LW
Rationalist Poetry Fans, Unite!
Scott shares and comments on favorite rationalist poetry by Pope, Omar Khayyam, Piet Hein and Byron to show that poetry and rationality have long been allies.
22 min read 3,358 words
A thread through the archive
overcoming bias
Essays tagged “overcoming bias”. Follow an idea across the archive.
Essays on overcoming bias
5 essaysLW
Never Leave Your Room
Scott surveys research on priming, including studies showing it can sway political judgments and votes, and suggests deciding important matters in a neutral environment.
8 min read 1,116 words
LW
The "Spot the Fakes" Test
Scott proposes testing untestable humanities claims by mixing one sincere argument with several deliberately fabricated ones, inspired by the Ern Malley poetry hoax, and seeing whether experts can tell them apart.
7 min read 1,010 words
LW
Are You a Solar Deity?
Scott uses Littledale's satire proving Max Muller was a solar myth to show how comparative methods can prove anything, and asks how to tell true correspondences from false ones.
8 min read 1,221 words
LW
The Least Convenient Possible World
Scott argues that rationalists should test their objections against 'the least convenient possible world,' where convenient excuses are removed, in order to find their true reasons and avoid dodging hard questions.
10 min read 1,438 words