The hottest Wokeness Substack posts right now

And their main takeaways
Category
Top U.S. Politics Topics

The origin of woke: a George Mason view

Gray Mirror • 108 implied HN points • 28 Dec 24
🇺🇸 U.S. Politics Wokeness Political theory Cultural Studies Social Psychology
  1. Wokeness is seen as a form of signaling virtue. People often support wokeness to show they are nice and moral, which helps them gain status in social groups.
  2. The origin of wokeness is linked to the desire to treat everyone equally, promoting good behavior, especially in diverse societies. It's about showing you care about people from different backgrounds.
  3. Discussing group differences and how they impact social status is important. Wokeness evolves to maintain its status, often distancing itself from less socially aware groups.

Contra Paul Graham on Wokeness

Erik Torenberg's Thoughts • 390 implied HN points • 14 Jan 25
🇺🇸 U.S. Politics Social justice Inequality Wokeness Government Policy Political Discourse
  1. Wokeness focuses on reducing inequalities between groups, prioritizing equity over equal treatment under the law. This can often lead to the idea that more progress is always needed until absolute equality is achieved.
  2. There is a belief that achieving equality of opportunity ties closely to achieving equality of outcome. Without equal outcomes, true equal opportunity seems impossible, which can shift discussions toward more government intervention.
  3. True equality under the law accepts that inequalities will exist in practice. The goal should be to raise the minimum standards for everyone without aiming to equalize outcomes between different groups.

Maximum Progress on Progressivism

Bet On It • 628 implied HN points • 18 Nov 24
🇺🇸 U.S. Politics Political theory Social Issues Philosophy Media Critique Wokeness
  1. Michael Huemer's book, Progressive Myths, offers a clear look at popular beliefs around social issues. He tackles topics like racism and sexism with an emphasis on understanding facts over ideology.
  2. The book encourages readers to question politically charged information and be more skeptical of what they hear. It stresses the importance of looking for objective truths instead of simply aligning with one side of the debate.
  3. Huemer concludes that understanding the truth about complex issues is crucial for avoiding myths that can arise in society. His approach aims to help readers think critically about controversial topics, helping them navigate media bias.

*Progressive Myths*: The Caplan-Huemer Interview

Bet On It • 196 implied HN points • 04 Feb 25
🇺🇸 U.S. Politics Social Issues Political theory Public Policy Philosophy Wokeness
  1. The difference between a neutral and objective presentation is important. An objective approach aims to provide a fair and accurate account without taking sides.
  2. Many myths exist around racial pay gaps and other social issues, often attributing them to discrimination rather than productivity differences.
  3. The conversation around wokeness and climate change is complex. Some claims are true, but it's essential to approach these topics with careful analysis.
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Is everything racist? A book recommendation

Disaffected Newsletter • 899 implied HN points • 30 May 23
🇺🇸 U.S. Politics Race Issues Meritocracy Wokeness Cultural critique
  1. The book 'When Race Trumps Merit' by Heather MacDonald discusses how feelings about race impact various aspects of society. It argues that these emotions are hurting our institutions and relationships.
  2. MacDonald points out that classical music is currently facing challenges because of politically charged decisions. Some believe they need to change the way they operate to survive.
  3. The issues raised in the book extend beyond music to areas like medicine and science, showing how extreme views can disrupt many important fields. It's an eye-opening look at a serious problem.

Fool Me Twice

KERFUFFLE • 55 implied HN points • 28 Jan 25
🇺🇸 U.S. Politics Political Views Public Policy Wokeness Election Impact Government actions
  1. Both Democrats and Republicans have used social issues to push their own agendas, with Democrats focusing on wokeness and Republicans on anti-wokeness.
  2. There have been extreme reactions to social justice issues, which can sometimes lead to unfair consequences for individuals involved.
  3. Recent changes in federal policies may dramatically affect funding for essential services like education and healthcare, all in the name of fighting supposed elitism.

NEW CULTURE

Less Foolish • 294 implied HN points • 01 Jul 23
🎭️ Culture Wokeness Leisure Philosophy Community
  1. Hipsters were once seen as a counterculture but were later viewed as pretentious and vacuous, signaling the end of Western civilization.
  2. The rise of 'woke' culture, with its focus on social justice, led to a backlash and fatigue, prompting the search for a new culture beyond cancel culture.
  3. Leisure is seen as crucial for the emergence of a new culture, encouraging creativity, philosophical inquiry, and the formation of communal practices.