Scott Alexander examines Vinay Gupta's ideas on enlightenment, comparing them with other sources and discussing the challenges of interpreting mystical experiences from a scientific viewpoint. Longer summary

Scott Alexander discusses Vinay Gupta's views on enlightenment, comparing them to other sources like 'Mastering The Core Teachings Of The Buddha'. He notes similarities in descriptions of meditation and consciousness across different sources, but also highlights Gupta's assertion that everyone experiences enlightenment differently based on their cultural context. The post explores the challenges of understanding enlightenment from a scientific perspective and the potential relativism of mystical experiences. Scott also touches on the concept of the Bayesian brain and how it might relate to enlightenment experiences. He expresses skepticism about claims linking Western alchemical traditions to Eastern enlightenment practices and concludes with Gupta's personal account of achieving a state of no internal dialogue through meditation. Shorter summary

Scott Alexander distinguishes between 'universal culture' and 'Western culture', exploring how the former outcompetes all traditional cultures and the ethical implications of this process. Longer summary

Scott Alexander discusses the concept of 'universal culture' as distinct from 'Western culture', arguing that what is often called 'Westernization' is actually the spread of a culture optimized for industrial societies. He explains how this universal culture outcompetes traditional cultures, including Western culture itself, and explores the ethical implications of this process. The post concludes by considering whether we should support or resist the spread of universal culture, acknowledging the complexity of the issue without reaching a definitive stance. Shorter summary

Scott Alexander uses a couples therapy case to explore how cultural defaults influence our judgments on relationship issues, reflecting on the importance of culture wars in shaping societal norms. Longer summary

Scott Alexander discusses a couples therapy case involving two gay men, Adam and Steve, who disagree about non-monogamy. Adam wants to engage in kinky activities outside their marriage, while Steve insists on monogamy. Scott uses this case to explore how cultural defaults influence our judgments in such situations. He argues that in different time periods or subcultures, the 'right' answer would be clear, but our current diverse culture makes it ambiguous. Scott reflects on how this realization has made him more understanding of both cultural activists and conservatives, as they are essentially fighting to set these cultural defaults. He concludes by acknowledging the importance of culture wars in shaping societal norms, while also apologizing for potentially reinforcing stereotypes about gay couples in his example. Shorter summary