SSC
Cuddle Culture
Scott examines the benefits of cuddle culture, particularly for asexual people in polyamorous relationships, and speculates on the factors that allow such a culture to thrive in certain communities.
9 min read 1,337 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
2,008 essaysSSC
Why No Science Of Nerds?
Scott Alexander discusses the lack of scientific research on nerds, exploring potential explanations for their distinct traits, including the possible role of testosterone.
11 min read 1,564 words
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Book Review: Red Plenty
Scott reviews 'Red Plenty', a book about Soviet economic planning, discussing its initial promise, challenges, and ultimate failure.
28 min read 4,221 words
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Streetlight Psychology
Scott Alexander criticizes psychological studies that confuse short-term reactions with long-term effects, using examples from video game violence research, media stereotype studies, and parenting research.
13 min read 1,995 words
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SSC Gives A Wedding Speech
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.
11 min read 1,580 words
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More Links For September 2014
Scott Alexander shares a diverse collection of interesting links with brief commentaries, covering topics from education and politics to science and technology.
13 min read 1,890 words
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Joint Over- and Underdiagnosis
Scott Alexander explains how psychiatric conditions like ADHD can be both over- and underdiagnosed simultaneously, due to statistical quirks in diagnosis and population prevalence.
4 min read 600 words
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[Ozy] A Response to Spandrell
Ozy responds to Spandrell's article on sexual deviancy, refuting claims about homosexuality, female paraphilias, and transgender experiences.
15 min read 2,295 words
SSC
Does Class Warfare Have A Free-Rider Problem?
Scott examines why the rich appear to influence politics despite theoretical barriers, proposing that moral philosophies may emerge to solve wealthy coordination problems.
8 min read 1,197 words
SSC
Book Review: Singer on Marx
Scott Alexander reviews Singer's book on Marx, finding Marx's ideas deeply flawed, particularly his refusal to plan for communist governance and his belief in infinitely malleable human nature.
21 min read 3,159 words
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What The Hell, Hegel?
Scott Alexander examines the rise and fall of Hegel's philosophical influence, contrasting his 19th-century dominance with modern dismissals, and considers the implications for philosophy and Hegel's lasting impact on modern thought.
18 min read 2,776 words
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Society Is Fixed, Biology Is Mutable
Scott Alexander argues that biological solutions to societal problems may be more effective and easier to implement than social interventions, challenging common perceptions about mutability of human characteristics.
7 min read 935 words
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Links For September 2014
A collection of interesting links from September 2014 covering scientific research, social issues, and curiosities, with commentary from Scott Alexander.
15 min read 2,293 words
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Mapmaker, Mapmaker, Make Me A Map
Scott Alexander presents an interactive concept map of the rationalist community, inspired by previous community maps and showcasing various websites and adjacent communities.
2 min read 189 words
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Cooperation Un-Veiled
Scott Alexander examines contractualism and its limitations using a thought experiment of 100 men with varying strengths, exploring how power dynamics affect moral agreements.
16 min read 2,353 words
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The Guardian vs. Induction
Scott Alexander criticizes a Guardian article's flawed reasoning in claiming 'Limits to Growth' accurately predicts economic collapse, comparing it to the philosophical 'grue-bleen induction problem'.
9 min read 1,374 words
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Book Review and Highlights: Quantum Computing Since Democritus
Scott Alexander reviews 'Quantum Computing Since Democritus' by Scott Aaronson, sharing insights gained despite the book's complexity and his own mathematical limitations.
21 min read 3,139 words
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Radicalizing the Romanceless
Scott Alexander critiques feminist discourse around 'nice guys', arguing it can be unfair and counterproductive, potentially driving lonely men towards anti-feminist ideologies.
49 min read 7,509 words
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More Links For August
Scott Alexander shares a diverse collection of links on topics ranging from politics and economics to scientific studies, offering brief commentaries and critiques.
16 min read 2,385 words
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If The Media Reported On Other Dangers Like It Does AI Risk
Scott satirizes media reporting on AI risk by presenting exaggerated or misrepresented coverage of other potential dangers, highlighting issues in risk reporting.
3 min read 402 words
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The Invisible Nation – Reconciling Utilitarianism And Contractualism
Scott explores the concept of an 'Economists' Paradise' to derive a form of contractualism as a basis for morality, potentially grounding utilitarianism and resolving some of its paradoxes.
42 min read 6,400 words
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Nobody Likes A Tattletale
Scott Alexander explores the ethics of tattling and promise-keeping, arguing for the importance of trustworthy promises even when they conflict with moral imperatives.
13 min read 1,899 words
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Ozy’s Anti Heartiste FAQ
Ozy Frantz provides a detailed critique of common 'manosphere' beliefs, particularly those of blogger Heartiste, using scientific studies and logical arguments to counter claims about human sexuality and dating.
95 min read 14,696 words
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Links For August 2014
Scott shares a collection of interesting links covering topics like folklore, scientific papers, geopolitics, and cultural curiosities.
7 min read 1,043 words
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An Iron Curtain Has Descended Upon Psychopharmacology
Scott Alexander compares the disconnect between American and Russian psychopharmacology to having different chemical elements, exploring why effective Russian psychiatric drugs are unknown in America.
8 min read 1,144 words
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