The hottest Political Philosophy Substack posts right now

And their main takeaways
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Top Philosophy Topics

How to change Greece

The Greek Analyst • 179 implied HN points • 08 Dec 23
🌍 World Politics Political Philosophy Migration Economic Development Education
  1. Is the glass of ouzo half empty or half full? Both perspectives are necessary to move forward, focusing on what's been fulfilled and what's missing.
  2. Greece needs a unified framework for change, merging the perspectives of optimists and pessimists to address shortcomings and successes for a comprehensive view.
  3. The country is making progress with factors like voting by mail, achievements in tech and startups, efforts to combat brain drain, and the rise of women leaders.

Recent Notes...

Brad DeLong's Grasping Reality • 23 implied HN points • 05 Nov 24
🇺🇸 U.S. Politics Political theory Public Policy Political Commentary Cultural analysis Political Philosophy
  1. Understanding C.P. Snow's idea of 'The Two Cultures' can help bridge the gap between technical and humanities disciplines. People can become smarter by learning from both sides.
  2. John Ganz is pointed out as a smart and hard-working person who could benefit from this balanced approach. Learning from different fields can enhance one's thinking and decision-making.
  3. It's important to encourage others to broaden their horizons, as this can lead to personal and professional growth. Sharing knowledge across different areas is valuable for everyone's development.

"I am so tasteless as to prefer a Republic"

Study Marry Kill • 196 implied HN points • 06 May 23
🇺🇸 U.S. Politics Political Philosophy Founding Fathers Government Systems Political Events
  1. John Adams preferred a Republic over Monarchy for producing strength, courage, and hardiness.
  2. He believed a Republic required public virtue and simplicity of manners, which could be challenging due to corruption and venality.
  3. Adams highlighted the importance of virtue in promoting human happiness and the potential challenges of maintaining a Republic amidst prevailing vices like servility and flattery.

Commentator

Castalia • 179 implied HN points • 19 Sep 23
🇺🇸 U.S. Politics Electoral Politics Political Philosophy Foreign Policy Public Opinion Political strategy
  1. Many Democrats are unhappy with Biden and don't think he's the right choice for 2024. They feel like there should be other candidates running against him, but the Democratic establishment is holding back potential challengers.
  2. Support for Ukraine is critical, especially with the possibility of a Trump victory. If Trump wins, he may reduce U.S. support for Ukraine, which could seriously affect the war and global stability.
  3. Elon Musk has become a powerful figure, almost acting like a second government. His influence raises concerns about the relationship between wealthy individuals and public institutions, suggesting that we need to rebuild boundaries to protect democratic processes.
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The Continuing Relevance of Adam Smith's "Man of System"

Knowledge Problem • 137 implied HN points • 29 Nov 23
📖 Philosophy Morality Epistemology Political Philosophy Ethics
  1. Adam Smith criticizes interventionist approaches in government that disregard individual preferences and autonomy.
  2. Smith highlights the knowledge problem, emphasizing that individuals have unique preferences and societal systems cannot easily override them.
  3. The 'man of system' imposes his ideals regardless of objections, whereas Smith's analyses focus on systems where participation is voluntary and based on mutual agreement.

Standing in the Center of the Unknowing as the World Cries. What to Do?

Charles Eisenstein • 10 implied HN points • 17 Dec 24
📖 Philosophy Ethics Metaphysics Existentialism Social theory Political Philosophy
  1. There are big questions about how we farm and feed the world, especially concerning the impacts of high-tech agriculture versus organic methods. It's important to rethink how we connect with nature while feeding our population.
  2. Personal healing and intimate connection are crucial in a world filled with chaos and violence. The work of those helping people find healthy relationships can create hope and potentially transform society.
  3. Technology, especially AI, is powerful but also has limits. It might solve surface problems but won't offer real solutions to deeper issues like control and suffering in society.

Searching for the Root of the Tree of Evil

Nothing Human • 90 implied HN points • 08 Jun 24
📖 Philosophy Ethics Metaphysics Epistemology Social theory Political Philosophy
  1. People want to help solve many problems in the world, but it's hard to choose which one to focus on. Some think we should tackle the root causes rather than just the symptoms of these issues.
  2. The scientific method has helped humanity make big advancements by learning from nature. There are some who believe we need to do the same with our social problems, focusing on understanding how to work together better.
  3. Building better cooperation among people could be the key to solving many of our problems today. We need systems that can help us trust and understand each other on a larger scale.

Join me in fighting for your rights (and mine)

Unreported Truths • 41 implied HN points • 14 Dec 24
🇺🇸 U.S. Politics Constitutional Law Government Power Civil Rights Political Philosophy
  1. The Constitution is important for protecting individuals from government overreach. It's a written promise that outlines the rights of the people and states.
  2. Recent court rulings show that judges can stand up against the government's attempts to expand its power beyond what the Constitution allows. This helps maintain the balance of power.
  3. To preserve our rights, we need to actively defend the Constitution. It's essential to keep fighting for the freedoms it grants us, as they can be lost if we don't.

A Total and Complete Shutdown of... History

Holodoxa • 119 implied HN points • 23 Apr 23
📖 Philosophy Political Philosophy Human nature History Evolutionary Theory Cultural analysis
  1. Francis Fukuyama's 'The End of History' thesis discusses the universalization of Western liberal democracy as the final form of human government.
  2. Fukuyama's concept of the 'Last Man' highlights the psychological quandary faced by individuals in advanced free-market democracies, emphasizing the need for societies to address human desires for recognition and meaning.
  3. Fukuyama argues that liberal democracies balance human impulses for freedom and equality, pointing out the importance of culture and economic development in shaping societies.

What Critics of the Humanities Don't Understand

Humanities in Revolt • 299 implied HN points • 10 Feb 22
📖 Philosophy Values Critical Thinking Aesthetics Political Philosophy Moral Philosophy
  1. Critics of the humanities often underestimate their importance and mistakenly prioritize practical fields like STEM over humanities. However, an in-depth analysis reveals the value-based assumptions behind such claims.
  2. The humanities contribute to understanding human existence beyond mere practicality by encouraging contemplation of values, creativity, and the human condition. They help us figure out our fundamental goals and values that guide decision-making.
  3. Philosophy delves into examining human values, morality, aesthetics, and political philosophy, emphasizing the indispensable role the humanities play in critically evaluating our beliefs, actions, and societal structures based on deeper values.

Curator

Castalia • 139 implied HN points • 27 Oct 22
📚 Literature Literary Criticism Political Philosophy Cultural Theory
  1. Some writers focus too much on making sentences sound beautiful, but this can distract from telling a real story or connecting with readers. Writing should feel authentic and meaningful rather than just being a writing contest.
  2. Carl Schmitt had a dangerous influence on political thought, promoting ideas that justify violence and dictatorship. His theories represent a bleak view of power that ignores more humane approaches to politics.
  3. Neoliberalism is often criticized but hard to define. There's a growing call to return to economic ideas that prioritize people's needs over strict market rules, similar to the New Deal, to better support communities and jobs.

Curator

Castalia • 159 implied HN points • 18 Aug 22
🎭️ Culture Media theory Political Philosophy Humanities Social Commentary
  1. The medium used to share ideas shapes how those ideas are perceived and engaged with. Different formats, like books versus films, create very different audience responses and reactions.
  2. Political beliefs are more influenced by social surroundings than solely by moral reasoning or issue preferences. People often vote against their apparent interests based on the community they belong to.
  3. The humanities face a challenge in being relevant today. They must either align with market demands or remain true to their purpose of fostering deep thinking and soul-searching, which may not fit in the current job market.

In Defence of Power

Mon0’s Substack • 19 implied HN points • 13 Nov 23
📖 Philosophy Ethics Political Philosophy Social theory Critical Theory
  1. Power is often seen as bad, but it can actually be used for good. For example, parents guiding their children or the legal system keeping society safe are just uses of power.
  2. Many people wrongly believe that the powerful are always the oppressors. In reality, sometimes the less powerful can also act in harmful ways towards others.
  3. Using power requires responsibility and intelligence. Instead of fearing it, we should learn how to use power wisely to make positive changes in our lives and communities.

Hayek Helps Us Understand Why People Are Losing Their Minds

QTR’s Fringe Finance • 34 implied HN points • 06 Sep 23
📖 Philosophy Moral Philosophy Political Philosophy Social Philosophy Ethics
  1. F.A. Hayek's 'The Fatal Conceit' helps us understand how reason is not the cause but a product of civilization.
  2. Reason does not exist separately from our social environment, impacting our ability to resist tyranny.
  3. Humanity's evolution and civilization were shaped by following rules and morality, not by mere intellect or socialist ideals.

A Major Life Change

Charles Eisenstein • 25 implied HN points • 15 May 23
🌍 World Politics Campaigns Political Philosophy Unity Reconciliation Activism
  1. A chance encounter with Robert F. Kennedy Jr. led to a major life change for the author.
  2. The author's focus on reconciliation, unity, and healing the divide resonated with a major political campaign.
  3. The author plans to continue writing on Substack, offering insights from his new experiences without representing the positions of Mr. Kennedy.

Liberal morality needs liberal mythology

Hypertext • 0 implied HN points • 27 Feb 24
📖 Philosophy Political Philosophy Epistemology Culture History Rhetoric
  1. Liberal morality requires liberal mythology to shape political leadership and intellectual life.
  2. Acknowledging the importance of persuasive storytelling and civic myth-making in open societies is crucial for public justification and promotion of liberalism.
  3. Creating and sustaining genuinely pluralistic and open societies require proactive engagement, creative leadership, and the inclusion of diverse cultural narratives.

Republicanism and the Eudaimonic Economy

Logos and Liberty • 0 implied HN points • 22 Oct 22
🇺🇸 U.S. Politics Economy Government Education Wealth Distribution Political Philosophy
  1. We live in a post-industrial society with surplus wealth that needs to be distributed thoughtfully.
  2. Consumer economy in the US is unsustainable, and we should consider a shift towards a 'eudaimonic' economy focused on education and research.
  3. Universal access to postsecondary education can be a crucial step towards achieving a more balanced and sustainable economy.

Libertarian thoughts on MLK Jr. day

Matt’s Five Points • 0 implied HN points • 16 Jan 12
🇺🇸 U.S. Politics Civil Rights Libertarianism Government Role Racial Justice Political Philosophy
  1. American greatness is shown through the struggles for civil rights, like the fights against slavery and segregation. These movements highlight the importance of moral justice in democracy.
  2. Libertarian values support equal opportunities in the market. If discrimination exists, it disrupts fairness, making civil rights essential even from an economic perspective.
  3. Civil rights laws help eliminate state-enforced discrimination and support a freer market. Proponents of anti-civil rights ideas aren't true libertarians but may be confusing their stance with conservatism.

On winning lotteries

Matt’s Five Points • 0 implied HN points • 05 Jul 11
📖 Philosophy Existentialism Ethics Social theory Metaphysics Political Philosophy
  1. Life has factors beyond our control that shape our destinies. It's important to recognize that genetics, geography, and financial status play roles in our opportunities.
  2. Different political views may accept the idea of unequal starting points, but they react differently to the consequences of that inequality.
  3. There are three main 'lotteries' in life: your genetics, where you're born, and your family's financial situation, and it's worth thinking about how you would prioritize these in terms of their impact on your life.

Ryan Seffinger: The Creative Spirit and the Horizon of the Possible

Do Not Research • 0 implied HN points • 15 Sep 21
📖 Philosophy Political Philosophy Social Critique Existentialism
  1. The left must be wary of getting caught up in protests and demands without a clear alternative political-economic model to capitalism.
  2. Engaging with capitalism while criticizing it creates a paradox - we need to deeply understand and question the systems we're part of.
  3. To envision true innovation beyond the constraints of capitalism, we must broaden our collective imagination and seek solutions outside the current system.