Scott Alexander creates a political quiz to distinguish between object-level and meta-level thinking, based on consistent application of principles across different scenarios. Longer summary

Scott Alexander presents a political spectrum quiz designed to differentiate between 'Object-Level Thinkers' and 'Meta-Level Thinkers'. The quiz consists of pairs of questions on controversial political issues, where each pair tests the same principle but in different contexts. Participants are scored based on how consistently they apply principles across different scenarios. The post includes 12 questions (6 pairs), scoring instructions, and commentary on the quiz's inspiration and design. Scott also invites readers to suggest improvements or additional questions. Shorter summary

Scott Alexander argues for a legitimate 'spirit of the First Amendment' that protects the marketplace of ideas, criticizing tactics that silence rather than address arguments. Longer summary

This post discusses the concept of 'spirit of the First Amendment' and its implications for free speech. Scott Alexander disagrees with Popehat's criticism of this concept, arguing that there is a legitimate meaning to it. He explains that the spirit of the First Amendment is about protecting the marketplace of ideas, where arguments succeed based on evidence rather than the power of their proponents. Scott distinguishes between good responses to arguments (addressing ideas) and bad responses (silencing them), including methods like getting people fired, doxxing, and online harassment. He argues that these silencing tactics distribute power based on popularity and wealth rather than the validity of ideas. The post concludes by stating that bad arguments should be met with counterarguments, not with tactics that silence or harm the speaker. Shorter summary