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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Aug 13, 2022
acx

Your Book Review: God Emperor Of Dune

37 min • 5,165 words • 322 comments • 119 likes • podcast (36 min)
A review of 'God Emperor of Dune' by Frank Herbert, analyzing its themes of power, AI risk, and human evolution, while drawing parallels to modern concerns about artificial intelligence. Longer summary
This review analyzes 'God Emperor of Dune', the fourth book in Frank Herbert's Dune series, focusing on its themes of power, AI risk, and human evolution. The reviewer discusses the main characters, particularly Leto II, the god-emperor who rules for 3,500 years as a human-sandworm hybrid. The book is presented as a meditation on leadership, loneliness, and the nature of power, with parallels drawn to modern AI risk concerns. The review also critiques the novel's lack of plot and its treatment of female characters, while highlighting its prescient themes regarding AI and human development. Shorter summary
Feb 18, 2021
acx

Highlights From The Comments On Cult Of Smart

61 min • 8,427 words • 492 comments • 73 likes • podcast (49 min)
Scott Alexander responds to comments on his review of 'The Cult of Smart', addressing criticisms and expanding on topics like charter schools, meritocracy, and education reform. Longer summary
Scott Alexander discusses various reactions to his review of Freddie DeBoer's book 'The Cult of Smart'. He addresses criticisms of charter schools, clarifies his stance on meritocracy, and elaborates on his negative experiences with schooling. The post also explores ideas about reforming education systems, the tension between order and freedom in schools, and ways to empower less advantaged people in society. Shorter summary
Feb 27, 2017
ssc

A Modern Myth

113 min • 15,778 words • 185 comments • podcast (91 min)
A modern retelling of Greek mythology featuring gods in contemporary settings, exploring power dynamics and divine intervention, culminating in Zeus regaining power. Longer summary
This post is a modern retelling of Greek mythology, featuring various gods and goddesses in contemporary settings. It explores themes of power dynamics, divine intervention, and the relationship between gods and humans. The story is divided into multiple parts, each focusing on different deities and their interactions. It culminates in a scene where Zeus regains his power and a final encounter with Donald Trump. The narrative is a creative blend of ancient mythology and modern culture, with a satirical tone throughout. Shorter summary
Sep 04, 2014
ssc

Cooperation Un-Veiled

17 min • 2,353 words • 246 comments
Scott Alexander examines contractualism and its limitations using a thought experiment of 100 men with varying strengths, exploring how power dynamics affect moral agreements. Longer summary
Scott Alexander explores the concept of contractualism in morality, using a thought experiment involving a society of 100 men with varying strengths. He examines how different agreements against oppression might be formed based on utility ratios and power differentials. The post then discusses why this model doesn't work due to game theory considerations, drawing parallels with the Iterated Prisoner's Dilemma. Scott concludes by proposing some variations of the problem that might yield more interesting results, including random elements in interactions, meta-agreements, and coalitions. Shorter summary