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8 posts
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Your Attempt To Solve Debate Will Not Work

Scott argues that projects attempting to "solve debate" through argument mapping or similar technologies are fundamentally doomed because real arguments don't work like logical syllogisms, people don't actually want structured debates, and there's no evidence this approach has ever worked.

acx
Apr 28, 2026 1,389 words 504 likes 393 comments Listen · 9 min Read Read

Come On, Obviously The Purpose Of A System Is Not What It Does

Scott critiques the phrase 'the purpose of a system is what it does' by showing how it confuses outcomes with intentions and leads to absurd or paranoid conclusions.

acx
Apr 11, 2025 1,021 words 522 likes 705 comments Listen · 9 min Read Read

Desperately Trying To Fathom The Coffeepocalypse Argument

Scott Alexander dissects and criticizes a common argument against AI safety that compares it to past unfulfilled disaster predictions, finding it logically flawed and difficult to steelman.

acx
Apr 25, 2024 2,526 words 177 likes 873 comments Listen · 14 min Read Read

Unspoken Ground Assumptions Of Discussion

Scott Alexander explores five unspoken assumptions in discussions that can lead to misunderstandings and logical fallacies when not clarified.

ssc
Aug 3, 2014 903 words 0 likes 61 comments Read Read

Effects Of Vertical Acceleration On Wrongness

The author humorously responds to a common argument against evidence-based medicine, suggesting a parachute experiment with a twist.

ssc
Feb 20, 2014 56 words 0 likes 16 comments Read Read

The Logician And The God-Emperor

A humorous fictional tale about a logician and a God-Emperor illustrates the importance of precise logical language through two scenarios involving logical operators.

ssc
Dec 4, 2013 290 words 0 likes 83 comments Read Read

Arguments From My Opponent Believes Something

Scott Alexander outlines and criticizes ten fallacious argument styles that misrepresent an opponent's beliefs, demonstrating how they can be used to unfairly attack any position.

ssc
Jun 13, 2013 806 words 0 likes 43 comments Read Read

Proving Too Much

Scott Alexander explores the 'Proving Too Much' fallacy as an efficient tactic to quickly dismantle complex arguments, particularly those using Dark Arts techniques.

ssc
Apr 13, 2013 742 words 0 likes 53 comments Listen · 6 min Read Read
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