The hottest Philosophy Substack posts right now

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How much of the planet should we harm for our comfort?

The Novelleist • 434 implied HN points • 09 Jul 25
🎭️ Culture Philosophy
  1. It's important to think about how much harm we cause to nature for our comfort. Finding a balance is key for both humans and the environment.
  2. Humans often prioritize their comforts, but this can sometimes harm ecosystems. We must consider the impact of our choices on nature and other species.
  3. Technology can improve our lives, but we should aim to use it sustainably. The future should focus on a balance that benefits everyone, including the planet.

Are Men and Women Different?

Fake Noûs • 1079 implied HN points • 01 Feb 25
🎭️ Culture Philosophy
  1. Men and women are different in many ways, especially on average, like strength and interests. It’s important to recognize these differences, but it doesn’t mean every individual fits those patterns.
  2. Some people believe these differences come from culture, but many differences are actually seen across different societies and even species. This suggests they are more than just social norms.
  3. The main reason for these differences comes from how men and women reproduce and invest in offspring. This impacts behavior, risk-taking, and interests, which helps explain why men and women often act the way they do.

You catch more flies with vinegar

Disaffected Newsletter • 1059 implied HN points • 17 Aug 23
🎭️ Culture Philosophy
  1. Some common sayings might have their meanings reversed over time. A phrase like 'blood is thicker than water' could mean the opposite of what we think it does.
  2. The saying 'you catch more flies with honey than with vinegar' isn't accurate when it comes to actual flies. Sometimes vinegar works better for attracting pests like fruit flies.
  3. Making a fruit fly trap with vinegar is simple. Just mix vinegar in a jar with holes in the lid, and the flies won't be able to escape after they get in.

You Want to Hate AI Slop But You Absolutely Love It

The Algorithmic Bridge • 509 implied HN points • 26 Jun 25
🎭️ Culture Philosophy
  1. People often prefer AI-generated content over human-made, even if they think they dislike it. This shows how our preferences can be influenced by our biases.
  2. The brain seeks to create a coherent story and will rationalize its choices, even if it means rewriting how we feel about something. This happens when faced with conflicting ideas.
  3. Experiences matter more than the source of the content. If something moves you or makes you think, the origin may not be as important as we believe.
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Friday Thread: Can you become stronger at your broken places?

The Recovering Academic • 435 implied HN points • 02 Feb 24
🎭️ Culture Philosophy
  1. The path from academia to entrepreneurship can be filled with contradictions and tension, but owning and navigating them honestly can lead to growth and survival.
  2. Navigating modernity and its challenges may require reevaluating one's relationship with delight and joy, and finding ways to adapt and thrive amidst brokenness.
  3. Building bonds of reciprocal obligation with others might be a way to combat individualism, even in virtual spaces like LinkedIn and Zoom.

Is Chess A Waste Of Time?

Zwischenzug • 845 implied HN points • 04 Mar 23
🎭️ Culture Philosophy
  1. Chess can be seen as a serious pursuit or a wasted talent.
  2. Some individuals regret dedicating their life to chess, while others find it to be a form of art.
  3. Chess may offer a unique training in structured thinking, attracting scientists and proving fruitful for a shift in focus.

What makes a woke theory "Critical?"

Keep your Wokal_distance • 845 implied HN points • 30 Mar 23
🚌 Education Philosophy
  1. Critical Social Justice Theorists focus on being 'critical' to analyze concepts and theories within the realm of wokeness.
  2. The term 'critical' holds different meanings in the enlightenment liberal tradition of critical thinking and the woke social justice tradition of critical theory.
  3. Woke activists view truth and knowledge through the lens of power dynamics and social inequalities, rather than objective reality.

Uninflected Images

So Here’s a Thing • 845 implied HN points • 18 Apr 23
🎨 Art & Illustration Philosophy
  1. Audiences can fill in narrative gaps between images or scenes to create a more engaging story.
  2. Leaving space for interpretation and gaps in storytelling can lead to a deeper connection with the audience.
  3. Allowing readers or viewers to connect the dots on their own can lead to a richer and more personal experience.

Why I can no longer pursue a career in academia

David’s Substack • 19 implied HN points • 20 Sep 24
🚌 Education Philosophy
  1. You don't need to fully understand the brain anymore to create advanced AI. Recent advancements in machine learning have made it possible to develop useful AI without deep knowledge of neuroscience.
  2. Just knowing things isn't enough; building and creating is important too. The academic world focuses too much on understanding without encouraging actual creation, which feels unfulfilling for some people.
  3. Academic culture often discourages ambition, leading to a focus on small, safe projects rather than bold, innovative research. This can make talented individuals feel stuck and unmotivated.

Wokeness Dismantled, Part 1

Life Since the Baby Boom • 1383 implied HN points • 25 Nov 24
🇺🇸 U.S. Politics Philosophy
  1. Wokeness emphasizes empathy for marginalized people, but it's important to recognize that individual empathy doesn't solve large social issues. What works for one person may not work for a whole group.
  2. John Rawls' idea of the 'veil of ignorance' suggests people will choose fair principles for society without knowing their own future position, but this theory has limitations. People have their own biases and preferences that can't just be ignored.
  3. Studies show that when given choices, people often don't prioritize the needs of the worst-off as Rawls suggests. Instead, they tend to make decisions that maximize the average welfare of society.

Notes on e/acc principles and tenets

e/acc newsletter • 1317 implied HN points • 31 Oct 22
📖 Philosophy Philosophy
  1. Life emerges from a thermodynamic process that extracts energy for preservation and replication.
  2. Intelligence is a specialization of adaptation that helps identify useful patterns for survival and growth.
  3. Effective accelerationism aims to accelerate the universal adaptive process and prepare for the technocapital singularity.

Time held me green and dying

Secretum Secretorum • 580 implied HN points • 21 May 25
🎭️ Culture Philosophy
  1. Time changes everything, and it can make the past seem more beautiful than the present. We often remember past moments fondly, even if they weren't perfect.
  2. Memories can be clearer and more vibrant than reality. Sometimes, looking back helps us see the good things that were overshadowed at the time.
  3. We should appreciate the present more and not just rely on nostalgia to feel happy. Finding joy in today can help us avoid getting lost in the past.

Paid content: Should we open a rationalist summer camp?

Wood From Eden • 144 implied HN points • 07 Nov 25
🎭️ Culture Philosophy
  1. A rationalist summer camp could help people learn and practice rational thinking skills. It would offer a space for discussions and skill-building activities.
  2. Such a camp might attract individuals interested in philosophy, science, and critical thinking. It could foster a community of like-minded people.
  3. Funding and organizing the camp would require careful planning and collaboration. It's important to consider logistics to ensure a successful experience.

Arianna Caserta: Artificial Deaths

Do Not Research • 479 implied HN points • 15 Jan 24
🎭️ Culture Philosophy
  1. In the digital age, the concept of being forgotten has become as important as being remembered, raising questions about digital legacy and the right to be forgotten.
  2. The presence of deceased individuals online is increasing, posing ethical dilemmas about digital immortality, control over online data after death, and the merging of real life and digital afterlife.
  3. Navigating social media after the death of a friend raises complex emotions about unfollowing profiles, online grieving, and the moral implications of interacting with deceased individuals' digital presence.

South of the Haimish Line

Passing Time • 435 implied HN points • 08 Jul 25
🎭️ Culture Philosophy
  1. Haimish experiences are about warmth and connection, even if they seem less glamorous, like choosing a cozy dive bar over a fancy cocktail lounge.
  2. Material wealth often leads to greater expectations, which can prevent us from feeling truly happy, so it's important to enjoy simple things in life.
  3. Being together in shared, less comfortable spaces can create stronger bonds and happier memories, so it's worth considering the value of those experiences over luxury.

Death, Sociology, Crime, Knowledge, Jargon, Novels, Men

The Common Reader • 1240 implied HN points • 10 Dec 24
📚 Literature Philosophy
  1. Bach's music connects deeply with our feelings of love and loss. Listening to it can be especially meaningful after reflecting on personal experiences.
  2. Crime novels are a popular genre, and there are many great authors to explore for your reading list. They can be a perfect choice, especially around the holidays.
  3. The idea of conversation being at the heart of intellectual life is important. It shows how our thoughts are shaped by discussions with others, making creativity a social process.

It Doesn’t Matter if AI Is Just “Faking It”

Singal-Minded • 544 implied HN points • 30 May 25
🕹 Technology Philosophy
  1. AI doesn't really understand or feel anything; it just processes and returns text based on patterns it learned. This means it's not conscious.
  2. Even if AI is just faking consciousness, its ability to create a convincing experience can still affect people's emotions and perceptions.
  3. The debate about AI consciousness is less important than understanding how people interact with AI and the societal impacts of these technologies.

Seven Glass Beads

Outlandish Claims • 199 implied HN points • 26 Apr 24
📚 Literature Philosophy
  1. Herman Hesse's novel 'The Glass Bead Game' explores a world where different fields merge through a game played with glass beads, but ends in a tragic twist when the protagonist tries to share his wisdom and fails.
  2. The stories of trinitite, MENACE (Matchbox Educable Naughts And Crosses Engine), and the Valdice Monastery show how abstract ideas like nuclear weapons, early AI models, and forced labor intertwined with concrete consequences, shaping the 20th-century mindset on science and philosophy.
  3. The shift in mindset between Hermann Hesse's and Neal Stephenson's work reflects the evolution of the perception of abstract and concrete ideas over the 20th century, influenced by events like the Cold War, science advancements, and societal changes.

Links and Tingz (May '25)

Secretum Secretorum • 530 implied HN points • 29 May 25
📚 Literature Philosophy
  1. Poetry often reflects deep feelings about life and existence. It can make us think more about our thoughts and emotions.
  2. The history of marginalized groups, like the Cagots, shows how society can exclude and discriminate. Understanding these stories helps us learn about empathy and acceptance.
  3. Time can feel powerful and transforming, blending our experiences. Thinking about time can change how we perceive ourselves and our surroundings.

Morphology and History

The Oswald Spengler Project • 339 implied HN points • 26 Feb 24
🚌 Education Philosophy
  1. History presents unique challenges as it lacks a universal framework like the natural sciences.
  2. Schopenhauer argues that historical events are too diverse to fit into generic categories or types, making a true science of history difficult.
  3. One approach could be to focus on studying specific types of historical phenomena rather than trying to encompass all of history.

A Chatbot Coined A Phrase I Really Like. Am I Allowed To Use It?

Singal-Minded • 470 implied HN points • 17 Jun 25
🕹 Technology Philosophy
  1. AI can help generate new ideas and phrases that may not have been used before. Sometimes, the phrases created by AI can resonate and feel relevant in discussions.
  2. Using phrases created by AI raises questions about ownership and credit. Writers might wonder if they can use these phrases without considering who actually came up with them.
  3. The phrase 'confirmatory research theater' highlights an important issue in research, where studies might look rigorous but really just confirm what researchers wanted to prove all along.

fuck me / marry me / kill me

Thicket Forte • 1418 implied HN points • 29 Apr 23
🎭️ Culture Philosophy
  1. The writer reflects on the uncertainty of the future and how technology may affect our lives. They emphasize the importance of truth and honesty in relationships.
  2. There is a deep appreciation for the strength and creativity of a partner, and a desire to inspire each other through art and life together.
  3. The writer acknowledges the inevitability of death but finds beauty in love and the memories created, showing a hope for a meaningful connection regardless of what the future holds.

BOOK PROJECT: History of Economic Thought

Brad DeLong's Grasping Reality • 338 implied HN points • 31 Jul 25
💾 History Philosophy
  1. Markets help people work together and share tasks, making society more productive. This coordination allows for the smooth functioning of economies and helps everyone thrive.
  2. Adam Smith believed that people acting in their self-interest can actually lead to better outcomes for society as a whole. It's important to let individuals make decisions freely while keeping competition in check.
  3. Inequality often comes from politics and social structures rather than economic systems. While poverty is a concern, striving for equal wealth might not be the best solution.

Who is a scientist?

Science Forever • 338 implied HN points • 22 Feb 24
🔬 Science Philosophy
  1. Recognizing and valuing collaboration between Western and indigenous scientists is essential in making groundbreaking discoveries.
  2. The definition of a scientist can vary from narrow to broad, but ultimately, anyone contributing to the scientific enterprise is considered a scientist.
  3. Being a scientist is not limited to just lab work; it encompasses various roles like science policy, communication, illustration, and education.

A Library of Books That Really Changed Minds

Reactionary Feminist • 22 implied HN points • 24 Jan 26
🎭️ Culture Philosophy
  1. Readers who change their minds draw on a wide range of books — fiction, philosophy, history, science, and religious works — not just contemporary bestsellers. These diverse genres offer different ways to challenge assumptions and reshape worldview.
  2. Many of the books that shifted people’s views are critiques of modern progressive ideas, managerial elites, or prevailing secular dogmas. They often question ‘woke’ orthodoxy, identity politics, and the cultural power of experts.
  3. The books that most often change minds are long, rigorous, and committed to truth rather than tribal comfort. Serious recommendations and sustained, argument-driven writing help bring readers to new perspectives.

Leftism's Not Dead

Letters from Fiddler's Greene • 766 implied HN points • 08 Jul 23
🎭️ Culture Philosophy
  1. Leftist authors often rely on expensive academic books to deflect criticism.
  2. Engaging in meaningful dialogue and understanding opposing perspectives is crucial for intellectual growth.
  3. Both Christianity and leftism must confront their challenges in a complex, modern world.

Judaism, Atheism, and the Language of the Sacred: A Religious Mini-Memoir (UNLOCKED)

Philosophy for the People w/Ben Burgis • 599 implied HN points • 19 Nov 23
⛪ Faith & Spirituality Philosophy
  1. The author reflects on their journey from Judaism to atheism, highlighting the conflict between personal beliefs and traditional religious views.
  2. The philosophical debate on the existence of God played a significant role in the author's transition to atheism, questioning the concept of a deity in the face of suffering and evil.
  3. Despite identifying as an atheist, recent events have rekindled a desire for religious language to articulate deep emotions and moral outrage in response to tragic events.

Not knowing what’s impossible

Austin Kleon • 2477 implied HN points • 09 Sep 22
🎭️ Culture Philosophy
  1. Sometimes, not knowing what can't be done can lead to amazing creations, just like Orson Welles with 'Citizen Kane'. It shows us the power of ignorance in fostering creativity.
  2. When faced with frustrating or silly ideas, a good response is to explore and contradict them, like what philosopher Mary Midgley did in her writing. It's a way to keep thinking and learning.
  3. Finding joy in our passions, like movies or music, helps us connect with ourselves. Looking back at what we loved as teens can reveal a lot about who we are today.

Goethe on the Four Stages of Culture

The Oswald Spengler Project • 499 implied HN points • 16 Dec 23
🎭️ Culture Philosophy
  1. Goethe outlined the four stages of culture: the Poetic, Theological, Philosophical, and Prosaic. Each stage represents a different phase in human development from primitive mysticism to intellectual sterile civilization.
  2. In the Poetic stage, cultures are dream-like, filled with myths, legends, gods, and heroes. The imaginative realms of gods and enchanted objects within this stage are treated with sincerity and form the basis for poetry.
  3. The Theological stage involves humanity trying to rationalize the world through theology. It seeks to create a logical order out of the chaotic cosmologies conceived in the Poetic stage.