How to explore Scott Alexander's work and his 1500+ blog posts? This unaffiliated fan website lets you sort and search through the whole codex. Enjoy!

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Jun 11, 2019
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Highlights From The Comments On Cultural Evolution

41 min • 5,629 words • 131 comments • podcast (38 min)
Scott Alexander summarizes and responds to various comments on his review of 'The Secret of Our Success', covering topics from language evolution to cultural practices and critiques of the book's claims. Longer summary
This post highlights comments on Scott Alexander's review of 'The Secret of Our Success'. It covers various topics including language creation, human strength compared to apes, cultural evolution, traditional practices, and the interplay between tradition and rationality. The post also touches on critiques of the book's claims, discussions on illegible preferences, and parallels with psychoanalytic concepts. It ends with perspectives on labor practices in Dubai and insights from StarCraft 2 strategies as metaphors for cultural evolution. Shorter summary
Feb 13, 2019
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The Proverbial Murder Mystery

54 min • 7,424 words • 120 comments • podcast (45 min)
A detective investigates deaths at a proverb-testing laboratory, uncovering a plot involving a reality-bending machine that makes proverbs literal. Longer summary
This post is a fictional detective story set in a laboratory that tests proverbs. The detective investigates two deaths at the lab and uncovers a sinister plot involving a machine that makes proverbs come true. The story is filled with wordplay and literal interpretations of proverbs, leading to a climactic confrontation where the detective uses his knowledge of sayings to defeat the villainous lab director. The narrative is presented as a mystery that gradually reveals the true nature of the lab and its machine, ending with the destruction of the proverb-manipulating technology. Shorter summary
Sep 14, 2013
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Giving and Accepting Apologies

22 min • 3,033 words • 37 comments
Scott Alexander explores the nuances of apologies, their meanings, and societal implications, using personal and political examples to illustrate the complexities involved. Longer summary
Scott Alexander discusses the complexities of giving and accepting apologies, using a personal anecdote from his hospital work and expanding to broader societal implications. He explores three different meanings of 'I'm sorry' and the difficulties in expressing regret without admitting fault. The post delves into the challenges politicians face when apologizing, the potential consequences of different types of apologies, and Scott's personal reflections on his ability to apologize and accept apologies. He concludes by advocating for a more nuanced understanding of apologies and the importance of accepting them in the spirit they are offered. Shorter summary
Apr 01, 2013
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A good pun is its own reword

8 min • 1,112 words • 38 comments
Scott Alexander explores what makes puns truly great, providing numerous examples and discussing various types of exceptional wordplay. Longer summary
Scott Alexander critiques a Buzzfeed list of 'greatest puns', arguing that truly great puns require more than just word similarity. He explores various types of exceptional puns, including those with multiple meanings, anti-puns, and puns requiring extensive background knowledge. Scott provides numerous examples of clever puns, discussing their complexity and creativity. He concludes by nominating what he considers the greatest pun of all time: a multilingual, historically-based pun attributed to Sir Charles Napier, though he notes it's likely apocryphal. Shorter summary