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Can We Link Perception And Cognition?
Scott Alexander explores potential links between perception of optical illusions and cognitive styles, proposing further research to investigate these connections.
7 min read 945 words
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2,008 essaysSSC
Can You Condition Yourself?
Scott Alexander critically examines the concept of self-conditioning, expressing skepticism while considering potential benefits and deciding to experiment with the technique.
15 min read 2,214 words
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Cancer Progress: Much More Than You Wanted To Know
Scott Alexander examines conflicting narratives about cancer treatment progress, analyzing data to show that while some improvements are due to social factors, there's evidence of genuine advancements in cancer treatment and outcomes.
14 min read 2,168 words
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Carbon Dioxide: An Open Door Policy
Scott Alexander explores research on how high indoor CO2 levels may impair cognition and sleep, suggesting simple solutions like better ventilation.
11 min read 1,591 words
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Cardiologists and Chinese Robbers
The post uses a fabricated narrative about cardiologists to illustrate the Chinese Robber Fallacy and its role in media bias, emphasizing the importance of context in interpreting negative stories about any group.
14 min read 2,078 words
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Causal Models At Work
Scott Alexander shares two humorous medical anecdotes that highlight the potential for misunderstanding complex health information.
2 min read 171 words
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Caution On Bias Arguments
Scott Alexander critiques the use of bias arguments in debates, explaining why they're often counterproductive and suggesting more constructive ways to address bias.
16 min read 2,372 words
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CBT In The Water Supply
Scott Alexander explores the declining effectiveness of Cognitive Behavioral Therapy, proposing that its core ideas have become part of popular culture, potentially explaining its decreased impact.
21 min read 3,127 words
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Change Minds Or Drive Turnout?
Scott examines claims that political parties should focus on base turnout rather than appealing to moderates, finding evidence that extreme candidates decrease turnout and swing voters matter.
16 min read 2,381 words
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Chemical Imbalance
Scott Alexander defends psychiatry's use of 'chemical imbalance' theory, arguing it was meant to emphasize depression's biological basis rather than claiming a simple serotonin deficiency.
31 min read 4,675 words
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Chronic Psychitis
Scott Alexander examines the theory linking inflammation to depression, finding it promising but cautioning against overconfidence, and discusses the potential and limitations of anti-inflammatory drugs as depression treatments.
14 min read 2,064 words
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Clarification To “Sacred Principles As Exhaustible Resources”
Scott clarifies that he supports free speech for all, but criticizes deliberately seeking controversy when choosing speakers to defend free speech principles.
7 min read 996 words
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Classified Ads Thread
Scott proposes a classified ads thread for readers to post various ads, including personal ads for women and gay people, while he's away at a conference.
1 min read 46 words
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Classified Thread 2: Best In Classified
Scott Alexander posts a classified thread and advertises rationalist community housing in Berkeley, describing four available houses and inviting applications.
3 min read 447 words
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Classified Thread 3: Semper Classifiedelis
Scott Alexander shares community classifieds, including a math tutoring offer, a request for financial help, and a now-fulfilled request for AI professionals in North Carolina.
2 min read 247 words
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Classified Thread 4: Vinson Classif
Scott announces a classified thread for advertisements, personals, and success stories, with uncertain frequency.
1 min read 20 words
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Classified Thread 5: Classified Never Sinned
Scott announces a classified thread for advertisements, personals, and success stories, with uncertain frequency.
1 min read 20 words
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Classified Thread 6
Scott introduces a classified thread for advertisements, personals, and success stories, with uncertain frequency.
1 min read 20 words
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Classified Thread 7
Scott Alexander announces a classified thread for advertisements, personals, and success stories, with uncertain frequency.
1 min read 20 words
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Classified Thread 8
Scott introduces a recurring classified thread for advertisements, personals, success stories, and financial support requests, emphasizing respectful engagement.
1 min read 53 words
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Cognitive Enhancers: Mechanisms And Tradeoffs
Scott explores how acetylcholine-related cognitive enhancers might work by increasing sensory precision and learning rate, while speculating on potential tradeoffs and acknowledging the highly speculative nature of these ideas.
17 min read 2,585 words
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College And Critical Thinking
Scott reviews evidence on whether college improves critical thinking, finding modest short-term gains but questioning their long-term persistence.
10 min read 1,459 words
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Compound Interest Is The Least Powerful Force In The Universe
Scott Alexander critiques Ezra Klein's argument that white Americans have benefited from compound interest on wealth stolen from African Americans, citing evidence that wealth rarely persists across generations.
16 min read 2,465 words
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Concept-Shaped Holes Can Be Impossible To Notice
Scott Alexander discusses the difficulty of recognizing concepts we might be missing, using examples from psychology and sociology to argue for keeping an open mind towards seemingly trivial ideas.
13 min read 1,915 words