rationalnewsletter

Issue #70

Flattering feedback about one's character induced higher self-esteem and stronger activation in the reward-system of the brain than flattering feedback about one's appearance. // drive.google.com

# Instrumental

How to take smart notes (Ahrens, 2017) // Yuxi_Liu, 7 min Favorite

The Real Rules Have No Exceptions // Said Achmiz, 1 min

Is this info on zinc lozenges accurate? // philh, 4 min

Self-experiment Protocol: Effect of Chocolate on Sleep // AspiringRationalist, 2 min

Should I wear wrist-weights while playing Beat Saber? // Raemon, 1 min

# Epistemic

Metaphorical extensions and conceptual figure-ground inversions // jessicata, 3 min

How often are new ideas discovered in old papers? // TurnTrout, 1 min

Where is the Meaning? // Hazard, 4 min

Predictable Identities: 14 – Frameworks are Fake // Jacob Falkovich, 1 min

# Ai

Ought: why it matters and ways to help // paulfchristiano, 6 min

AI Safety Debate and Its Applications // VojtaKovarik, 14 min

The Self-Unaware AI Oracle // steve2152, 10 min

Just Imitate Humans? // michaelcohen, 1 min

The Artificial Intentional Stance // Charlie Steiner, 4 min

# Anthropic

How To Prep For War // Robin Hanson, 2 min

Big War Remains Possible // Robin Hanson, 2 min

Will War Return? // Robin Hanson, 2 min

Beware Nggwal // Robin Hanson, 1 min

# Decision theory

On the purposes of decision theory research // Wei_Dai, 1 min

# Math and cs

Bayes' Theorem in three pictures // Evan Rysdam, 2 min

Cross-Validation vs Bayesian Model Comparison // johnswentworth, 5 min

Solving for X instead of 3 in love triangles? // Eruvnal, 1 min

# Books

Learning to Learn and Navigating Moods // calebo, 12 min Favorite

Book Review: The Electric Kool-Aid Acid Test // Scott Alexander, 17 min

# Community

Results of LW Technical Background Survey // johnswentworth, 1 min

APL AI Safety Conference // alenglander, 1 min

Cambridge LW/SSC Meetup // AspiringRationalist, 1 min

DEF CON / Las Vegas meetup (Aug. 8, 2019) // Yoreth, 1 min

Adversarial Collaboration Contest 2019 // Scott Alexander, 4 min

# Culture war

Domestic Cozy: 6 // Venkatesh Rao, 1 min

# Misc

Prediction as coordination // jacobjacob, 4 min Favorite

What questions about the future would influence people’s actions today if they were informed by a prediction market? // MathieuRoy, 1 min

Can you summarize highlights from Vernon's Creativity? // Raemon, 1 min

Old Man Jevons Can’t Save You Now (Part 2/2) // Closed Limelike Curves, 4 min

# Podcasts

093: Review of EXHALATION, Part 2 // Review the Future, 58 min

142 - Debate (rebroadcast) // , 54 min

89 – Is Rationalism Being Co-opted by the Alt-Right? // The Bayesian Conspiracy, 125 min

Rationally Speaking #236 - Alex Tabarrok on "Why are the Prices So D*mn High?" // NYC Skeptics, 52 min

# Videos of the week

AI Creates Near Perfect Images Of People, Dogs and More // Two Minute Papers, 4 min