Scott Alexander examines the concept of innate ability and argues for its acceptance, while cautioning against tying self-worth to intellectual achievement. Longer summary

Scott Alexander explores the concept of innate ability and its impact on self-worth, using personal anecdotes and philosophical arguments. He discusses how attributing success to hard work alone can be problematic, as it ignores inherent differences in aptitude. The post compares attitudes towards intelligence with those towards other traits like weight or poverty, noting a inconsistency in how society views these issues. Scott argues for accepting innate differences while still encouraging effort, and suggests that self-worth should not be tied to intellectual ability or achievement. Shorter summary

Scott examines the feeling of being a burden in depression, arguing that society owes individuals support and suggesting a need for new ways to find meaning beyond traditional 'contribution'. Longer summary

Scott discusses the concept of feeling like a burden, a common theme among suicidal patients. He explores how this feeling relates to depression and societal expectations, and argues that society owes individuals support due to how it has changed the environment humans evolved in. The post critiques the idea that people must 'contribute' to have worth, suggesting we need a new value system as automation increases. Scott proposes basic income as a potential solution and advises patients to focus on less tangible ways of finding meaning. Shorter summary