The hottest Morality Substack posts right now

And their main takeaways
Category
Top Faith & Spirituality Topics

Hume in Hell (UNLOCKED)

Philosophy for the People w/Ben Burgis • 758 implied HN points • 01 Jan 23
📖 Philosophy History Religion Ethics Morality Free will
  1. David Hume's essays on suicide and the afterlife delve into questioning common beliefs even when granting believers' core premises.
  2. Hume challenges the concept of suicide as a sin against God, arguing that humans cannot disrupt God's plan or transgress against it through suicide.
  3. The essays lead to a broader reflection that morality should be grounded in human considerations, not divine commands, opening up a secular perspective in philosophy.
Get a weekly roundup of the best Substack posts, by hacker news affinity:

Sam Harris Has Nothing Useful to Say About Free Will (UNLOCKED)

Philosophy for the People w/Ben Burgis • 619 implied HN points • 05 Feb 23
📖 Philosophy Free will Compatibilism Determinism Morality Responsibility
  1. Sam Harris argues that free will doesn't exist because our decisions are influenced by factors we don't fully understand or control.
  2. The debate over free will involves complex questions about determinism, moral responsibility, and cognitive capacities.
  3. Compatibilist philosophers like John Martin Fischer redefine free will in terms of being reasons-responsive, rather than just the ability to act differently given the same circumstances.

Second-handers

The Voyage • 39 implied HN points • 06 Feb 24
📖 Philosophy Identity Morality Self
  1. There are two types of people: first-handers and second-handers.
  2. First-handers desire greatness for themselves, while second-handers desire greatness for the approval of others.
  3. First-handers stay true to themselves, while second-handers seek validation from society.

What Is Grandmotherly Wisdom?

Grandmotherly Wisdom • 353 implied HN points • 19 Apr 23
📖 Philosophy Wisdom Life Humanity Morality Generations
  1. Grandmotherly Wisdom emphasizes the importance of understanding our connection to past generations and shaping a better future for those to come.
  2. It encourages finding beauty in everyday moments and the value of personal care, attention and shared experiences.
  3. It involves recognizing the collective effort needed for personal growth, building strong communities, and taking responsibility for creating a positive impact in the world.

The Vice of Crappy Moralism

Fake Noûs • 284 implied HN points • 10 Jun 23
📖 Philosophy Ethics Morality Judgment Social media
  1. Social media often invites us to judge others, but we may not truly know the whole story.
  2. Crappy moralizing involves gossiping, invading privacy, piling on attacks, and seeking a false sense of superiority.
  3. There are times when moral judgment is necessary, like addressing mistreatment or evaluating public officials, but excessive moralizing may not be helpful.

Evolutionary Ethics

Doc Hammer's Anvil • 255 implied HN points • 13 May 23
📖 Philosophy Ethics Evolution Morality Culture
  1. Morality is subjective but also objective in extremes, with the real debate lying in the middle ground.
  2. Societies with dysfunctional morality can be seen as sick due to cultural contagion, but can also experience evolutionary changes.
  3. Evolutionary processes differ from human incremental changes, resulting in species adapting to different environments and niches.

Contra Perry Hendricks on Abortion

Going Awol • 139 implied HN points • 31 Aug 23
📖 Philosophy Abortion Ethics Morality Intuition
  1. Both Kyle van Oosterum and Amos Wollen disagree with conclusions made by Perry Hendricks on the topic of abortion.
  2. There is a debate around the justification of coercing someone to provide bodily support, such as breastfeeding, in difficult circumstances.
  3. The opportunity costs and real-world implications of pregnancy play a significant role in discussions about the legality and morality of abortion.

Storytelling is Freedom

Civic Renaissance with Alexandra Hudson • 235 implied HN points • 25 Feb 23
⛪ Faith & Spirituality Storytelling Trauma Redemption Life lessons Morality
  1. Storytelling can transform traumas into triumphs by framing them in a positive light.
  2. Viktor Frankl's experiences show the power of choosing one's attitude and finding meaning even in the face of suffering.
  3. Freedom and storytelling both offer the opportunity to decide how we respond to life's events and shape our own narratives.

Looking Into a Mirror

Polymathic Being • 68 implied HN points • 15 Oct 23
⛪ Faith & Spirituality Psychology Behavior Reflection Morality Self-awareness
  1. People often project their own behaviors and beliefs onto others, leading to misunderstandings in conversations.
  2. Understanding that others may be reacting based on their own fears or insecurities can help you navigate and contextualize online arguments.
  3. By reflecting on your own tendencies and biases, you can improve empathy, communication, and ultimately influence others positively.

This is the New Real World

Breaking Smart • 83 implied HN points • 17 Sep 23
📖 Philosophy Reality Life Belief Morality Existence
  1. The 'real' world we live in is a collection of only a few dozen significant worlds that shape our lives.
  2. Not all individual worlds are consequential in shaping the real world - only a few hundred are significant.
  3. The real world is not necessarily more real than private fantasies, but it is vastly more consequential.

Being Good Means More than Not Being an "Asshole": The Limits of the Nelson Family Rules

Humanities in Revolt • 179 implied HN points • 23 Apr 23
📖 Philosophy Morality Ethics Character Self-awareness
  1. Being morally good is more complex than just not hurting others intentionally. It involves being aware of the impact of our actions, even if harm is unintentional.
  2. Moral goodness requires active effort and mindfulness to consider how our choices affect others, beyond just avoiding being malicious.
  3. To be morally good, we must develop a character of moral self-awareness and actively combat our egocentrism by considering the well-being of others in our decisions.

Useful Utility: Accounting for Taste (Part 2)

reedmolbak • 19 implied HN points • 27 Jan 24
📖 Philosophy Ethics Morality Taste Consequentialism Utilitarianism
  1. Moral philosophy can be based on individual tastes rather than universal principles, leading to ethical decisions rooted in personal preferences.
  2. Conflicts in tastes are common, and ethical choices involve recognizing and balancing personal preferences, whether altruistic or self-centered.
  3. Utilitarianism suggests evaluating and prioritizing individual tastes to make decisions that best satisfy personal desires and goals.

Masters and Slaves in a Postmodern World

Based Meditations • 39 implied HN points • 03 Dec 23
📖 Philosophy Power Dynamics Morality Conformity
  1. Slavery still exists in various forms globally, despite the perception of modern advancement and democracy.
  2. Strong willpower and autonomy are essential for true freedom and independence, rather than relying on external systems or powers.
  3. Power dynamics, such as master-slave relationships, exist not just in human systems but also in nature and the cosmos, shaping our societal structures and interactions.

France's Hunting Dilemma

Integrity Talk • 66 implied HN points • 27 Sep 23
🎭️ Culture Society Morality Ethics Animals Food
  1. Hunting's popularity has decreased in developed countries, but France still has a significant number of active hunters.
  2. Western societies have grown more hostile towards hunting due to societal shifts and increased sensitivity towards animal welfare.
  3. The perception of animal suffering varies depending on the category of animals, leading to inconsistencies in attitudes towards hunting.

You Don't Know MLK

Humanities in Revolt • 219 implied HN points • 14 Jan 23
💾 History Civil Rights Social justice Activism Morality Ethics
  1. Rev. Martin Luther King Jr. faced significant opposition and was hated by many Americans during his time, contrasting with his revered status today.
  2. King advocated for radical social change, including fighting against materialism, militarism, and economic injustice, aspects often overlooked in mainstream narratives about him.
  3. It's important to recognize the fuller picture of Rev. King's activism beyond just his nonviolent civil rights work, as he also promoted economic equality, critiqued capitalism, and spoke out against the Vietnam War.

Feynman, Fairy Tales & Fooling Ourselves

Weekly Wisdom • 139 implied HN points • 16 Feb 23
📖 Philosophy Psychology Fiction Morality Spirituality
  1. Richard Feynman emphasized the importance of not fooling oneself, as we are often prone to self-deception.
  2. Fairy tales serve as more than simple children's stories, often exploring dark themes and offering lessons through storytelling.
  3. Stories like 'The Emperor's New Clothes' highlight human tendencies such as vanity, greed, conformity, and the importance of speaking up against falsehoods.

The Integrity Objection to Utilitarianism

Going Awol • 119 implied HN points • 08 May 23
📖 Philosophy Ethics Morality Theory Critique Values
  1. Utilitarianism focuses on maximizing happiness and minimizing pain, even if it means compromising personal integrity.
  2. The Integrity Objection argues that utilitarianism undervalues personal values, aspirations, and moral integrity, leading to unreasonable demands.
  3. Critics point out that utilitarianism may push individuals to act against their core values, showing flaws in the theory's approach to balancing consequences and personal integrity.

Can Morality Be Quantified?

The Grey Matter • 19 implied HN points • 04 Jan 24
📖 Philosophy Morality Ethics Decision-making Values
  1. Quantification in morality is a useful framework for decision-making, not a literal truth.
  2. Money is a valuable tool for quantification, but it has limitations in capturing all aspects of value.
  3. Quantification, like valuing a statistical human life, helps systemize decision-making, but it has practical limits and should be used as a tool wisely.

Marxism, Alcohol, and God

Anxiety Addiction & Ascension • 98 implied HN points • 18 Apr 23
⛪ Faith & Spirituality Religion Beliefs Morality Truth God
  1. Belief in eternal truths, such as individual autonomy and protection from coercion, is paramount.
  2. Facing reality and accepting personal responsibility are crucial for overcoming addiction and understanding societal deceptions.
  3. Marxism is criticized for denying reality, seeking power over truth, and disregarding eternal truths, leading to societal manipulation.