Scott explores the nature of scientific contrarianism, discussing how ideas spread through the scientific community and the challenges faced by both crackpots and legitimate contrarians. Longer summary

This post discusses the concept of contrarians and crackpots in science, exploring how ideas move through different levels of the scientific community. Scott examines cases like Gary Taubes and the serotonin theory of depression to illustrate how scientific consensus can differ at various levels. He proposes a pyramid model of scientific knowledge dissemination and discusses how contrarians might be skipping levels in this pyramid. The post then contrasts virtuous contrarians with crackpots, noting that the former often face indifference rather than opposition. Scott concludes by discussing paradigm shifts in science and how even correct contrarians often lose credit for their ideas. Shorter summary

Scott Alexander reviews a bizarre historical book claiming Abraham Lincoln had ape-like features and used spiritualism to become president. Longer summary

This post discusses a 19th/20th century book called 'The Copperhead' by Dr. Fayette Hall, which makes outlandish claims about Abraham Lincoln. The book suggests Lincoln had ape-like physical characteristics and relied on spiritualism and voodoo to become president. Scott Alexander presents these claims with a mix of amusement and historical interest, noting the book's crackpot nature while finding its illustrations and assertions entertaining. The post ends with a promise to continue the topic in a future entry. Shorter summary