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Oct 28, 2022
acx

Book Review: Malleus Maleficarum

61 min • 8,448 words • 466 comments • 220 likes • podcast (51 min)
Scott Alexander reviews the 'Malleus Maleficarum', a 15th-century witch-hunting manual, analyzing its content and historical context while reflecting on the dangers of limited knowledge. Longer summary
Scott Alexander reviews the 'Malleus Maleficarum', a 15th-century manual for witch-hunters, exploring its contents, historical context, and implications. He examines the book's theological arguments, descriptions of witchcraft, and guidelines for witch trials, highlighting the authors' attempts at rationality within their belief system. The review concludes by reflecting on the tragedy of well-intentioned people causing harm due to limited understanding, drawing parallels to modern challenges in psychiatry and knowledge. Shorter summary
Oct 17, 2017
ssc

Highlights From The Comments On Dark Ages

19 min • 2,536 words • 164 comments • podcast (19 min)
Scott Alexander summarizes and responds to comments on his Dark Ages post, addressing debates about the timeline, historical continuity, and implications of the concept. Longer summary
This post summarizes and responds to comments on a previous article about the Dark Ages. It covers debates about the timeline of the Dark Ages, challenges to the author's original claims, discussions on the continuity between classical and medieval worlds, and reflections on the philosophical and political implications of the concept of Dark Ages. The post includes various expert opinions and historical perspectives, addressing topics such as population decline, economic changes, and cultural shifts during this period. Scott Alexander acknowledges some potential errors in his original post and provides additional context and nuance to the discussion of the Dark Ages. Shorter summary
Oct 15, 2017
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Were There Dark Ages?

37 min • 5,115 words • 541 comments • podcast (36 min)
Scott Alexander argues that the Dark Ages in Western Europe (500-1000 AD) did occur, presenting evidence of economic, demographic, and intellectual decline during this period. Longer summary
Scott Alexander argues against the claim that the Dark Ages never happened, presenting evidence for a significant decline in Western Europe from 500-1000 AD. He addresses common counterarguments, showing how they often rely on isolated demands for rigor or misunderstandings of the term. Scott provides data on economic decline, population decrease, and reduced intellectual output during this period. He acknowledges that the topic is complex and can be politicized, but ultimately concludes that the evidence supports the existence of a 'Dark Age' in Western Europe. Shorter summary
Sep 27, 2014
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Bottomless Pits Of Suffering

9 min • 1,144 words • 458 comments
Scott Alexander explores the challenges of utilitarianism when confronted with hidden or distant suffering, using examples like nursing homes and prisons to illustrate the ethical dilemma. Longer summary
This post discusses the ethical dilemma of utilitarianism when faced with 'bottomless pits of suffering' - situations where helping others would require significant sacrifices from those who are currently comfortable. Scott uses examples like medieval church spending, nursing homes, and prisons to illustrate how easy it is to ignore suffering that isn't immediately visible. He then relates this to philosophical problems in utilitarianism, such as utility monsters and Pascal's Wager. The post concludes by noting the difficulty in finding ethical frameworks that address these issues without completely ignoring hidden suffering. Shorter summary
Jun 24, 2014
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The Placebo-Singers

9 min • 1,186 words • 29 comments
Scott explores the fascinating etymology of 'placebo' from medieval funerals to medicine, then discusses the controversial placebo effect in depression treatment. Longer summary
This post explores the etymology of the word 'placebo' and its journey from funeral rites to medical terminology. Scott starts by debunking the common medical school explanation and delves into its medieval origins as part of funeral rites. He then discusses various theories on how it became an insult and eventually a medical term. The post then shifts to discussing the placebo effect in depression treatment, highlighting the controversy surrounding its effectiveness and the importance of understanding its true nature for patient care. Shorter summary