Category Archives: Rationality

The Four Children of the Seder as the Simulacra Levels

Posted on September 7, 2020 by TheZvi

Previously: Unifying the Simulacra Definitions, Simulacra Levels and their Interactions, On Negative Feedback and Simulacra Simulacra levels are complex, counter-intuitive and difficult to understand. Thus, it is good and right to continue exploring them partly via story and metaphor. The metaphor here will … Continue reading →

Posted in Rationality, Simulacra | 18 Comments

Unifying the Simulacra Definitions

Posted on August 3, 2020 by TheZvi

Epistemic Status: Confident this is the perspective I find most useful. This is intended to both be a stand-alone post and to be the second post in the Simulacra sequence, with the first being Simulacra Levels and their Interactions. It … Continue reading →

Posted in Rationality, Simulacra | 28 Comments

New York Times, Please Do Not Threaten The Safety of Scott Alexander By Revealing His True Name

Posted on June 23, 2020 by TheZvi

In reaction to (Now the entirety of SlateStarCodex): NYT Is Threatening My Safety By Revealing My Real Name, So I Am Deleting The Blog I have sent the following to New York Times technology editor Pui-Wing Tam, whose email is … Continue reading →

Posted in Politics, Rationality | 11 Comments

Simulacra Levels and their Interactions

Posted on June 15, 2020 by TheZvi

Previously: Covid-19: My Current Model, On Negative Feedback and Simulacra This post aims to unpack and explain simulacra levels of action using the threat of covid-19 as its central example. My intention is for future posts to then apply this … Continue reading →

Posted in Rationality, Simulacra | 43 Comments

Do It Now

Posted on May 22, 2020 by TheZvi

Epistemic Status: Reference A while ago, I read the book Getting Things Done. Like most productivity books and systems, it includes detailed advice that approximately no one will follow. Unlike most productivity books and systems, it has two highly valuable … Continue reading →

Posted in Good Advice, Rationality | 3 Comments

On Negative Feedback and Simulacra

Posted on May 3, 2020 by TheZvi

Response to (Elizabeth @ LessWrong): Negative Feedback and Simulacra Requires/Assumes (Compass Rose): Simulacra and Subjectivity Epistemic Status: Exploring, thinking out loud, taking a break from Covid-19 stuff, etc. Long post is long because I didn’t have the time or insight … Continue reading →

Posted in Rationality, Simulacra | 7 Comments

SlateStarCodex 2020 Predictions: Buy, Sell, Hold

Posted on May 1, 2020 by TheZvi

Previously: Evaluating Predictions in Hindsight Epistemic Status: Having fun Evaluating predictions is hard, especially about the future. Let’s do it. The most frustrating part of predictions is defining them carefully. A lot of Scott’s 2020 predictions seem like they have a … Continue reading →

Posted in Rationality | 9 Comments

Evaluating Predictions in Hindsight

Posted on April 16, 2020 by TheZvi

Epistemic Status: Confident I have useful things to say, but apologies for the long post because I don’t think it’s worth my time to make it shorter. Better to get thoughts down for those who want to read them. Scott … Continue reading →

Posted in Death by Metrics, Guide, Rationality | 22 Comments

The One Mistake Rule

Posted on April 10, 2020 by TheZvi

Epistemic Status: The Bed of Procrustes Related to (Said Achmiz at Less Wrong): The Real Rules Have No Exceptions If a model gives a definitely wrong answer anywhere, it is useless everywhere.  This principle is doubtless ancient, and has doubtless … Continue reading →

Posted in Rationality | 14 Comments

What is a School?

Posted on March 13, 2020 by TheZvi

Previously: The Case Against Education You don’t know what you’ve got till it’s gone. In a belated triumph of sanity, schools around the world are closing their doors in the wake of the Coronavirus outbreak. The debates about schools closing make … Continue reading →

Posted in Coronavirus, Rationality | 6 Comments