How to avoid getting lost reading Scott Alexander and his 1500+ blog posts? This unaffiliated fan website lets you sort and search through the whole codex. Enjoy!

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5 posts found
Mar 07, 2023
acx
11 min 1,425 words 600 comments 178 likes podcast
Scott Alexander uses Kelly betting to argue why AI development, unlike other technologies, poses too great a risk to civilization to pursue aggressively. Longer summary
Scott Alexander responds to Scott Aaronson's argument for being less hostile to AI development. While agreeing with Aaronson's points about nuclear power and other technologies where excessive caution caused harm, Alexander argues that AI is different. He uses the concept of Kelly betting from finance to explain why: even with good bets, you shouldn't risk everything at once. Alexander contends that while technology is generally a great bet, AI development risks 'betting everything' on civilization's future. He concludes that while some AI development is necessary, we must treat existential risks differently than other technological risks. Shorter summary
Jan 01, 2015
ssc
117 min 15,194 words 990 comments podcast
Scott Alexander critiques feminist stereotyping of nerds, arguing that nerds' social struggles are real and not simply male entitlement. Longer summary
Scott Alexander responds to Laurie Penny's article about 'nerd entitlement,' arguing that feminists often unfairly stereotype and shame nerdy men. He contends that nerds' social difficulties and pain are real, and not simply a result of male entitlement or privilege. Alexander criticizes the tendency to dismiss nerds' struggles and accuse them of misogyny, arguing this perpetuates harmful stereotypes. He calls for more understanding and nuance in discussions of gender, privilege, and social dynamics in nerd culture. Shorter summary
Sep 01, 2014
ssc
25 min 3,139 words 183 comments podcast
Scott Alexander reviews 'Quantum Computing Since Democritus' by Scott Aaronson, sharing insights gained despite the book's complexity and his own mathematical limitations. Longer summary
Scott Alexander reviews Scott Aaronson's book 'Quantum Computing Since Democritus', admitting he struggled to fully understand it due to its mathematical complexity. Despite this, he gained insights into quantum mechanics, computational complexity, and the nature of information in physics. The review highlights key passages and ideas from the book, including Aaronson's perspective on quantum mechanics as a generalization of probability theory and his views on artificial intelligence and consciousness. Alexander also reflects on his own mathematical limitations and the book's impact on his understanding of various scientific and philosophical concepts. Shorter summary
Jun 20, 2014
ssc
14 min 1,803 words 108 comments podcast
Scott proposes adapting DW-Nominate, a political spectrum analysis tool, to study morality through real-life decisions, exploring its potential implications and limitations. Longer summary
Scott proposes using a method similar to DW-Nominate, a tool used to calculate politicians' positions on the political spectrum, to investigate morality. He suggests applying this method to real-life moral decisions people make, from major choices to everyday actions. The post explores how this could potentially group people into 'good' and 'bad' categories, identify the most moral actions, and possibly provide insights into contentious moral issues. Scott also discusses how this method might work in morally inverted societies like Nazi Germany, presenting three hypothetical outcomes and their implications for understanding morality objectively. Shorter summary
Mar 13, 2013
ssc
9 min 1,127 words 80 comments podcast
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