Scott Alexander summarizes and responds to comments on his review of 'The Origins of Woke', covering various aspects of civil rights law, workplace discrimination, and the spread of 'wokeness'. Longer summary

This post highlights various comments on Scott Alexander's review of Richard Hanania's book 'The Origins of Woke'. The comments cover a wide range of topics including personal experiences with workplace discrimination, the origins and spread of 'wokeness', civil rights law in different countries, EEOC lawsuits, and various other related subjects. The post provides a balanced view of different perspectives on these issues, showing both support for and criticism of Hanania's arguments. Shorter summary

Scott Alexander reviews 'The Origins of Woke', finding its critique of civil rights law informative but skeptical of its claim that such laws caused wokeness. Longer summary

Scott Alexander reviews Richard Hanania's book 'The Origins of Woke', which argues that civil rights law is the source of modern woke culture. The book provides a critical overview of civil rights legislation, focusing on affirmative action, disparate impact, and harassment law. While Scott finds the critique of civil rights law informative, he is skeptical of the book's central claim that this legislation is the primary cause of wokeness. He notes that the book fails to explain the recent surge in woke culture and omits discussion of other potential factors. Scott suggests the book may be primarily aimed at influencing conservative policymakers rather than providing a comprehensive academic analysis. Shorter summary

Scott Alexander analyzes the Elizabeth Hoover case to explore the complexities of racial identity, lived experience, and the ethics of cultural appropriation. Longer summary

Scott Alexander examines the case of Elizabeth Hoover, a professor who believed she was Native American but later discovered she wasn't, to explore the concept of race and lived experience. He discusses the complexities of defining race, the problems with basing identity solely on genetics or lived experience, and the ethical implications of cultural appropriation and affirmative action. The post critiques the harsh treatment Hoover received, suggesting it's a result of cancel culture and an overly rigid application of rules about cultural identity. Scott argues for a more nuanced and compassionate approach to such cases, highlighting the potential cruelty of retroactively invalidating someone's identity based on genetic tests. Shorter summary

Scott Alexander summarizes and responds to various criticisms of meritocracy from commenters, arguing that despite its flaws, meritocracy is preferable to alternatives like cronyism. Longer summary

This post discusses various criticisms and concerns about meritocracy raised in the comments of a previous article. Scott Alexander summarizes and responds to several key points, including the definition of meritocracy, its application in different fields, potential negative consequences, and alternatives. He addresses concerns about meritocracy creating a disconnected elite class, stripping lower classes of leadership, and the challenges of truly implementing a merit-based system. Scott argues that while meritocracy has flaws, it's still preferable to alternatives like cronyism, and criticizes some anti-meritocracy arguments as being utopian or impractical. Shorter summary

Scott Alexander advocates for a political philosophy combining free markets with social welfare, proposing market-based alternatives to current welfare programs and regulations. Longer summary

Scott Alexander proposes a political philosophy that combines free market values with social welfare, which he tentatively calls 'bleeding heart libertarianism' or 'left-libertarianism'. He argues that many current welfare programs disguised as jobs or regulations are inefficient and could be replaced by direct welfare payments. The post presents examples like the BART strike, fast food workers' wage demands, and affirmative action, suggesting market-based alternatives that could be more effective. Alexander concludes that this approach allows for more flexibility and innovation while still addressing social and economic problems through government subsidies and taxes. Shorter summary