon]

Technology Made Simple • 19 implied HN points • 07 Jul 22
🕹 Technology Logic
  1. Math and logic are essential in problem-solving as they can help analyze and solve complex scenarios.
  2. Understanding periodicity in functions can be applied to analyze repetitive patterns in problems with infinite instructions.
  3. Analyzing the impact of direction and location in a periodic function can reveal insights on the behavior of a system over time, leading to accurate solutions.

The interpretation translation

Infinitely More • 10 implied HN points • 07 Dec 24
🔬 Science Logic
  1. You can interpret one mathematical structure using another, which helps express features of the first in terms of the second. This means you find a way to connect different types of math using a common language.
  2. There are many examples of this interpretation, like placing integers inside natural numbers or examining complex numbers through real numbers. These examples show how different math concepts relate to each other.
  3. Understanding how to interpret structures can help us explore logic more deeply, opening up new ways of thinking in math, philosophy, and computer science.

The Science of Science

The Palindrome • 3 implied HN points • 30 Jul 25
🔬 Science Logic
  1. Thinking in terms of probabilities helps us make better judgments when we are not certain. Unlike absolute truths, we can measure how likely something is to be true instead.
  2. Bayes' theorem allows us to update our beliefs based on new evidence. This means we can make smarter decisions by adjusting our understanding as we gather more information.
  3. To figure out causes from effects, we can use conditional probabilities. This helps us connect symptoms, like a headache and sore throat, to possible underlying issues, like the flu, in a more accurate way.

[Solution]Problem 39: Find the Celebrity[Pintrest]

Technology Made Simple • 19 implied HN points • 27 May 22
🕹 Technology Logic
  1. The problem involves finding a celebrity at a party who everyone knows, but who doesn't know anyone in return. A brute force approach of comparing every pair of people at the party can be used, but it is slow with O(N^2) complexity.
  2. It is essential to analyze why a solution is inefficient to brainstorm and develop an optimal solution efficiently. By utilizing constraints given in the problem, like the knowledge asymmetry between the celebrity and others, the time and space complexity can be significantly reduced to O(N) and O(1) respectively.
  3. In problem-solving, understanding and applying constraints effectively can lead to substantial improvements in both time and space complexity, making solutions more efficient and optimal.

We're going to be alright

davidj.substack • 11 implied HN points • 07 Nov 24
📖 Philosophy Logic
  1. Things are not always what they seem; sometimes we misinterpret situations based on limited information.
  2. Even when it feels like everything is falling apart, there is still hope for a better future if we stay focused.
  3. Justice may take time, but it will eventually prevail, and we must continue to work towards the goals we believe in.

The Gold Coin game

Infinitely More • 7 implied HN points • 12 Feb 25
🎭️ Culture Logic
  1. The Gold Coin game involves two players trying to get a valuable gold coin while moving other coins on a board. Players can either move a coin or take the leftmost coin in their turn.
  2. The game is strategic and requires understanding the best moves to win. Knowing winning moves can make the game easier to navigate.
  3. Practicing the game with a partner helps improve your skills and understanding of the rules, making it more enjoyable to play.