SSC
Gupta On Enlightenment
Scott Alexander examines Vinay Gupta's ideas on enlightenment, comparing them with other sources and discussing the challenges of interpreting mystical experiences from a scientific viewpoint.
19 min read 2,909 words
A thread through the archive
cultural relativism
Essays tagged “cultural relativism”. Follow an idea across the archive.
Essays on cultural relativism
4 essaysSSC
How The West Was Won
Scott Alexander distinguishes between 'universal culture' and 'Western culture', exploring how the former outcompetes all traditional cultures and the ethical implications of this process.
35 min read 5,388 words
SSC
Setting The Default
Scott Alexander uses a couples therapy case to explore how cultural defaults influence our judgments on relationship issues, reflecting on the importance of culture wars in shaping societal norms.
14 min read 2,165 words
LW
Framing Effects in Anthropology
Scott presents Horace Miner's satirical essay describing American culture as an exotic tribe called the 'Nacirema,' demonstrating how framing effects and cultural expectations shape anthropological interpretation.
16 min read 2,422 words