Scott Alexander explores the ethics of using Sci-Hub, introducing 'Dark Rule Utilitarianism' to argue that pirating scientific papers could be ethical despite being illegal. Longer summary

Scott Alexander discusses the ethics of using Sci-Hub, a website for pirating scientific papers. He presents arguments for and against its use, ultimately concluding that it might be ethical. He argues that while piracy can harm industries like movies, destroying the scientific journal industry through piracy could be beneficial due to its rent-seeking nature. Scott introduces the concept of 'Dark Rule Utilitarianism' to justify this stance. He then explores the broader implications of civil disobedience, using a metaphor of a magic artifact that enforces laws to different degrees across latitudes. He concludes that some level of civil disobedience can be beneficial for society, helping to dissolve inadequate equilibria. Shorter summary

Scott Alexander reviews 'Inadequate Equilibria' by Eliezer Yudkowsky, a book exploring systemic failures, decision-making, and the limits of social consensus. Longer summary

Scott Alexander reviews Eliezer Yudkowsky's book 'Inadequate Equilibria', which explores why bad situations persist despite pressure to improve them, when to trust social consensus vs. personal reasoning, and the pitfalls of overusing the Outside View in decision-making. The book offers a framework for analyzing systemic failures and inefficiencies, but Scott finds its treatment of the Outside View somewhat disappointing. He recommends reading the book despite its flaws, citing its thought-provoking nature and useful conceptual toolbox. Shorter summary