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Jul 07, 2023
acx

Your Book Review: Secret Government

42 min • 5,771 words • 216 comments • 133 likes • podcast (34 min)
The review examines arguments for increased government secrecy, suggesting that transparency may lead to negative outcomes and that a return to more opaque legislative processes could be beneficial. Longer summary
This book review examines Brian Kogelmann's argument for increased secrecy in government, particularly in legislative processes. The author argues that transparency, while intuitively appealing, can lead to negative outcomes such as increased influence of special interest groups and political grandstanding. The review explores the historical context, theoretical justifications, and potential drawbacks of secret deliberation, ultimately suggesting that a return to more opaque legislative processes could improve political outcomes. Shorter summary
Mar 18, 2015
ssc

Book Review: The Machinery Of Freedom

39 min • 5,343 words • 599 comments
Scott reviews 'The Machinery of Freedom' by David Friedman, discussing libertarian ideas and anarcho-capitalist proposals while expressing both interest and skepticism. Longer summary
Scott reviews David Friedman's book 'The Machinery of Freedom', which presents arguments for libertarianism and anarcho-capitalism. The book, originally from 1973, feels dated in some aspects but offers fascinating insights. Scott finds the libertarian arguments compelling but expresses skepticism about the proposed anarcho-capitalist system, listing potential issues and questioning why a system without coercion would solve all problems. He concludes that experimentation with different governance systems is needed rather than relying solely on theoretical predictions. Shorter summary
Dec 01, 2013
ssc

Empire/Forest Fire

16 min • 2,191 words • 239 comments
Scott Alexander critiques the Reactionary concept of 'left singularity', arguing that reigns of terror typically follow repressive right-wing regimes rather than gradual leftward shifts in democracies. Longer summary
Scott Alexander critiques the Reactionary concept of 'left singularity', which posits that leftist movements become increasingly extreme until they collapse. He argues this theory is flawed, using an analogy to forest fires to show how it misinterprets causation. Scott contends that reigns of terror typically follow repressive right-wing regimes, not gradual leftward shifts in democracies. He proposes an alternative model where repressive monarchies build up pressure leading to revolution, which may be hijacked by extremists. Scott argues that moderate leftist democracies are stable and less prone to violent upheaval than far-right regimes, challenging core Reactionary claims. Shorter summary
Mar 13, 2013
ssc

Valleys have two sides

9 min • 1,127 words • 80 comments
Scott Alexander critiques the Reactionary 'uncanny valley' argument for dictatorship, highlighting its practical flaws and drawing parallels with Communist regimes. Longer summary
Scott Alexander critiques the 'uncanny valley' argument used by Reactionaries to justify dictatorship. He argues that while uncanny valleys may exist in some areas, the Reactionaries are unfairly comparing a gritty Progressive reality to an idealized Reactionary thought experiment. Scott points out the practical difficulties in establishing a perfectly secure dictatorship, especially given current popular support. He draws parallels to Communist regimes, suggesting that Reactionary governments would likely face similar challenges and compromises, ultimately becoming oppressive in their attempts to maintain power against societal trends towards Progressivism. Shorter summary
Mar 03, 2013
ssc

Reactionary Philosophy In An Enormous, Planet-Sized Nutshell

120 min • 16,672 words • 341 comments
The post provides a comprehensive overview of Reactionary philosophy and its critiques of modern progressive society, attempting to present these controversial ideas fairly for the sake of debate. Longer summary
This post provides a comprehensive overview of Reactionary philosophy, presenting its arguments against modern progressive society and in favor of traditional values and governance structures. The author explains Reactionary critiques of democracy, diversity, feminism, and other progressive ideals, and presents Reactionary arguments for monarchy, cultural unity, and traditional gender roles. The post covers topics like race, colonialism, and immigration from a Reactionary perspective. While not endorsing these views, the author attempts to present them fairly to encourage debate and examination of commonly held progressive assumptions. Shorter summary