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Feb 08, 2017
ssc

Albion’s Seed, Genotyped

5 min • 628 words • 105 comments
Scott Alexander discusses a genetic study that largely confirms historical American migration patterns described in 'Albion's Seed', noting both its confirmations and areas of confusion. Longer summary
Scott Alexander reviews a genetic study that analyzes the population structure of North America, relating it to David Fischer's book 'Albion's Seed' and the concept of American Nations. The study used 770,000 genomes to create clusters that largely confirm historical migration patterns described in these works. Scott notes how the genetic clusters match with New Englander and Pennsylvania Quaker migrations, and their westward spread. He expresses confusion about the Southern/Appalachian region's genetic divisions and disappointment that the study doesn't confirm some theories about West Coast populations. Overall, Scott sees this as an elegant example of hard science confirming historical speculation. Shorter summary
Sep 22, 2014
ssc

SSC Gives A Wedding Speech

12 min • 1,576 words • 69 comments
Scott Alexander delivers a wedding speech for Mike and Hannah Blume, blending personal anecdotes, humor, and reflections on the couple's potential impact on future generations. Longer summary
Scott Alexander gives a speech at the wedding of Mike Blume and Hannah 'Alicorn' Blume, recounting his history with the couple and his admiration for their relationship. He discusses how he met Hannah, his initial reluctance to attend weddings, and his growing friendship with Mike. Scott praises their relationship as a model of mutual respect and love. The speech then takes an unexpected turn to population genetics, explaining how all humans are descendants of historical figures, and concludes by highlighting the couple's potential impact on future generations. The speech balances humor, personal anecdotes, and philosophical musings about the future of humanity. Shorter summary
Aug 12, 2014
ssc

Does Race Exist? Does Culture?

20 min • 2,724 words • 281 comments
Scott Alexander uses an analogy between race and culture to argue that mathematical clustering arguments don't determine whether race 'exists' any more than they determine whether culture 'exists'. Longer summary
Scott Alexander discusses the concept of 'Eulering,' using complex math to debunk common sense ideas, and proposes 'Feynmaning' as a counter-technique. He applies this to the debate about race, comparing arguments against race as a biological concept to similar arguments that could be made about culture. He concludes that mathematical arguments about clustering don't determine whether race 'exists' any more than they determine whether culture 'exists,' and suggests that race doesn't have any extra reality beyond culture. The post uses an analogy between race and culture to challenge both those who claim race isn't real and those who claim it's more 'scientific' than culture. Shorter summary