The hottest Ontology Substack posts right now

And their main takeaways
Category
Top Technology Topics

The Fractal Ratchet

Desystemize β€’ 1966 implied HN points β€’ 20 Oct 24
πŸ“– Philosophy Epistemology Metaphysics Ethics Logic Ontology
  1. There are two main ways people understand the world: one focuses on strict evidence and science, while the other values common sense and personal experience. Both have their strengths and weaknesses depending on the situation.
  2. The 'fractal ratchet' concept explains how deeper scrutiny often leads to discovering more detail, but it can also make comparisons difficult. When you look at things more closely, you might keep finding more complexity instead of reaching a clear 'true' answer.
  3. When making decisions or forming opinions, it's important to know when to rely on precise measurements and scientific reasoning versus when to trust your intuition and common sense. Balancing both approaches can help you navigate complex issues more effectively.

The Era of Truth is Coming

Square Circle β€’ 7 implied HN points β€’ 03 Feb 25
πŸ“– Philosophy Metaphysics Existentialism Ethics Ontology
  1. Many people think big changes are coming in the 21st century, including climate problems and advances in AI. But things might just go on pretty much as they have been for a while.
  2. Some believe we are in a dark time that will eventually lead to a new era, called the Era of Truth, where better things can emerge. This could involve major breakthroughs in technology or a return to simpler, more human ways of living.
  3. The future is uncertain, and there are various possibilities. We might see a technological renaissance, an end to our current ways of life, or simply a continuation of the status quo.

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

Ethics Under Construction β€’ 10 implied HN points β€’ 26 Jan 25
πŸ“– Philosophy Metaphysics Ontology Epistemology 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.

AI, or, Shifty Epistemics and Shaky Ontologies

Deep Fix β€’ 491 implied HN points β€’ 07 Jul 23
πŸ•Ή Technology AI Epistemology Ontology Digital economy Artificial General Intelligence
  1. AI technology can lead to a breakdown in how we know and understand information, potentially causing chaos and confusion.
  2. The use of AI in an era of eroding trust and extreme ideologies may worsen division and extremism in society.
  3. Concerns exist about the worldviews and intentions of individuals, especially men, behind AI technology, with fears of their impact on society and humanity.

Electrons, Alternate Universes, and the Ontological Commitments of Physics: A Handy Guide to Hossenfelder vs. Goff

Philosophy for the People w/Ben Burgis β€’ 319 implied HN points β€’ 03 Dec 23
πŸ“– Philosophy Physics Ontology Debate Twitter Ethics
  1. Philosopher Philip Goff and physicist Sabine Hossenfelder concluded their Twitter debate on electrons and alternate universes.
  2. The discussion highlights the intersection of philosophy and physics in understanding ontological commitments.
  3. The resolution between Goff and Hossenfelder signifies an end to the Great Electron Twitter War of 2023.
Get a weekly roundup of the best Substack posts, by hacker news affinity:

What is the essential structure of the complex numbers?

Infinitely More β€’ 38 implied HN points β€’ 10 Nov 24
πŸ“– Philosophy Mathematics Epistemology Ontology Logic
  1. There are different ways to think about complex numbers, like focusing on their algebraic or topological structures. Each viewpoint gives us unique insights into how complex numbers behave.
  2. Mathematicians don't all agree on what the essential structure of complex numbers is, leading to multiple interpretations. It shows us that understanding math can be quite flexible.
  3. The paper identifies four main perspectives on complex numbers, which can help clarify the discussions around their nature and engage with broader philosophical questions in mathematics.

Foundation

Daniel Pinchbeck’s Newsletter β€’ 20 implied HN points β€’ 12 Dec 24
πŸ“– Philosophy Ontology Metaphysics Idealism Materialism Consciousness Spirituality
  1. To rebuild civilization, we need to understand the basic nature of being and reality. This understanding will guide our actions and values in society.
  2. Many people hold conflicting beliefs about existence, which leads to problems. Recognizing and embracing a common understanding can help us better interact with each other and the world.
  3. Shifting our view to see consciousness as central can change how we approach life and society. This perspective encourages compassion, interdependence, and a more meaningful existence.

The Unreasonable Ineffectiveness of Effective Altruism in thinking about AI

Ulysses β€’ 179 implied HN points β€’ 05 Feb 24
πŸ“– Philosophy Ethics Logic Epistemology Ontology Psychology
  1. Knowledge systems using symbolic logic in natural language are heuristic and capture reality imperfectly.
  2. Validity of heuristics depends on the similarity between the original context and current application.
  3. Rigid deontological symbolic morality may fail in reasoning about new events like AI, leading to ineffective discussions and decision-making.

Meta-rational practices: Overview 2

Meaningness β€’ 119 implied HN points β€’ 16 Mar 24
🚌 Education Methods Exercises Ontology Learning
  1. Opportunities for meta-rational improvement can be categorized in different sites for enhancing rationality
  2. Improving circumrational practice involves methods like better material supports, skills training, and proceduralization
  3. Enhancing the ontology includes steps like merging categories, splitting distinctions, and reassigning cases

The Pragmatists Handbook: Transjectivity

Divergent Futures β€’ 2 HN points β€’ 13 Sep 24
πŸ“– Philosophy Epistemology Metaphysics Ethics Ontology Aesthetics
  1. Truth isn't just about what's real or what we feel; it comes from how we connect with the world around us. This idea is called transjectivity, showing that understanding comes from our interactions.
  2. The way we categorize things, like calling a chair a 'chair', is influenced by both what we see and how we use it. It's about finding what fits well in our lives, not just what exists independently.
  3. Our views and meanings can change based on our experiences and environment. This means that understanding truth is flexible and evolves as we learn and grow.

Mystery of The Origin Node β€” Take the Leap

Generative Forms β€’ 39 implied HN points β€’ 12 Mar 24
πŸ“– Philosophy Metaphysics Existentialism Ontology Epistemology Ethics
  1. Greatness takes time and can't be rushed. It's about continuous effort and dedication without expecting immediate results.
  2. Taking a leap of faith is essential for growth. You need to act despite fears and doubts to bring your visions to life.
  3. Every act of greatness is unique and cannot be replicated. It emerges from individual effort and the right moment, not from trying to force it.

Moving the goal posts

Sunday Letters β€’ 79 implied HN points β€’ 29 May 23
πŸ“– Philosophy Ethics Logic Language Metaphysics Ontology Epistemology
  1. People often change the rules of a debate when they don't like the outcome. This is called 'moving the goalposts' and it can be tricky.
  2. Arguments about concepts like 'understanding' or 'identity' can become confusing if everyone doesn't agree on what those terms mean.
  3. Instead of arguing over vague definitions, it's better to focus on how we use those terms in real situations and have clear discussions when definitions are necessary.

The Most Generated Barn in America

Cybernetic Forests β€’ 79 implied HN points β€’ 08 Jan 23
πŸ•Ή Technology AI Ontology Images Data Models
  1. Different names proposed before settling on 'photograph' offer unique perspectives on how people made sense of images.
  2. AI images are not photographs, as they use light differently and inscribe ontologies onto noise using data and categories.
  3. Ontolography, a proposed term for AI-generated images, emphasizes the domain-specific knowledge influencing their production and underlines how they are shaped by the category assignments and labels given to them.

Ontological Intervention

Daniel Pinchbeck’s Newsletter β€’ 19 implied HN points β€’ 23 Feb 24
πŸ“– Philosophy Ontology Paradigms Reality Beliefs Civilization
  1. The main reason for the underperformance of Leftist movements is a lack of funding compared to the Right, who use their resources to shape public opinion through think tanks and covert operations.
  2. To bring about systemic change, a shift in paradigm at the individual level is crucial, as demonstrated by the power of psychedelics in sparking a cultural reconsideration and leading to a psychedelic renaissance.
  3. A new ontology emphasizing monistic or analytic idealism offers the potential to redefine society's underlying paradigm, providing a pathway for transforming civilization and addressing pressing global challenges.

You are astonishingly unique

inexactscience β€’ 19 implied HN points β€’ 27 Jul 23
πŸ“– Philosophy Existentialism Humanism Metaphysics Ontology Ethics
  1. Your existence is extremely rare and special. Every generation of your ancestors had to survive for you to be here today.
  2. The chances of your specific lineage and circumstances coming together are astronomically low. It's like winning a cosmic lottery.
  3. Everyone you meet is also incredibly unique. We are all part of a vast story of chance and choices that led to our existence.

The Cloud and the Soup

do clouds feel vertigo? β€’ 0 implied HN points β€’ 10 Jun 24
πŸ“– Philosophy Metaphysics Epistemology Ontology Existentialism Aesthetics
  1. Clouds can be unique in their shapes and appearances. Each cloud can remind us of personal experiences, making them feel special.
  2. Clouds share universal qualities with each other and everything in nature. At a basic level, everything is connected and similar, regardless of differences.
  3. There are patterns and structures in the universe that help us understand how things relate. Looking for similarities can help find connections, but it's also interesting to explore what remains the same despite changes.

ВСликая субдукция

Justin E. H. Smith's Hinternet β€’ 0 implied HN points β€’ 01 Dec 24
🎭️ Culture Internet Epistemology Ontology Aesthetics Social media
  1. The internet is changing how we connect with the past and could impact our future. Some believe it's creating a new type of economic system that feels more like feudalism than capitalism.
  2. There's a struggle in how we understand truth and reality today, with misinformation and different worldviews clashing. This affects how we see everything from politics to culture.
  3. People worry that technology is changing us too fast. There's a need for rules and frameworks that help us keep our sense of history and identity in a rapidly shifting world.

Fragments, Chapter 4, pp.72-7 - Reading Club posting 14

Journal of Gurdjieff Studies β€’ 0 implied HN points β€’ 09 Dec 22
πŸ“– Philosophy Metaphysics Epistemology Ethics Ontology Aesthetics
  1. Man and all his manifestations are divided into seven categories, from learning based on instincts to objective and practical knowledge
  2. The division of man into different categories also applies to art, religion, and other aspects of life, showing different levels of understanding and expression in each category
  3. The term 'world' can have varied meanings depending on one's perspective, ranging from religious, philosophical, scientific, astronomical views to the concept of 'All' encompassing everything

Toward Ontogenetic Resilience

Cybernetic Forests β€’ 0 implied HN points β€’ 10 Jul 22
πŸ“– Philosophy Identity Resilience Cybernetics Ontology Reality
  1. Stories shape systems through design and the narratives we create, offering continuity and orientation in a world filled with uncertainty.
  2. Ontogenetic Resilience proposes an adaptive identity that embraces change and uncertainty, fostering exploration and growth.
  3. Resilience in the face of constant change is compared to surfing - balancing between stability and adaptation, learning to navigate and lean into the ever-shifting currents of life.