The hottest Philosophy of science Substack posts right now

When people expect to meet again, conditional strategies like "I’ll cooperate if you do" make cooperation a rational, self-interested choice because future losses deter short-term cheating.
Reputation, indirect reciprocity and partner choice scale cooperation: public records, gossip and the ability to shun defectors let groups enforce cooperative norms even when partners change.
Cooperation has multiple roots — kin selection, reciprocal altruism and cultural evolution — and because many cooperative equilibria are possible, societies pick and stabilize particular norms while moral feelings help people follow and enforce them.

There are many theories about consciousness, and everyone has their own views on it. It's a topic that invites everyone to share their thoughts.
The study of consciousness is still in its early stages, so you don't need to be an expert to join the discussion. It's a personal experience that we all understand.
Finding a scientific explanation for consciousness is a hope for many. It suggests that there might be a simple answer out there just waiting to be discovered.

The measure problem is important for understanding theories about the multiverse. It questions how we can measure probabilities when there are potentially infinite versions of the universe.
Philosophers generally agree that the universe seems fine-tuned for life. They suggest various explanations, like the possibility of a designer, a multiverse, or deeper laws of nature.
It's crucial to define the problem and the space we're working in when discussing probabilities. Ambiguous terms can lead to misunderstandings in arguments about fine-tuning.

The book discusses the justification and strengths of using machine learning in science, emphasizing prediction and adaptation to data
Machine learning lacks inherent transparency and causal understanding, but tools like interpretability and causality modeling can enhance its utility in research
The book is released chapter by chapter for free online, covering topics such as domain knowledge, interpretability, and causality

The internet is transforming or even damaging traditional science, just like it has affected many other institutions over the years. As our way of sharing information changes, the understanding of what science is also shifts.
There seems to be a growing shift from studying real-world objects and events to focusing on models and simulations instead. This might weaken the connection science has with actual reality, making it more about data interpretation than discovering the physical world.
People are increasingly more interested in studying the process of knowledge rather than the world itself. This change indicates a cultural shift where real-world exploration is becoming less relevant compared to understanding ideas and identities.

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The writer has been focusing on weight loss and has lost a total of 237 pounds. They feel more energized and are looking forward to new experiences.
They plan to write more frequently, with less emphasis on perfectionism. This means sharing ideas that are in progress instead of perfectly polished posts.
The writer is moving from Galesburg to Chicago and will share thoughts on urbanism and philosophy related to their new environment.

Your time is limited, so it's important to spend it wisely instead of wasting it on distractions like social media.
Philosophy can mean different things to different people, from self-help to deep religious texts, but it encourages reflection and understanding.
Many great philosophers, like Socrates and Confucius, aimed to explore fundamental truths and offer insights that still resonate today.

Metascience is struggling because it's too focused on just replicating studies, rather than exploring deeper questions about what science is and how it could improve. This limits its potential.
Communication between different scientific fields can be helpful, but it often leads to misunderstandings about methods and goals. This can result in a distorted view of what science really is.
To make science better, we need to rethink how we share knowledge. Relying only on traditional formats like PDFs isn't working anymore. More flexible and collaborative ways of sharing research could lead to better science.

Just because something is called an explanation doesn't mean it really explains anything. A word can't fully clarify complex ideas.
Complex topics need more detailed models to explain them. Simple labels aren't enough for deeper understanding.
Many psychologists struggle with clear explanations because they often focus on labels rather than real underlying processes or mechanisms.

Newton's Third Law states 'For every action, there is an equal and opposite reaction.'
This law applies beyond physics to areas like economics, politics, and relationships.
Physics was once a part of Natural Philosophy and may hold the key to understanding the universe in its entirety.