The hottest Philosophy Substack posts right now

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The Wood From Eden book recommendations page

Wood From Eden • 432 implied HN points • 06 Feb 24
📚 Literature Anthropology History Psychology Philosophy
  1. It's valuable to explore book recommendations even if you can't read them all from cover to cover.
  2. Readers can share book and film recommendations on specific categories on the Wood From Eden book recommendations page.
  3. The principle behind the recommendations page is to create a space for like-minded readers to share and discover new, interesting books and films.

Friday Thread: Can you become stronger at your broken places?

The Recovering Academic • 435 implied HN points • 02 Feb 24
🎭️ Culture Art Literature Philosophy Individualism Aesthetics
  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.

Two perspectives on the liberal arts and the humanities

Heterodox STEM • 199 implied HN points • 10 Mar 24
🚌 Education Humanities Literature Philosophy Classics
  1. Liberal arts education in the US may serve different purposes for elites and non-elites, with disparities in expectations and outcomes.
  2. Humanities education is seen as vital for a well-rounded education and understanding fundamental human questions and experiences.
  3. Reading classic literature may play a role in shaping perspectives and values, potentially reducing susceptibility to certain societal trends like 'wokeness'.
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Was the American Founding Revolutionary?

The Redneck Intellectual by C. Bradley Thompson • 530 implied HN points • 16 Jan 24
🇺🇸 U.S. Politics History Philosophy Culture Faith & Spirituality Literature
  1. The American Founding was a revolution blending old and new elements in society.
  2. The Founding Fathers upheld a 'spirit of liberty' from the colonial period in building a new kind of society.
  3. American society saw radical change after the Founding, with a shift to individual rights and dynamic living.

a postrationalist syllabus

eigenrobot,s Blog • 1670 implied HN points • 12 Sep 23
🎭️ Culture Literature Philosophy Anthropology History Metacognition
  1. Postrationalism is a cultural influence that never actually existed, but influences can still be studied and emulated.
  2. The selection of cultural touchstones in the syllabus is subjective, reflecting one individual's perspective within the realm of postrationalism.
  3. The syllabus encompasses a wide range of topics, including anthropology, language, stories, synthetic history, metacognition, ways to live, and more.

The Year I Stopped Knowing, well, to Some Considerable Extent

Deep Fix • 550 implied HN points • 06 Jan 24
⛪ Faith & Spirituality Personal Growth Meditation Philosophy
  1. In reflecting on their writing, the author discovered a blend of relative and absolute truths that coexist.
  2. The author shifted focus from seeking knowledge to embracing conscious experience through phenomenology.
  3. The author emphasized the importance of moving beyond psychedelics after receiving their transformational message, and now focuses on helping others understand it.

Arianna Caserta: Artificial Deaths

Do Not Research • 479 implied HN points • 15 Jan 24
🎭️ Culture Death Technology Social media Philosophy Literature
  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.

RTF Lecture Invitation: Guanzi- Introduction to 3000 Years of Chinese Economic Thought (Feb 4 at 2pm ET)

Through A Glass Darkly • 334 implied HN points • 03 Feb 24
🎭️ Culture Education History Philosophy World Politics Economics
  1. The Rising Tide Foundation lectures aim to showcase Chinese cultural dynamics and economic history to address misconceptions and lies about China and Russia.
  2. They emphasize the importance of gaining true insight into different cultures to develop critical thinking skills and combat misinformation.
  3. The upcoming lecture on '3000 Years of Chinese Economic Thought' will explore the origin and meaning of economics from a traditionally Chinese point of view.

Moloch in Therapy

The Joyous Struggle • 691 implied HN points • 08 Dec 23
⛪ Faith & Spirituality Philosophy God Existentialism Love
  1. Moloch is a complex demonic figure invoked to represent negative outcomes from competitive logic and lack of imagination.
  2. Moloch reflects on his identity crisis and the misunderstanding surrounding him, seeking love and power but feeling the pain of his oppositional nature.
  3. Despite craving power, Moloch also longs for love and struggles with his role in resisting God, revealing a desire for maternal love and the ability to create.

The Classic Solution to Demoralization

ancientlifecoach • 373 implied HN points • 23 Jan 24
🎭️ Culture History Philosophy Education
  1. True competence requires morale - like how Napoleon kept himself motivated with Plutarch's 'Life of Caesar'.
  2. History should inspire action in the present - it's not just about presenting facts but about bringing out the best in us.
  3. Avoid industrial-scale demoralization by studying great figures we're trained to ignore and ensuring that future generations are 'moralized' in the ancient way.

How David Perell found and hired The Cultural Tutor

Deplatformable Newsletter • 275 implied HN points • 09 Feb 24
🎭️ Culture Literature History Philosophy Education
  1. Consider reading older books instead of just the latest bestsellers to have a unique perspective and stand out as a writer.
  2. The content we consume shapes our ideas over time, so choose diverse sources to cultivate diverse thoughts.
  3. Being intentional about exploring historical or ancient texts can help in developing a distinctive voice as a writer and thinking differently.

Misquoting Darwin

Going Awol • 139 implied HN points • 11 Mar 24
📚 Literature Philosophy Religion Evolution
  1. Charles Darwin expressed doubts about the reliability of human cognitive faculties, specifically in forming abstruse metaphysical and theological beliefs.
  2. Darwin's doubt should be understood in the context of his concerns about certain philosophical and religious convictions, rather than everyday beliefs.
  3. Apologists quoting Darwin out of context have misunderstood his doubts, leading to misconceptions about the scope of his concerns.

The one and the many

Soaring Twenties • 131 implied HN points • 13 Mar 24
📚 Literature Poetry Art Philosophy
  1. The poem explores the concepts of unity and diversity through discussions about music and movies.
  2. It showcases the idea of unity-in-diversity in relationships, where individuals with different tastes can still find common ground.
  3. The piece emphasizes how art can bring people together and create unity, even in the midst of differing opinions and preferences.

Do You Listen Well?

Classical Wisdom • 2555 implied HN points • 29 May 23
🚌 Education Listening Philosophy Ancient Wisdom Personal Development
  1. Listening well is an important skill in any interaction, whether with family, friends, or strangers.
  2. Plutarch highlighted the different types of listeners, including selective listeners, disapproving listeners, and over-confident listeners.
  3. Plutarch emphasized that learning is a collaborative process between the speaker and the listener, requiring active participation and critical thinking from both parties.

Notes on Dance

Justin E. H. Smith's Hinternet • 915 implied HN points • 28 Oct 23
🎭️ Culture Dance Art Philosophy
  1. Dance encompasses a broad range of cultural practices involving choreography beyond traditional performances like ballet.
  2. The avant-garde in art history emerged in the late 19th century and declined by the 1980s due to societal shifts towards norm-enforcement in artistic expression.
  3. Art, like dance, serves as a powerful form of representation that taps into deep human experiences and emotions beyond language.

Who's afraid of the present?

Erifili • 179 implied HN points • 26 Feb 24
🎭️ Culture Movies Philosophy Creativity Life experiences
  1. The allure of romanticised stories has a real appeal to many, but it can sometimes lead us away from truly living in the present moment.
  2. The fear of the present stems from its fragility and imperfections, making us sometimes choose to lock beautiful experiences in a past moment.
  3. Balancing between living in the present and losing oneself in stories or fantasies can offer hope, a sense of control, and inspiration, each having its own merits and drawbacks.

RFK Jr. gives a Pro-vaccine MD a lesson at a Town Hall

An Insult to Intuition • 2063 implied HN points • 29 Jun 23
🇺🇸 U.S. Politics Vaccines Science Epidemiology Philosophy Corruption
  1. RFK Jr. highlighted the difference between believing and knowing in the discussion about vaccines.
  2. The lack of long-term, placebo-controlled safety studies on childhood vaccines was brought to light by Kennedy.
  3. The conversation revealed a reliance on trust over critical thinking when it comes to vaccine safety and testing.

The Monthly Salon: February

The Abbey of Misrule • 177 implied HN points • 26 Feb 24
🎭️ Culture Philosophy Personal Growth Literature Spirituality Politics
  1. The author reflects on the changing beliefs and values in society, questioning if it's them, the culture or both that have changed.
  2. Through writing, the author processes conflicting emotions and ideas, especially as the culture shifts rapidly around them.
  3. The author invites readers to think about what they have changed their minds about in recent years, whether personal, political, cultural, or spiritual.

Douglas Groothuis Joins The Worldview Bulletin

The Worldview Bulletin Newsletter • 353 implied HN points • 17 Jan 24
⛪ Faith & Spirituality Christianity Apologetics Philosophy Religion
  1. Renowned Christian philosopher and apologist Douglas Groothuis joins The Worldview Bulletin as a regular contributor.
  2. In his first article, Groothuis discusses the 'oddness' of Jesus and how it challenges common perceptions.
  3. Jesus' actions and teachings in the Bible often display a level of complexity and depth that challenge traditional understanding.

Introducing The Elysian (and my new job)

The Novelleist • 2432 implied HN points • 15 May 23
📚 Literature Enlightenment Philosophy
  1. The author emphasizes the importance of having literary thinkers over journalists for societal progress.
  2. The author discusses the nostalgia for the Enlightenment period and the need to revive philosophical and utopian thinking.
  3. The author introduces The Elysian as a platform for stimulating discussions around envisioning a better future through essays, literature, and discourse.