The hottest Moral Philosophy Substack posts right now

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My Heart Of Hearts

Astral Codex Ten • 38749 implied HN points • 30 Jul 25
🇺🇸 U.S. Politics Moral Philosophy
  1. Consistency in moral beliefs matters because it helps develop strong principles, even if some people misuse them for evil. Everyone has moral feelings, but transforming them into consistent principles guides better decision-making.
  2. Emotions often sway how we care about tragic events, like feeling more for a child in Gaza because we relate to our own kids. It's okay to start from our emotional responses but using reason to guide our empathy can lead to better understanding.
  3. Caring about tragedies shouldn't just be about feeling guilty or fulfilling a moral duty. True empathy comes from recognizing each individual's pain and using our principles to act on that concern, even if we can't feel the same way for everyone.

Why You Should Trust Trust and Distrust Distrust

Rob Henderson's Newsletter • 3617 implied HN points • 08 Dec 24
📖 Philosophy Moral Philosophy
  1. Trust is important for cooperation, but it can be tricky. People often trust others even when there's a chance of being betrayed.
  2. Cooperation can happen even when trust is low. Sometimes, you may need to work with someone before figuring out if they are trustworthy.
  3. Distrust can close you off from learning about others. Starting with trust can help you understand the social world better and find out who is reliable.

Amulets Against the Spirits of the Age

The Convivial Society • 2746 implied HN points • 20 Nov 24
📖 Philosophy Moral Philosophy
  1. Certain phrases or quotes can act like protective charms, helping us to see and understand the world better. These words can guide, comfort, and shape how we think.
  2. It's important to take responsibility for our actions and the world around us. Recognizing our role can help address deep problems in society.
  3. Being attentive to others is crucial for moral growth. True love and art come from realizing that there are realities beyond ourselves.

It's A Wipe

Slack Tide by Matt Labash • 142 implied HN points • 03 Dec 25
🇺🇸 U.S. Politics Moral Philosophy
  1. Many Americans have different beliefs about basic hygiene practices, like how to wipe themselves, showing how divided opinions can be in the country. It's interesting to think that if people can't agree on something so simple, it's hard to expect them to agree on more complex political issues.
  2. A large portion of the population continues to support political leaders despite negative actions or behaviors, highlighting a deep polarization. Even with evidence against them, some people choose to stick with their views, which can be frustrating for those who see things differently.
  3. Forgiveness is important for personal peace and healing. Instead of holding onto anger, it's better to understand that everyone is scared of losing their way of life, even if we disagree on how to do things. This mindset can help create a healthier community.

A short defence of gossip

The Common Reader • 1417 implied HN points • 16 Jan 25
🎭️ Culture Moral Philosophy
  1. Gossip helps us communicate the truth when direct conversations feel difficult. It allows people to share important information without the pressure of a public setting.
  2. Telling the truth is morally important, especially when it can serve as a warning about someone's behavior. This makes gossip a tool for honest inquiry.
  3. Even though gossip often gets a bad reputation, it has a valuable role in social interactions. It enables people to express concerns and share insights about others.
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Permit Me One Maudlin Anecdote

Bet On It • 538 implied HN points • 25 Jun 25
🇺🇸 U.S. Politics Moral Philosophy
  1. Emotions can give us new perspectives. Sometimes feeling empathy can help us see the struggles of others, especially those in tough situations like refugees.
  2. It's easy to judge others based on how we feel about our own problems. But comparing our struggles to those facing war or displacement can shift our view from self-pity to compassion.
  3. Understanding the refugee experience might make us rethink our responses. Instead of anger or blame, we should respond with sympathy for people fleeing danger.

Moral puzzles: Man vs. machine

DYNOMIGHT INTERNET NEWSLETTER • 562 implied HN points • 19 Jun 25
🕹 Technology Moral Philosophy
  1. Current AI can understand human values to some extent, but it may not cover all complex situations. It's crucial to keep testing AI's responses on moral questions.
  2. People's opinions on moral dilemmas can vary significantly, especially on more unusual scenarios. This highlights the complexity of human ethics.
  3. Readers recognized that their views might differ from the general population, showing self-awareness in moral reasoning. It's good to be mindful of how diverse perspectives can be.

When Communism Came To America

The Redneck Intellectual by C. Bradley Thompson • 530 implied HN points • 28 Mar 23
💾 History Moral Philosophy
  1. Seventeenth-century American colonies like Jamestown and Plymouth were founded on communist principles, which led to starvation and failure.
  2. Communism is inherently immoral and leads to resentment, mistrust, and decreased productivity.
  3. The introduction of private property at Jamestown and Plymouth led to increased productivity, social harmony, and moral transformation, emphasizing the importance of freedom and private property.

Greatness or Virtue

Fake Noûs • 289 implied HN points • 21 Jun 25
📖 Philosophy Moral Philosophy
  1. Many people prioritize success over being virtuous, which shows how we often chase fame and wealth instead of moral goodness.
  2. We tend to measure our moral worth by comparing ourselves to those who are worse, rather than aiming for the best examples of virtue.
  3. While personal success is valuable, true moral respect comes from being virtuous, not just successful; it's important to aim for both.

Adverse Selection by Life Saving Charities

Optima & Outliers • 39 implied HN points • 11 Jul 24
📖 Philosophy Moral Philosophy
  1. Life-saving charities often focus on minimizing costs per life saved, which can lead to overlooking the quality of life in poorer countries. Simply saving the cheapest lives doesn't account for how much those lives might suffer.
  2. Saving lives in low-income countries often involves addressing symptoms of deeper issues related to poor governance and societal conditions. These issues make it easier to save lives but often result in a lower quality of life.
  3. It's important to consider both present and future quality of life when deciding where to allocate resources for life-saving efforts. Countries with better governance and prospects for improvement may yield better outcomes for saved lives.

Recommended Reading, Part I: Moral Philosophy

Contemplations on the Tree of Woe • 1017 implied HN points • 21 Feb 24
📖 Philosophy Moral Philosophy
  1. The curriculum lays out a detailed progression through moral philosophy starting with Ayn Rand and then exploring Alasdair Macintyre's work, culminating in a comparison of their differing ethical frameworks.
  2. The reading list focuses on books that challenge modern ethical frameworks and call for a return to Aristotelian ethics, emphasizing the balance between rational and social aspects of human nature.
  3. Supplemental reading includes works by Aristotle, Ayn Rand, and other philosophers, offering further insights into moral philosophy and ethics.

On Justices

Doc Hammer's Anvil • 216 implied HN points • 09 Mar 23
📖 Philosophy Moral Philosophy
  1. Many fundamental moral and philosophical concepts have been lost in modern times, requiring a rediscovery and clarification of ideas.
  2. Justice is a crucial virtue that allows for moral compulsion through force, and it is important to differentiate between Commutative Justice (CJ) and Distributive Justice (DJ).
  3. Commutative Justice (CJ) involves actions that can be enforced through coercion without violating the perception of justice in the eyes of others, while Distributive Justice (DJ) focuses on the becoming use of what is our own and involves a constant debate on what is considered good.

Beyond Victory: Finding Meaning in Never-Ending Defeat

Humanities in Revolt • 199 implied HN points • 27 Jun 23
📖 Philosophy Moral Philosophy
  1. Victory is transient and will eventually lead to defeat. It's essential to find value in the present and in the process, rather than relying solely on achieving a permanent victory.
  2. Meaning in life is not solely derived from achieving outcomes. As humans, we can find purpose in the inherent goodness and aliveness of the present moment.
  3. Challenging injustices, even if the outcome may seem like failure, is a significant act of upholding human dignity and values. Standing against suffering and maintaining human autonomy is a vital form of rebellion.

The Best Charity Isn't What You Think

Fake Noûs • 259 implied HN points • 07 Dec 24
📖 Philosophy Moral Philosophy
  1. Helping shrimp can be much more effective than trying to save humans or other animals. Just one dollar can save around 1,600 shrimp from a painful death every year, which is a huge impact for a small amount.
  2. Many people don't realize that shrimp can suffer, but research shows they experience pain similar to other animals. This means their suffering matters too, and we should consider it when thinking about doing good.
  3. The shrimp welfare project is underfunded but incredibly effective. Supporting it can make a big difference in preventing animal suffering while costing very little.

Wild Problems

Holodoxa • 159 implied HN points • 31 Jul 23
📖 Philosophy Moral Philosophy
  1. Rational methodologies alone cannot solve all conflicts; values play a crucial role in decisions.
  2. Wild problems, unlike tame problems, cannot be resolved through purely rational analysis.
  3. Effective altruism, while appealing in theory, can lead to challenging ethical dilemmas when taken too seriously.

Ethics and Insecticide: The Transcript

Bet On It • 75 implied HN points • 15 Jul 25
📖 Philosophy Moral Philosophy
  1. Insects might feel pain, and if they do, there's a lot of suffering happening because so many insects exist. This makes their welfare a big ethical concern.
  2. Understanding how we impact insect populations is crucial. Even small actions can lead to the suffering or death of a huge number of insects, which is often overlooked.
  3. Many people don't empathize with insects, but if we consider their potential suffering, it challenges us to rethink topics like factory farming and how we value animal lives.

The case for narrow utilitarianism

inexactscience • 99 implied HN points • 08 Dec 23
📖 Philosophy Moral Philosophy
  1. Utilitarianism is about making choices that increase overall well-being and treats everyone equally. It's a way of thinking that encourages using data and math to improve lives.
  2. While utilitarianism sounds good, taking it too far can lead to poor decisions and people justifying bad behavior. It's important to recognize our own biases and limits.
  3. Narrow utilitarianism suggests we apply these ideas only in clear situations where we understand the problems well. It's better to stay focused and cautious rather than trying to force comparisons between very different choices.

Moving Beyond System 1 and 2

Living Fossils • 19 implied HN points • 12 Nov 25
📖 Philosophy Moral Philosophy
  1. System 1 thinking is quick and automatic, but it can lead to mistakes, especially if we don't take a moment to reflect before making judgments.
  2. People often react based on social cues rather than pure logic, which means they might prioritize fitting in over careful thinking.
  3. Our minds operate with different modules that are activated by specific situations, so we might not always be 'lazy'—we’re just responding to the context we find ourselves in.

Forces Adverse to Reproduction

Kvetch • 48 implied HN points • 19 Jul 25
🇺🇸 U.S. Politics Moral Philosophy
  1. The decline in birth rates is largely due to people's choice to limit family size, often seen as selfish. Many say they can't afford more children, but the reasons often involve wanting more comfort and less responsibility.
  2. This practice of preventing childbirth has led to negative physical and mental health effects for women, like stress and potential infertility. It also affects how society views family life and morality.
  3. Large families provide benefits not just to the family members, but also to society as a whole. People from bigger families tend to have better social skills and are less likely to be selfish.

What Critics of the Humanities Don't Understand

Humanities in Revolt • 299 implied HN points • 10 Feb 22
📖 Philosophy Moral Philosophy
  1. Critics of the humanities often underestimate their importance and mistakenly prioritize practical fields like STEM over humanities. However, an in-depth analysis reveals the value-based assumptions behind such claims.
  2. The humanities contribute to understanding human existence beyond mere practicality by encouraging contemplation of values, creativity, and the human condition. They help us figure out our fundamental goals and values that guide decision-making.
  3. Philosophy delves into examining human values, morality, aesthetics, and political philosophy, emphasizing the indispensable role the humanities play in critically evaluating our beliefs, actions, and societal structures based on deeper values.

When Hatred and Fear Mask as Indignation

Philosophy bear • 114 implied HN points • 16 Nov 24
📖 Philosophy Moral Philosophy
  1. Indignation is feeling morally upset about someone doing something wrong, while contempt is viewing someone as less than human and not caring about their welfare. It's important to understand the difference between these feelings.
  2. People often hide their contempt under the guise of indignation, especially towards groups like children who may commit crimes. We should question this attitude and seek to unmask the true feelings behind it.
  3. Children's moral development is ongoing, and they shouldn't be held to the same standard of moral responsibility as adults. It's unjust to treat them as fully moral agents while denying them basic rights like voting.

Ehud Olmert on Gaza; reading After Virtue after bureaucracy; A Postscript

Unpopular Front • 42 implied HN points • 25 May 25
📖 Philosophy Moral Philosophy
  1. Ehud Olmert, a former Israeli Prime Minister, openly condemns the actions in Gaza as war crimes, highlighting the severity of the situation.
  2. Philosopher Alasdair MacIntyre argues that modern moral discourse is fragmented and often reduced to mere emotional manipulation, lacking real substance.
  3. MacIntyre believes that true moral judgments are factual and based on social roles, suggesting we need to revive older traditions to find genuine meaning in our practices.

What Should Count As Nutty?

David Friedman’s Substack • 242 implied HN points • 20 Jan 24
🎭️ Culture Moral Philosophy
  1. It's not enough to have mistaken beliefs to be considered nutty.
  2. Beliefs that no reasonable person with your intellectual background could hold may qualify as nutty.
  3. Defending beliefs in a consistent, intelligent manner doesn't make someone a nut, but ignoring known facts to maintain beliefs may suggest otherwise.

Why Catholics Should Support the Transhumanist Goal of Extended Life

Extropic Thoughts • 58 implied HN points • 22 Mar 23
⛪ Faith & Spirituality Moral Philosophy
  1. Catholics should have a generally favorable attitude towards transhumanism and the pursuit of greatly extended maximum life spans.
  2. The Catholic Church has no objection to supporting efforts to combat aging and extend human life spans.
  3. Extending human life spans can provide more time to develop virtue, do good works, serve God, and save souls.