Scott reviews 'Manufacturing Consent' by Chomsky and Herman, analyzing its arguments about media bias and US foreign policy atrocities. Longer summary

This post reviews Noam Chomsky and Edward Herman's book 'Manufacturing Consent', which argues that the US media has a strong conservative bias despite the liberal leanings of most journalists. The book proposes five mechanisms for this bias and presents case studies of US military interference in Third World countries. Scott analyzes the book's arguments, noting some issues with bias and cherry-picking of examples, but concludes that its core thesis about media bias and US foreign policy atrocities is largely compelling. He discusses how the book changed his understanding of historical events like the Iraq War and explores its relevance to modern media dynamics. Shorter summary

Scott Alexander defends Less Wrong and Eliezer Yudkowsky against accusations of being anti-scientific, arguing that developing rational thinking skills beyond traditional scientific methods is valuable and necessary. Longer summary

Scott Alexander responds to Topher Hallquist's criticism of Less Wrong and Eliezer Yudkowsky as being 'anti-scientific rationality'. Scott argues that Hallquist's criticisms are often unfair or inaccurate, taking quotes out of context or misunderstanding Yudkowsky's positions. He defends the rationalist community's efforts to develop better thinking tools that go beyond traditional scientific methods, while still respecting science. Scott contends that developing an 'Art of Thinking Clearly' is valuable and necessary, especially for experts who have to make difficult judgments. He argues Less Wrong is not against science, but wants to strengthen and supplement it with additional rational thinking skills. Shorter summary