The hottest Philosophical Concepts Substack posts right now

And their main takeaways
Category
Top Philosophy Topics

How Many Fucks Should Be Given, and About Whom?

I Might Be Wrong • 9 implied HN points • 05 Feb 25
📖 Philosophy Ethics Morality Charity Philosophical Concepts Social Responsibility
  1. We have a responsibility to help others in need, just like we would save a drowning child, even if it's inconvenient for us. Helping others shouldn't depend on whether someone else is doing it too.
  2. Thinking about charity should focus on our obligations to help, rather than questioning if we should care about people far away. Our compassion should guide our actions.
  3. Discussions about aid, like those involving organizations such as USAID, often lack depth. We need to critically evaluate the impact and effectiveness of our help.

The Philosopher's Tarot: Nietzsche vs. Nihilism

Outlandish Claims • 79 implied HN points • 21 May 24
📖 Philosophy Nihilism Tarot Philosophical Concepts Mythology
  1. Tarot can be used as a tool for generating random writing prompts and exploring philosophical concepts.
  2. Nietzsche, often associated with nihilism, actually aimed to lead people beyond nihilism towards new values and freedom.
  3. Nietzsche's philosophy is often misunderstood due to misinterpretations and misappropriations by others, like the Nazis.

Harman, Harm, and the Non-Identity Problem

Good Thoughts • 78 implied HN points • 10 Feb 24
📖 Philosophy Ethics Metaethics Bioethics Philosophical Concepts
  1. Different conceptions of harm can impact ethical judgments in non-identity cases, where an act may be considered wrong even if it doesn't directly harm any particular individual. It's essential to understand the nuances of harm in ethical reasoning.
  2. The non-identity problem challenges how we weigh harms and benefits, especially in cases where creating one individual may imply preventing the existence of a potentially happier individual. Balancing intrinsic harms and benefits can be complex in moral decision-making.
  3. Respecting individuals' normative perspectives is crucial when evaluating harm and benefit considerations. Understanding the implications of harm, compensation, and overall welfare in decision-making processes is integral for ethical evaluations.

Peak Performance Newsletter # 15 | Hindsight Bias & Phase Changes in the Developmental Process

The Leadership Lab • 19 implied HN points • 29 Nov 21
📖 Philosophy Human Development Uncertainty Creativity Self-compassion Philosophical Concepts
  1. Problems in personal development are often misunderstood as errors, but they are signs of evolution. New challenges indicate growth, not past mistakes.
  2. Breakthroughs in learning and development can be sudden and disorienting. They require acceptance of uncertainty and the creation of new tools.
  3. Having 'negative capability', the capacity to embrace confusion and uncertainty, is essential for pursuing greatness and adapting to challenges.
Get a weekly roundup of the best Substack posts, by hacker news affinity: