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Mantic Monday 9/16/24
Scott examines a new AI forecaster, discusses Polymarket's success, and reviews recent developments in prediction markets and forecasting.
17 min read 2,631 words
The independent Scott Alexander archive
Scott Alexander, collected.
Essays, arguments, and unexpected connections. An independent archive of Slate Star Codex, Astral Codex Ten, and LessWrong.
The collection
2,007 essaysACX
Your Book Review: Nine Lives
A review of 'Nine Lives', a memoir by ex-jihadist turned spy Aimen Dean, offering insights into al-Qaeda's operations and the challenges of counterterrorism.
54 min read 8,314 words
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Links For September 2024
A compilation of 50 diverse news items and links from September 2024, covering topics from politics and economics to science and technology.
32 min read 4,892 words
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Contra DeBoer On Temporal Copernicanism
Scott Alexander refutes Freddie deBoer's argument against expecting major events in our lifetimes, presenting a more nuanced approach to estimating such probabilities.
16 min read 2,425 words
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Your Book Review: The Pale King
A review of David Foster Wallace's 'The Pale King', examining its themes, the author's style and personal struggles, and the reviewer's evolving perspective on Wallace's work and legacy.
45 min read 6,959 words
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Highlights From The Comments On "Sorry You Feel That Way"
Scott discusses various interpretations and uses of 'sorry' in response to comments on his previous article about the phrase 'I'm sorry you feel that way'.
9 min read 1,378 words
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Interview Day At Thiel Capital
Scott Alexander presents a series of satirical job interviews at Thiel Capital, where candidates share increasingly absurd unpopular beliefs, highlighting the nature of conspiracy theories and contrarian thinking.
16 min read 2,459 words
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Your Book Review: The History of the Rise and Influence of the Spirit of Rationalism in Europe
The review examines W.E.H. Lecky's book on the rise of rationalism in Europe, praising its scholarship and insights into the gradual shift from medieval to rational thinking.
15 min read 2,173 words
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In Defense Of "I'm Sorry You Feel That Way"
Scott Alexander argues that 'I'm sorry you feel that way' is a valid and useful phrase in certain situations, despite widespread criticism.
5 min read 712 words
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Your Book Review: The Complete Rhyming Dictionary and Poet's Craft Book (1936 Edition)
A review of Clement Wood's 1936 'Complete Rhyming Dictionary and Poet's Craft Book', discussing its historical context and value as a resource for aspiring poets during a transitional period in poetry.
28 min read 4,304 words
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The Compounding Loophole
Scott Alexander examines how compounding pharmacies are producing cheaper versions of GLP-1 agonist drugs, exploring the economics, safety, and future implications of this practice.
12 min read 1,780 words
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Lukianoff And Defining Cancel Culture
Scott Alexander examines Greg Lukianoff's definition of cancel culture and explores its limitations through hypothetical scenarios, arguing for a more nuanced understanding to strengthen anti-cancel-culture coalitions.
14 min read 2,096 words
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Your Book Review: Silver Age Marvel Comics
This review examines the importance of Silver Age Marvel Comics (1961-1965) as modern mythology, discussing their innovations and impact on comic book history.
82 min read 12,708 words
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Why Does Ozempic Cure All Diseases?
Scott Alexander examines the surprisingly broad effects of GLP-1 drugs like Ozempic, exploring their mechanisms and speculating on why they seem to impact so many different conditions.
29 min read 4,403 words
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Your Book Review: How the War Was Won
A review of 'How the War Was Won' by Phillips Payson O'Brien, which argues that Allied air and sea power, not land battles, were decisive in World War II.
36 min read 5,491 words
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Highlights From The Comments On Nietzsche
Scott Alexander summarizes and responds to reader comments on his article about Matt Yglesias and Nietzschean philosophy, exploring various perspectives on master and slave morality.
99 min read 15,205 words
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Altruism And Vitalism As Fellow Travelers
Scott Alexander argues that altruism and vitalism mostly align in practice, and that focusing on their theoretical divergences often stems from signaling rather than genuine pursuit of societal improvement.
25 min read 3,759 words
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Your Book Review: Two Arms and a Head
A review of 'Two Arms and a Head', a paraplegic's memoir and argument for physician-assisted suicide, exploring the book's content and the broader debate around Medical Assistance in Dying.
63 min read 9,629 words
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Matt Yglesias Considered As The Nietzschean Superman
Scott Alexander examines Nietzsche's concepts of 'master morality' and 'slave morality', analyzing their modern manifestations and exploring potential compromises between these opposing moral frameworks.
77 min read 11,870 words
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Your Book Review: Real Raw News
The review analyzes Real Raw News, a popular conspiracy theory website, examining its content, appeal, and implications in the context of modern media consumption and AI technology.
55 min read 8,377 words
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Links for July 2024
Scott Alexander presents a diverse collection of 41 links and news items, covering topics from science and politics to history and technology, with brief commentaries and insights.
21 min read 3,173 words
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Some Practical Considerations Before Descending Into An Orgy Of Vengeance
Scott Alexander argues against conservatives adopting cancel culture tactics, presenting practical reasons why this approach would be counterproductive and harmful.
30 min read 4,561 words
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Your Book Review: How Language Began
The review examines Daniel Everett's 'How Language Began', which challenges Chomsky's linguistic theories and proposes an alternative view of language as a gradual cultural invention.
76 min read 11,773 words
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Highlights From The Comments On Mentally Ill Homeless People
Scott Alexander discusses various responses to his post on mentally ill homeless people, emphasizing the need for specific, detailed plans.
63 min read 9,672 words
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Consciousness As Recursive Reflections
Daniel Böttger proposes a new theory of consciousness as recursive reflections of neural oscillations, explaining qualia and suggesting experimental tests.
46 min read 7,042 words
Find your next rabbit hole
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