Scott Alexander argues that misusing terms like 'democratic' and 'accountable' can inadvertently justify totalitarianism, and suggests more careful usage of these terms. Longer summary

Scott Alexander critiques the misuse of terms like 'democratic' and 'accountable', arguing that when taken to extremes, they can justify totalitarianism. He illustrates this through examples in religious freedom, charitable donations, and AI development, showing how demands for complete 'democracy' or 'accountability' in all aspects of life can lead to the erosion of personal freedoms. The post suggests that these terms should be used more carefully, with 'democratic' applied mainly to government structures and 'accountable' reserved for specific power dynamics, to avoid inadvertently promoting totalitarian ideas. Shorter summary

The review analyzes Ernst Jünger's 'On the Marble Cliffs' as a beautifully written allegory of Nazi Germany that offers advice on surviving totalitarianism through appreciation of beauty. Longer summary

This review explores Ernst Jünger's 1939 novella 'On the Marble Cliffs', contextualizing it within the German Catastrophe and Jünger's life, analyzing its poetic style and allegorical content, and arguing that its primary purpose is to offer advice on surviving totalitarian rule through the appreciation of beauty. The reviewer discusses the book's historical context, Jünger's writing style, the challenges of translation, the plot's allegorical nature, and the often-missed central message about the power of beauty as a coping mechanism in the face of horror. Shorter summary