The hottest Understanding Substack posts right now

And their main takeaways
Category
Top Philosophy Topics

Write Like A Normal Person, Please

A Mug of Insights • 1513 implied HN points • 19 May 23
📖 Philosophy Language Communication Understanding Thought Existentialism
  1. Philosophy often seems obscure and complex to regular people due to its unique language and terminology.
  2. Understanding philosophy is akin to learning a foreign language, with its own set of definitions and interpretations.
  3. Mastering philosophy involves a shift in mindset, where the complexities of the language eventually click and become a new way of thinking and understanding.
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Knowledge vs. Understanding

Integrity Talk • 66 implied HN points • 27 Aug 23
🎭️ Culture Knowledge Understanding Narrative Social media AI
  1. The distinction between knowledge and understanding is essential: knowledge focuses on facts, while understanding delves deeper into the meaning behind the facts.
  2. Storytelling is a fundamental part of how humans communicate and understand the world around them.
  3. Using AI to synthesize information may lead to an increase in misinformation and a lack of in-depth understanding.

Yes, AIs ‘understand’ things

Nonzero Newsletter • 5 HN points • 22 Feb 24
🕹 Technology AI Philosophy Information processing Neural Networks Understanding
  1. The classic argument against AI understanding, the Chinese Room thought experiment, is challenged by large language models.
  2. Large language models (LLMs) like ChatGPT demonstrate elements of understanding by processing information similarly to human brains when it comes to understanding.
  3. LLMs show semantic understanding by mapping words to meaning, undermining the belief that AIs have no semantics and only syntax as argued by Searle in the Chinese Room thought experiment.

Understanding™, or the computational theory of mind

Silicon Reckoner • 19 implied HN points • 12 Feb 23
📖 Philosophy Mind Understanding Intelligence Science Theory
  1. The computational theory of mind is based on a metaphor and tends to take symbolic logic too seriously.
  2. Trademarked concepts like intelligence™ may limit the full understanding of intelligence by excluding certain human emotions like wonder and anxiety.
  3. Understanding in mathematics involves knowing what to calculate and having the technical skill to make those calculations.

Statistics versus Understanding: The Essence of What Ails Generative AI

Marcus on AI • 1 HN point • 13 Feb 24
🕹 Technology AI Generative AI Statistics Understanding
  1. Generative AI often relies on statistics as a shortcut for true understanding, leading to shaky foundations and errors.
  2. Challenges arise when generative AI systems fail to grasp complex concepts or contexts beyond statistical relationships.
  3. Examples in various domains show the struggle between statistical frequency and genuine comprehension in generative AI.

Why You Should Reread a Book

Akash Chinnaiah • 2 HN points • 06 Sep 22
📚 Literature Reading Understanding Personal Growth Book analysis
  1. Rereading a book can offer new perspectives and deeper understanding, just like rewatching a movie reveals missed details.
  2. Reading a book again after some time can show how your thinking has evolved and allow you to grasp more insights from the text.
  3. Investing time in reading a book without effectively absorbing its content is a costly mistake; rereading can help avoid this regret.

How to initiate a conversational mind meld

Rocket Philosophy by Ian • 0 implied HN points • 17 Apr 23
⛪ Faith & Spirituality Communication Trust Community Relationships Understanding
  1. Initiate conversations with a clear vision to go far in relationships and collaborations.
  2. Establish a safe conversational environment through shared context, open communication, and active listening.
  3. Maintain trust as a foundation in personal relationships, solving misalignments through systematic exploration and continuous communication.

The Stateful Chinese Room

The Grey Matter • 0 implied HN points • 15 Mar 23
🕹 Technology AI Language Models Understanding Learning Communication
  1. The Chinese Room thought experiment challenges the idea of computers having genuine understanding.
  2. Understanding involves more than just following rules, requiring a deep comprehension and application of knowledge.
  3. The Stateful Chinese Room concept suggests that AI models could potentially achieve genuine understanding through context and repeated exposure.

Peak Performance Newsletter #16 | On Culture: From Solo to Team and Beyond

The Leadership Lab • 0 implied HN points • 13 Dec 21
🎭️ Culture Understanding Leadership Development Issues Resources
  1. Culture is unique to each company, emerging from interactions among employees, partners, and the market.
  2. Good culture isn't a one-size-fits-all solution; it must be continually discovered and developed.
  3. Founder DNA plays a significant role in shaping a company's culture, influencing the organization's strengths and blindspots.