Scott Alexander discusses the difficulty of recognizing concepts we might be missing, using examples from psychology and sociology to argue for keeping an open mind towards seemingly trivial ideas. Longer summary

Scott Alexander explores the concept of 'concept-shaped holes' - ideas or experiences that we might be missing without realizing it. He uses personal anecdotes and examples from fields like psychology and sociology to illustrate how we might think we understand something when we actually don't, or dismiss important ideas as trivial. The post discusses three main points: the difficulty in recognizing one's own emotional or relational limitations, the challenge of truly understanding concepts like 'atomization' or 'consumerism', and the importance of keeping an open mind towards seemingly meaningless fields of study. Scott argues for erring on the side of caution when dismissing ideas that many find profound, suggesting that what seems trivial might actually be beyond our current understanding. Shorter summary

The post satirically portrays ancient concepts as 'modern pathologies' to criticize aspects of contemporary society. Longer summary

This post satirically critiques various historical and cultural phenomena by framing them as 'modern pathologies'. The author sarcastically describes the Great Pyramid of Cheops, heterosexual procreation, Homer's Odyssey, Aristotelian virtue theory, and Catholicism as if they were recent developments, using them to criticize aspects of modern society such as individualism, capitalism, and standardization. The tone is deeply ironic, using anachronistic comparisons to modern concepts like neoliberalism, Instagram, and corporate culture to highlight perceived flaws in contemporary society. Shorter summary