Daniel Böttger shares his traumatic medical experiences and develops a theory about 'survival-oriented' vs 'thriving-oriented' systems based on computer science concepts, offering insights for improving collaboration. Longer summary

Daniel Böttger recounts a series of traumatic medical experiences, starting with a car crash that led to the discovery of a brain tumor. He describes his struggles with epilepsy, intense pain, and fear, as well as his interactions with medical professionals. Through these experiences, he develops a theory about the fundamental differences between 'survival-oriented' and 'thriving-oriented' systems, based on the concept of space-efficient vs. time-efficient algorithms from computer science. He proposes that this theory explains many conflicts and communication difficulties in various domains, from healthcare to politics, and offers suggestions for improving collaboration between these different types of systems. Shorter summary

A compilation of 50 diverse news items and links from September 2024, covering topics from politics and economics to science and technology. Longer summary

This post is a compilation of 50 diverse links and news items from September 2024. It covers a wide range of topics including politics, science, technology, economics, and social issues. Some notable items include discussions on kidney donation compensation, personality genetics, fertility rates in Israel, drug decriminalization in Oregon, AI regulation in California, and various political and economic analyses. The post also includes commentary on recent studies, books, and social phenomena. Shorter summary

Daniel Böttger proposes a new theory of consciousness as recursive reflections of neural oscillations, explaining qualia and suggesting experimental tests. Longer summary

This guest post by Daniel Böttger proposes a new theory of consciousness, describing it as recursive reflections of neural oscillations. The theory posits that qualia arise from the internal processing of information within oscillating neural patterns, which can reflect on themselves. The post explains how this theory accounts for various characteristics of qualia and consciousness, and suggests ways to test the theory using EEG source analysis. Shorter summary

Scott Alexander examines the use of absurdity arguments, reflecting on his critique of Neom and offering strategies to balance absurdity heuristics with careful reasoning. Longer summary

Scott Alexander reflects on his previous post mocking the Neom project, considering whether his use of the absurdity heuristic was justified. He explores the challenges of relying on absurdity arguments, acknowledging that everything ultimately bottoms out in such arguments. The post discusses when it's appropriate to use absurdity heuristics in communication and personal reasoning, and offers strategies for avoiding absurdity bias. These include calibration training, social epistemology, occasional deep dives into fact-checking, and examining why beliefs come to our attention. Scott concludes that while there's no perfect solution, these approaches can help balance the use of absurdity arguments with more rigorous thinking. Shorter summary

Scott Alexander examines a study showing that Napoleonic reforms led to better economic outcomes, challenging the idea that evolved systems are always superior to designed ones. Longer summary

Scott Alexander discusses a 2009 paper by Daron Acemoglu et al. that challenges the idea that organically evolved systems are superior to designed ones. The study found that areas invaded by Napoleon and subjected to radical institutional reforms experienced more rapid economic growth. Scott explores the implications of this study, its potential limitations, and how it challenges common beliefs about the superiority of evolved institutions over designed ones. Shorter summary

Scott reviews 'The Black Swan' by Nassim Taleb, examining its key concepts and Taleb's unique perspective on probability and risk. Longer summary

Scott reviews Nassim Nicholas Taleb's book 'The Black Swan', which explores the impact of rare and unpredictable events. He discusses Taleb's key concepts like the ludic fallacy and Platonicity, compares the book to other works on rationality, and reflects on Taleb's unique style and perspective. Scott also examines Taleb's critique of 'nerds' and his emphasis on empiricism over theory, while noting some potential issues with an overly empirical approach. Shorter summary

A collection of interesting links covering a wide range of topics, from scientific studies and historical facts to current events and amusing anecdotes. Longer summary

This is one of Scott's regular link posts, collecting various interesting articles, studies, and facts that caught his attention. The topics range widely from scientific research (like PTSD in Roman soldiers and genetic studies) to historical curiosities (like Byzantine titles and the history of cell phones). He also comments on current events like Silicon Valley critiques and political developments. Some links are serious academic studies, while others are more lighthearted like the rules around shooting Bigfoot. Throughout the post, Scott adds brief commentary and context to help readers understand the significance of each link. Shorter summary