ACX
Absurdity Bias, Neom Edition
Scott Alexander examines the use of absurdity arguments, reflecting on his critique of Neom and offering strategies to balance absurdity heuristics with careful reasoning.
13 min read 1,990 words
A thread through the archive
absurdity heuristic
Essays tagged “absurdity heuristic”. Follow an idea across the archive.
Essays on absurdity heuristic
4 essaysSSC
Self-Serving Bias
Scott Alexander examines self-serving bias and status quo defense using Oregon's gas station law change, arguing for better rational debate skills to navigate societal changes.
10 min read 1,512 words
SSC
Transhumanist Fables
Scott Alexander rewrites classic fairy tales to illustrate transhumanist and rationalist concepts, each ending with a moral lesson related to these philosophies.
6 min read 822 words
LW
Talking Snakes: A Cautionary Tale
Scott uses a conversation with a Muslim woman who found evolution absurd to show that the absurdity heuristic, as used in Bill Maher's "talking snake" argument, is a bad way to dismiss beliefs.
6 min read 844 words