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# Cognito Mentoring: An advising service for intellectually curious students
My name is [Jonah Sinick](http://jonahsinick.com/), and I'm posting to announce a new advising service for intellectually curious students: [Cognito Mentoring](http://cognitomentoring.org/). I'm working on this in collaboration with [Vipul Na... | https://www.lesswrong.com/posts/hphGa6xfad3m4imCs/cognito-mentoring-an-advising-service-for-intellectually |
# January 2014 Media Thread
This is the monthly thread for posting media of various types that you've found that you enjoy. Post what you're reading, listening to, watching, and your opinion of it. Post recommendations to blogs. Post whatever media you feel like discussing! To see previous recommendations, check out t... | https://www.lesswrong.com/posts/788LoJvHPW85Eva5n/january-2014-media-thread |
# One Year of Pomodoros
_(Pomodoros have been [talked](/r/discussion/lw/ha3/unlimited_pomodoro_works_my_scheduling_system/) about a [bunch](/lw/gp4/the_power_of_pomodoros/) on LW. I, [like elharo](/lw/gxr/rationality_habits_i_learned_at_the_cfar_workshop/), first started using the technique after attending a CFAR work... | https://www.lesswrong.com/posts/vXwjg5PpwSTfuHJ2k/one-year-of-pomodoros |
# Chapter 102: Caring
_June 3rd, 1992._
Professor Quirrell was very sick.
He'd seemed better for a while, after drinking his unicorn's blood in May, but the air of intense power which had surrounded him afterward hadn't lasted even a day. By the Ides of May, Professor Quirrell's hands had been trembling again, thoug... | https://www.lesswrong.com/posts/vsASeE4KDP2nedgGv/chapter-102-caring |
# Tulpa References/Discussion
There have been a number of discussions here on LessWrong about "tulpas", but it's been scattered about with no central thread for the discussion. So I thought I would put this up here, along with a centralized list of reliable information sources, just so we all stay on the same page.
_... | https://www.lesswrong.com/posts/imxPxMjXE2JT9rLaF/tulpa-references-discussion |
# Two Dark Side Statistics Papers
**I.**
First we have [False Positive Psychology: Undisclosed Flexibility In Data Collection And Analysis Allows Presenting Anything As Significant](http://www.socio.mta.hu/dynamic/simmons_et_al_2011.pdf) (h/t Jonas Vollmer).
The message is hardly unique: there are lots of tricks uns... | https://www.lesswrong.com/posts/SQAfPKZBAAKYMjx25/two-dark-side-statistics-papers |
# Handshakes, Hi, and What's New: What's Going On With Small Talk?
This is an attempt to explicitly model what's going on in some small talk conversations. My hope is that at least one of these things will happen:
* There is a substantial flaw or missing element to my model that someone will point out.
* Many rea... | https://www.lesswrong.com/posts/huRxRzwcvwTzvtEPY/handshakes-hi-and-what-s-new-what-s-going-on-with-small-talk |
# [LINK] How Long Does Habit Formation Take?
**Related:** [Common failure modes in habit formation](/lw/hub/common_failure_modes_in_habit_formation/)
I ran across [this bit of pop-sci](http://www.brainpickings.org/index.php/2014/01/02/how-long-it-takes-to-form-a-new-habit/) (a review of Jeremy Dean's [Making Habits, ... | https://www.lesswrong.com/posts/x4zzkbuFWLwuD454n/link-how-long-does-habit-formation-take |
# Critiquing Gary Taubes, Final: The Truth About Diets and Weight Loss
**Previously:** [Mainstream Nutrition Science on Obesity](/lw/jdw/critiquing_gary_taubes_part_1_mainstream/), [Atkins Redux](/lw/je4/critiquing_gary_taubes_part_2_atkins_redux/), [Did the US Government Give Us Absurd Advice About Sugar?](/lw/je5/cr... | https://www.lesswrong.com/posts/jvu2nbW9jLwxH5K5X/critiquing-gary-taubes-final-the-truth-about-diets-and |
# Soft Paternalism in Parenting
Reading the recently featured [Beware of Trivial Inconveniences](/lw/f1/beware_trivial_inconveniences/) I realized that this is the method that makes [Say](http://www.babyzone.com/kids/discipline/positive-parenting-power_73633) [Yes](http://www.webmd.com/parenting/features/say-no-withou... | https://www.lesswrong.com/posts/DEsgKpLJ9LvTRuDh7/soft-paternalism-in-parenting |
# Fascists and Rakes
[_Cross-posted from my blog_](http://reasonableapproximation.net/2014/01/04/facists-and-rakes.html)
It feels like most people have a moral intuition along the lines of "you should let people do what they want, unless they're hurting other people". We follow this guideline, and we expect other peo... | https://www.lesswrong.com/posts/EAJTMRr8JpnG7Hw6Q/fascists-and-rakes |
# [Link] Valproic acid, a drug for brain plasticity
NPR reports on a study [giving volprioc acid to adults and training them on pitch](http://www.npr.org/2014/01/04/259552442/want-perfect-pitch-you-could-pop-a-pill-for-that?sc=ipad&f=1001) (singing):
> Hensch is studying a drug which might allow adults to learn perfe... | https://www.lesswrong.com/posts/eoQzegXyhRSniiNdm/link-valproic-acid-a-drug-for-brain-plasticity |
# Another Critique of Effective Altruism
Cross-posted from my [blog](http://jsteinhardt.wordpress.com/2014/01/05/another-critique-of-effective-altruism/). It is almost certainly a bad idea to let this post be your first exposure to the effective altruist movement. You should at the very least read [these](http://blog.... | https://www.lesswrong.com/posts/CZmkPvzkMdQJxXy54/another-critique-of-effective-altruism |
# Introducing .impact
**.impact is a new network of volunteers coordinating effective altruist projects.**
------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
There are many project ideas that could be really useful for the effective altruist community. There are people with the skill... | https://www.lesswrong.com/posts/2pKZxbeLhwyqs3upF/introducing-impact |
# Marijuana: Much More Than You Wanted To Know
This month I work on my hospital’s Substance Abuse Team, which means we treat people who have been hospitalized for alcohol or drug-related problems and then gingerly suggest that maybe they should use drugs a little less.
The two doctors leading the team are both very e... | https://www.lesswrong.com/posts/c8khnHoRTSGjmHLLf/marijuana-much-more-than-you-wanted-to-know |
# [LINK] Why I'm not on the Rationalist Masterlist
A long blog post explains why the author, a feminist, is not comfortable with the rationalist community despite thinking it is "super cool and interesting". It's directed specifically at Yvain, but it's probably general enough to be of some interest here.
[http://apo... | https://www.lesswrong.com/posts/bMDJAcXfJdLtMArej/link-why-i-m-not-on-the-rationalist-masterlist |
# A big Singularity-themed Hollywood movie out in April offers many opportunities to talk about AI risk
There's a big Hollywood movie coming out with an apocalyptic Singularity-like story, called Transcendence. ([IMDB](http://www.imdb.com/title/tt2209764/), [Wiki](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Transcendence_%282014_fil... | https://www.lesswrong.com/posts/68atEsN7jMzK7tGFp/a-big-singularity-themed-hollywood-movie-out-in-april-offers |
# [Link] Consciousness as a State of Matter (Max Tegmark)
Max Tegmark [publishes a preprint of a paper](http://arxiv.org/abs/1401.1219) arguing from physical principles that consciousness is “what information processing feels like from the inside,” a position I've [previously](/lw/qx/timeless_identity/9txe) [articulat... | https://www.lesswrong.com/posts/Fwv7zkChRzjCSiidH/link-consciousness-as-a-state-of-matter-max-tegmark |
# Literature-review on cognitive effects of modafinil (my bachelor thesis)
Modafinil is probably the most popular cognitive enhancer. LessWrong seems [pretty](/lw/10u/ask_lesswrong_human_cognitive_enhancement_now/v6e) [interested](/lw/dbc/anybody_know_some_good_modafinil_suppliers/) [in](/lw/bes/generic_modafinil_sal... | https://www.lesswrong.com/posts/dkqwQAgLemS6vBdRk/literature-review-on-cognitive-effects-of-modafinil-my |
# The mechanics of my recent productivity
A decade ago, I decided to save the world. I was fourteen, and the world certainly wasn't going to save itself.
I fumbled around for nine years; it's surprising how long one can fumble around. I somehow managed to miss the whole idea of existential risk and the whole concept ... | https://www.lesswrong.com/posts/uX3HjXo6BWos3Zgy5/the-mechanics-of-my-recent-productivity |
# Habitual Productivity
_I was able to maintain [high productivity](/lw/jg3/the_mechanics_of_my_recent_productivity/) for extended periods of time and achieve some difficult goals. In this and the following posts I will discuss some personality quirks and techniques that helped me do this. This post is fairly self-exp... | https://www.lesswrong.com/posts/srwKRt9TsS5oxvJsh/habitual-productivity |
# Dr. Jubjub predicts a crisis
**Dr. Jubjub**: Sir, I have been running some calculations and I’m worried about the way our slithy toves are heading.
**Prof. Bandersnatch**: Huh? Why? The toves seem fine to me. Just look at them, gyring and gimbling in the wabe over there.
**Dr. Jubjub**: Yes, but there is a distinc... | https://www.lesswrong.com/posts/XYd67qYjjEDmeiPiL/dr-jubjub-predicts-a-crisis |
# I Will Pay $500 To Anyone Who Can Convince Me To Cancel My Cryonics Subscription
Background:
On the most recent [LessWrong readership survey](/lw/j4y/2013_less_wrong_censussurvey/), I assigned a probability of 0.30 on the cryonics question. I had previously been persuaded to sign up for cryonics by reading the sequ... | https://www.lesswrong.com/posts/HxGRCquTQPSJE2k9g/i-will-pay-usd500-to-anyone-who-can-convince-me-to-cancel-my |
# Try more things.
_[(Cross-posted from my personal site.)](http://whaaales.com/try-more-things/)_
Several months ago I began a list of "things to try," which I share at the bottom of this post. It suggests many mundane, trivial-to-medium-cost changes to lifestyle and routine. Now that I've spent some time with most ... | https://www.lesswrong.com/posts/ZzCxs2AFThcTfFeKr/try-more-things |
# AALWA: Ask any LessWronger anything
**If you want people to ask you stuff reply to this post with a comment to that effect.**
More accurately, ask any participating LessWronger anything that is in the category of questions they indicate they would answer.
If you want to talk about this post you can reply to my com... | https://www.lesswrong.com/posts/YdfpDyRpNyypivgdu/aalwa-ask-any-lesswronger-anything |
# Deregulating Distraction, Moving Towards the Goal, and Level Hopping
_This is the third post in a series discussing my recent [bout of productivity](/lw/jg3/the_mechanics_of_my_recent_productivity/). Within, I discuss two techniques I use to avoid akrasia and one technique I use to be especially productive._
Deregu... | https://www.lesswrong.com/posts/yFALNnscB2qgehnJv/deregulating-distraction-moving-towards-the-goal-and-level |
# Why I haven't signed up for cryonics
(OR)
How I'm now on the fence about whether to sign up for cryonics
--------------------------------------------------------------
I'm not currently signed up for cryonics. In my social circle, that makes me a bit of an oddity. I disagree with Eliezer Yudkowsky; heaven forbid. ... | https://www.lesswrong.com/posts/fy3JvBALB8HaJxzMv/why-i-haven-t-signed-up-for-cryonics |
# Even Odds
([Cross-posted](http://bywayofcontradiction.com/?p=40) on my [personal blog](http://bywayofcontradiction.com/), which has LaTeX, and is easier to read.)
Let's say that you are are at your local less wrong meet up and someone makes some strong claim and seems very sure of himself, "blah blah blah resurrect... | https://www.lesswrong.com/posts/aiz4FCKTgFBtKiWsE/even-odds |
# New (proposal for) monthly thread: Meetup Reports
If you had an interesting Less Wrong meetup recently, but don't have the time to write up a big report to post to Discussion, feel free to write a comment here. Even if it's just a couple lines about what you did and how people felt about it, it might encourage some... | https://www.lesswrong.com/posts/nHcuKaEPvFdJgpex4/new-proposal-for-monthly-thread-meetup-reports |
# Anthropic Atheism
(Crossposted from [my blog](http://nyansandwich.info/anthropics.html))
I've been developing an approach to anthropic questions that I find less confusing than others, which I call Anthropic Atheism (AA). The name is a snarky reference to the ontologically basic status of observers (souls) in other... | https://www.lesswrong.com/posts/93oeqzF7ZEKbd9jdx/anthropic-atheism |
# Functional Side Effects
[Cross Posted](http://bywayofcontradiction.com/?p=201) on [By Way of Contradiction](http://bywayofcontradiction.com)
You have probably heard the argument in favor of functional programming languages that functions act like functions in mathematics, and therefore have no side effects. When yo... | https://www.lesswrong.com/posts/WjXYsSqdwTY9sJ5mP/functional-side-effects |
# The non-Independence of superficially-Irrelevant Alternatives
A [new article in Biology Letters](http://rsbl.royalsocietypublishing.org/content/10/1/20130935.full) shows that under some conditions in which animals appear to behave "irrationally" (by apparently failing to conform to the [Independence of Irrelevant Al... | https://www.lesswrong.com/posts/ReYtXfTHWf6T6FF79/the-non-independence-of-superficially-irrelevant |
# Results from MIRI's December workshop
Last week (Dec. 14-20), MIRI ran its [6th research workshop](http://intelligence.org/workshops/#december-2013) on logic, probability, and reflection. Writing up mathematical results takes time, and in the past, it's taken quite a while for results from these workshops to become ... | https://www.lesswrong.com/posts/pGLtzd8sEQTYb8sne/results-from-miri-s-december-workshop |
# LessWrong Help Desk - free paper downloads and more (2014)
Over the last year, VincentYu, gwern and others have provided many papers for the LessWrong community (87% success rate in 2012) through [previous help desk threads](/r/discussion/tag/help_desk). We originally intended to provide editing, research and genera... | https://www.lesswrong.com/posts/4sAsygakd4oCpbEKs/lesswrong-help-desk-free-paper-downloads-and-more-2014 |
# Dangers of steelmanning / principle of charity
As far as I can tell, most people around these parts consider the [principle of charity](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Principle_of_charity) and its super saiyan form, [steelmanning](http://www.patheos.com/blogs/camelswithhammers/2012/12/the-virtue-of-steelmanning/), to ... | https://www.lesswrong.com/posts/wW9mcj8GP5avS5ovW/dangers-of-steelmanning-principle-of-charity |
# Things I Wish They'd Taught Me When I Was Younger: Why Money Is Awesome
There are some things money can't buy. They are the exceptions that prove the rule.
For the pedants, to say something is an exception that proves the rule is to say that when you look at the exceptions, they're so unusual that it reinforces the... | https://www.lesswrong.com/posts/QyZvL6hrmS6AEXJLF/things-i-wish-they-d-taught-me-when-i-was-younger-why-money |
# Division of cognitive labour in accordance with researchers' ability
The variance in productivity between people is much greater in some areas than in others. The most productive cleaner is probably less than twice as productive as the average cleaner, whereas the most productive entrepreneur arguably is many times ... | https://www.lesswrong.com/posts/9FWWDoMWA7nbFmh6g/division-of-cognitive-labour-in-accordance-with-researchers |
# Productivity tool: race!
_Inspired by recent batch of productivity posts, I wrote my short story_ _down__. To a reasonable extent, this story is real._
| 2:00 | As usual, I put my breakfast into the microwave and set it to 2:00. |
| --- | --- |
| 1:58 | It took two seconds for a train of though to start: |
| | ... | https://www.lesswrong.com/posts/DpQx2FaJAGdfrYNQw/productivity-tool-race |
# Write down your basic realizations as a matter of habit. Share this file with the world.
Say you have just realized something that seems, in hindsight, pretty obvious - but that you were totally unaware of before now. You scratch your head, update your model of the world, and move on.
Hold on. Update your model of ... | https://www.lesswrong.com/posts/hxRsp6Y4kwJppjsKk/write-down-your-basic-realizations-as-a-matter-of-habit |
# Cryonics As Untested Medical Procedure
If you're trying to prevent [information-theoretic death](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Information_theoretical_death) by [preserving the brain](/lw/b93) it's critical that the information that makes you be "you" actually be preserved. If you could freeze the brain in a way that... | https://www.lesswrong.com/posts/ttMZjehANPeLYk8fP/cryonics-as-untested-medical-procedure |
# Tell Culture
_**Followup to: [Ask and Guess](/lw/375/ask_and_guess/)**_
Ask culture: "I'll be in town this weekend for a business trip. Is it cool if I crash at your place?" Response: “Yes“ or “no”.
Guess culture: "Hey, great news! I'll be in town this weekend for a business trip!" Response: Infer that they might ... | https://www.lesswrong.com/posts/rEBXN3x6kXgD4pLxs/tell-culture |
# Dark Arts of Rationality
_Note: the author now disclaims this post, and asserts that his past self was insufficiently skilled in the art of rationality to "take the good and discard the bad" even when you don't yet know how to justify it. You can, of course, get all the benefits described below, without once comprom... | https://www.lesswrong.com/posts/4DBBQkEQvNEWafkek/dark-arts-of-rationality |
# 2013 Survey Results
Thanks to everyone who took the 2013 Less Wrong Census/Survey. Extra thanks to Ozy, who helped me out with the data processing and statistics work, and to everyone who suggested questions.
This year's results are below. Some of them may make more sense in the context of the original survey quest... | https://www.lesswrong.com/posts/pJJdcZgB6mPNWoSWr/2013-survey-results |
# Book Review: How Learning Works
As [promised](/lw/jij/open_thread_for_january_17_23_2014/aeaq), I review and point-by-point summarize [**How Learning Works: 7 Research-Based Principles for Smart Teaching**](http://www.amazon.com/How-Learning-Works-Research-Based-Principles/dp/0470484101) by Susan A. Ambrose, Michael... | https://www.lesswrong.com/posts/mAdMkFqWzbJRB544m/book-review-how-learning-works |
# Dealing with a Major Personal Crisis
**[This](http://wiki.lesswrong.com/wiki/Dealing_with_a_Major_Personal_Crisis)** is the [earlier](/r/discussion/lw/jf2/what_are_you_working_on_january_2014/a9s2) [promised](/lw/jfw/january_monthly_bragging_thread/aavq promised) post about **[Dealing with a Major Personal Crisis](h... | https://www.lesswrong.com/posts/5ZmDJEZjoHwhwTqDs/dealing-with-a-major-personal-crisis |
# Using vs. evaluating (or, Why I don't come around here no more)
\[Summary: Trying to use new ideas is more productive than trying to evaluate them.\]
I haven't posted to LessWrong in a long time. I have a fan-fiction [blog](http://www.fimfiction.net/user/Bad+Horse/blog) where I post theories about writing and liter... | https://www.lesswrong.com/posts/DkvgxwF9hJqh59rjd/using-vs-evaluating-or-why-i-don-t-come-around-here-no-more |
# [link] Why Self-Control Seems (but may not be) Limited
[Another](/lw/jan/kurzban_et_al_on_opportunity_cost_models_of/) attack on the resource-based model of willpower, Michael Inzlicht, Brandon J. Schmeichel and C. Neil Macrae have a paper called "Why Self-Control Seems (but may not be) Limited" [in press](http://ww... | https://www.lesswrong.com/posts/9SSXcQ92ZJHgdqzDj/link-why-self-control-seems-but-may-not-be-limited |
# Rationalists Are Less Credulous But Better At Taking Ideas Seriously
Consider the following commonly-made argument: cryonics is unlikely to work. Trained rationalists are signed up for cryonics at rates much greater than the general population. Therefore, rationalists must be pretty gullible people, and their claims... | https://www.lesswrong.com/posts/Gh2qQHrCg3teQen3c/rationalists-are-less-credulous-but-better-at-taking-ideas |
# Decision Auctions aka "How to fairly assign chores, or decide who gets the last cookie"
After moving in with my new roomies (Danny and Bethany of [Beeminder](https://www.beeminder.com/)), I discovered they have a fair and useful way of auctioning off joint decisions. It helps you figure out how much you value certai... | https://www.lesswrong.com/posts/3bjYRDaYR2pvBekNT/decision-auctions-aka-how-to-fairly-assign-chores-or-decide |
# Polling Thread
This is an experiment to use polls to tap into the crowd knowledge probably present on LW.
This is your chance to ask your multiple choice question you always wanted to throw in. Get qualified numeric feedback to your comments. Post fun polls.
There are some rules:
1. Each poll goes into its own t... | https://www.lesswrong.com/posts/sqeXx4dPiRixdRxdb/polling-thread |
# Plan while your ugh field is down
Here's an example of a mental manoeuvre I accidentally found, and thought might be generally useful ([typical](http://wiki.lesswrong.com/wiki/Typical_mind_fallacy) [caveats](/lw/dr/generalizing_from_one_example/) apply).
I've had a manageable-but-important [Problem](/lw/1ai/the_fir... | https://www.lesswrong.com/posts/AX5zvmj6EXa2Fmn9f/plan-while-your-ugh-field-is-down |
# Find a study partner
For reasons mentioned in [So8res article](/lw/j10/on_learning_difficult_things/) as well as for other reasons: studying with a partner can be very good. In November, Adele_L had posted an [article](/lw/j1b/miri_course_list_study_pairs/) for people wanting to find a study partner. It got 17 comme... | https://www.lesswrong.com/posts/MxxQt9jCZB68SBWGW/find-a-study-partner |
# What should superrational players do in asymmetric games?
Rereading Hofstadter's [essays on superrationality](http://www.gwern.net/docs/1985-hofstadter) prompted me to wonder what strategies superrational agents would want to commit to in asymmetric games. In symmetric games, everyone can agree on outcome they'd lik... | https://www.lesswrong.com/posts/Apy6B9ahRqFMRt9sx/what-should-superrational-players-do-in-asymmetric-games |
# European Community Weekend in Berlin
The Berlin Meetup Group is organizing the first European community meetup. We are planning a fun weekend with a focus on bringing the LessWrong community closer together. As a treat, some participants offer rationality exercises and workshops.
If you like your local meetup w... | https://www.lesswrong.com/posts/jSCEaE5TbYnbFCQYB/european-community-weekend-in-berlin |
# Can We Do Without Bridge Hypotheses?
**Followup to**: [Building Phenomenological Bridges](/lw/jd9/building_phenomenological_bridges/), [Reductionism](/lw/on/reductionism/)
* * *
Bridge hypotheses are extremely awkward. It's risky to draw permanent artificial lines between categories of hypothesis ('physical' vs. '... | https://www.lesswrong.com/posts/heJZLrC6EeJaskLbu/can-we-do-without-bridge-hypotheses |
# Applying reinforcement learning theory to reduce felt temporal distance
([cross-posted from my blog](http://kajsotala.fi/2014/01/applying-reinforcement-learning-theory-to-reduce-felt-temporal-distance/))
It is a [basic principle of reinforcement learning](http://webdocs.cs.ualberta.ca/~sutton/book/ebook/node9.html)... | https://www.lesswrong.com/posts/PBWqFL6P8XphH79Pm/applying-reinforcement-learning-theory-to-reduce-felt |
# Productivity as a function of ability in theoretical fields
I argued in [this post](/lw/jhy/division_of_cognitive_labour_in_accordance_with/) that the differences in capability between different researchers are vast (Kaj Sotala provided me with [some interesting empirical evidence](/r/discussion/lw/jhy/division_of_c... | https://www.lesswrong.com/posts/e84qrSoooAHfHXhbi/productivity-as-a-function-of-ability-in-theoretical-fields |
# How to become a PC?
"Cryonics has a 95% chance of failure, by my estimation; it would be downright /embarrassing/ to die on the day before real immortality is discovered. Thus, I want to improve my general health and longevity."
That thought has gotten me through three weeks of gradually increasing exercise and die... | https://www.lesswrong.com/posts/7pqgoxjQLp6cenqXD/how-to-become-a-pc |
# Foundations of Probability
### **Beginning of:**Logical Uncertainty sequence
Suppose that we are designing a robot. In order for this robot to reason about the outside world, it will need to use probabilities.
Our robot can then use its knowledge to acquire cookies, which we have programmed it to value. For exampl... | https://www.lesswrong.com/posts/EQ33emneF3Fh62Nn2/foundations-of-probability |
# Volunteering programmer hours / discussing how to improve LessWrong's software
There's been some discussion of how to improve the structure of LessWrong at the site software level - for example [adding subreddits](https://code.google.com/p/lesswrong/issues/detail?id=389) or [modifying how main and discussion work](... | https://www.lesswrong.com/posts/ocxcgyKq8vxtkXcPp/volunteering-programmer-hours-discussing-how-to-improve |
# Google may be trying to take over the world
So I know we've already seen them buying a bunch of ML and robotics companies, but now they're purchasing [Shane Legg's AGI startup](http://recode.net/2014/01/26/exclusive-google-to-buy-artificial-intelligence-startup-deepmind-for-400m/). This is after they've acquired Bo... | https://www.lesswrong.com/posts/YgHQ9Nez4S8277Wr2/google-may-be-trying-to-take-over-the-world |
# Flashes of Nondecisionmaking
If you crash a bicycle and cut your knee, it bleeds. You can apply pressure to the wound or otherwise aid in clotting it, but you can't fully control the blood. You can't think, "Body! I command you not to bleed!" Nor can you directly say, "I choose not to bleed" through pure will alone.... | https://www.lesswrong.com/posts/iadfrScmtzmhK7ZzF/flashes-of-nondecisionmaking |
# Are you a virtue ethicist at heart?
Disclaimer: I am not a philosopher, so this post will likely seem amateurish to the subject matter experts.
LW is big on consequentialism, utilitarianism and other quantifiable ethics one can potentially program into a computer to make it provably friendly. However, I posit that... | https://www.lesswrong.com/posts/mt77BTkdBMmDyq2Aq/are-you-a-virtue-ethicist-at-heart |
# Self-Study Questions Thread
There are a lot of autodidacts on LessWrong and many of us hold [scholarship](/lw/3m3/the_neglected_virtue_of_scholarship/ "scholarship") to be a virtue. Learning things on your own can be tricky for a number of reasons, but there is a lot of good material on LessWrong on how to do it [e... | https://www.lesswrong.com/posts/jTYWox8euWdN7DSGn/self-study-questions-thread |
# Tricky Bets and Truth-Tracking Fields
While visiting Oxford for MIRI’s [November 2013 workshop](http://intelligence.org/workshops/#november-2013), I had the pleasure of visiting a meeting of “Skeptics in the Pub” in the delightfully British-sounding town of _High Wycombe_ in _Buckinghamshire_. (Say that aloud in a B... | https://www.lesswrong.com/posts/LzyN9wzEdfS3j5SmT/tricky-bets-and-truth-tracking-fields |
# Futurism's Track Record
It would be nice (and expensive) to get a systematic survey on this, but my impressions [\[1\]](#fn:1 "see footnote") after tracking down lots of past technology predictions, and reading histories of technological speculation and invention, and reading about “elite common sense” at various ti... | https://www.lesswrong.com/posts/6ycPKhdmDgWsoyvKd/futurism-s-track-record |
# Logical and Indexical Uncertainty
[Cross-posted](http://bywayofcontradiction.com/?p=484) on [By Way of Contradiction](http://bywayofcontradiction.com/)
Imagine I shot a photon at a half silvered mirror which reflects the photon with "probability" 1/2 and lets the photon pass through with "probability" 1/2.
Now, Im... | https://www.lesswrong.com/posts/SFLCB5BgjzruJv9sp/logical-and-indexical-uncertainty |
# Huffington Post article on DeepMind-requested AI ethics board, links back to LW [link]
http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2014/01/29/google-ai\_n\_4683343.html
Not going to summarize the article content, but I think this is the highest-level publication linking to LW so far.
Also, it's appears that Shane Legg, Jaan Tal... | https://www.lesswrong.com/posts/ZrT9wAQZFATEE9CfH/huffington-post-article-on-deepmind-requested-ai-ethics |
# Humans can drive cars
There's been a lot of fuss lately about Google's gadgets. Computers can drive cars - pretty amazing, eh? I guess. But what amazed me as a child was that _people_ can drive cars. I'd sit in the back seat while an adult controlled a machine taking us at insane speeds through a cluttered, seemingl... | https://www.lesswrong.com/posts/XjNwWKdKpB28dv8QG/humans-can-drive-cars |
# Multiverse-Wide Preference Utilitarianism
Summary
-------
Some preference utilitarians care about satisfaction of preferences even when the organism with the preference doesn't know that it has been satisfied. These preference utilitarians should care to some degree about the preferences that people in other branch... | https://www.lesswrong.com/posts/pfZcECTv3toFt4YQ4/multiverse-wide-preference-utilitarianism |
# On saving the world
_This is the final post in my productivity sequence._
_The first post described [what I achieved](/lw/jg3/the_mechanics_of_my_recent_productivity/). The [next](/lw/jgh/habitual_productivity/) [three](/lw/jh0/deregulating_distraction_moving_towards_the_goal/) [posts](/lw/jhs/dark_arts_of_rational... | https://www.lesswrong.com/posts/F2DZXsMdhGyX4FPAd/on-saving-the-world |
# Practical Benefits of Rationality (LW Census Results)
_by Dan from [CFAR](http://rationality.org/)_
**Abstract**: Two measures of the practical benefits of rationality, one a self-report of the benefits of being part of the rationality community and the other a measure of how often a person adds useful techniques t... | https://www.lesswrong.com/posts/GJFYAHDQ73ictpJME/practical-benefits-of-rationality-lw-census-results |
# Best of Rationality Quotes, 2013 Edition
Here is the 2013 edition of the Best of Rationality Quotes collection. ([Here is last year's](/lw/ggp/best_of_rationality_quotes_2012_edition/).)
**[Best of Rationality Quotes 2013](http://people.mokk.bme.hu/~daniel/rationality_quotes_2013/rq_only2013.html) **(400kB page, 35... | https://www.lesswrong.com/posts/KC2CjmmKM4jLZGA4L/best-of-rationality-quotes-2013-edition |
# Open Problems in FAI
Edit: Please note that this write-up is poor quality, having the style of a hastily written personal note.
It has been mentioned that there should be a better write-up of open problems in FAI, and as I understand it there is an ongoing effort to explain such open problems. My feeling has been t... | https://www.lesswrong.com/posts/ru8kpjSzzCvE3KH5Z/open-problems-in-fai |
# Learn (and Maybe Get a Credential in) Data Science
[Coursera](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Coursera) is now offering a [sequence](https://www.coursera.org/specialization/jhudatascience/1?utm_medium=listingPage) of online courses on data science. They include:
1\. [The Data Scientist's Toolbox](https://www.coursera.... | https://www.lesswrong.com/posts/PJNz7xDqWNTpWTGtB/learn-and-maybe-get-a-credential-in-data-science |
# Arthur Chu: Jeopardy! champion through exemplary rationality
http://mentalfloss.com/article/54853/our-interview-jeopardy-champion-arthur-chu
I'm not sure I've ever seen such a compelling "rationality success story". There's so much that's right here.
The part that really grabs me about this is that there's no ... | https://www.lesswrong.com/posts/TpyX8jpikt4ma3f9Z/arthur-chu-jeopardy-champion-through-exemplary-rationality |
# On Straw Vulcan Rationality
There's a core meme of rationalism that I think is fundamentally off-base. It's been bothering me for a long time — over a year now. It hasn't been easy for me, living this double life, pretending to be OK with propagating an instrumentally expedient idea that I know has no epistemic grou... | https://www.lesswrong.com/posts/8P4kvTCbynT6ibr4y/on-straw-vulcan-rationality |
# How can I spend money to improve my life?
On ChrisHallquist's [post extolling the virtues of money](/lw/jfq/things_i_wish_theyd_taught_me_when_i_was_younger/), the top comment is Eliezer pointing out the lack of concrete examples. Can anyone think of any? This is not just hypothetical: if I think your suggestion is ... | https://www.lesswrong.com/posts/wnnsqR784yx7KNtmk/how-can-i-spend-money-to-improve-my-life |
# Rationality & Low-IQ People
This post is to raise a question about the demographics of rationality: Is rationality something that can appeal to low-IQ people as well?
I don't mean in theory, I mean in practice. From what I've seen, people who are concerned about rationality (in the sense that it has on LW, Over... | https://www.lesswrong.com/posts/D2dA8g6Goc3f8bkxL/rationality-and-low-iq-people |
# Mind Hacks
I've been in the bay area for a week, and already I've heard so many tips and tricks for becoming smarter that I can barely keep track. I think this is a _very good thing_. If effective altruists and rationalists can become smarter, then it should improve the probability of favourable far-future outcomes.... | https://www.lesswrong.com/posts/hYmqKm9CgAExnhaAW/mind-hacks |
# Beware Trivial Fears
Does the surveillance state affect us? It has affected me, and I didn't realize that it was affecting me until recently. I give a few examples of how it has affected me:
1. I was once engaged in a discussion on Facebook about Obama's foreign policy. Around that time, I was going to apply for a... | https://www.lesswrong.com/posts/2kDnKq2QyGfEJMzEo/beware-trivial-fears |
# True numbers and fake numbers
> In physical science the first essential step in the direction of learning any subject is to find principles of numerical reckoning and practicable methods for measuring some quality connected with it. I often say that when you can measure what you are speaking about, and express it in... | https://www.lesswrong.com/posts/87AAbbSw4xWBaGgCf/true-numbers-and-fake-numbers |
# Jobs and internships available at the Centre for Effective Altruism
I work at the [Centre for Effective Altruism](http://home.centreforeffectivealtruism.org/), and thought some LessWrongers might be interested in applying for the jobs and internships that we're currently offering - or else know others who might be! ... | https://www.lesswrong.com/posts/pJK8ptvcCzc83jsE3/jobs-and-internships-available-at-the-centre-for-effective |
# Publication: the "anti-science" trope is culturally polarizing and makes people distrust scientists
Paper by the Cultural Cognition Project: [The culturally polarizing effect of the "anti-science trope" on vaccine risk perceptions](http://www.culturalcognition.net/blog/2014/1/31/the-culturally-polarizing-effect-of-t... | https://www.lesswrong.com/posts/jm7HeFrmLZBNoDbkS/publication-the-anti-science-trope-is-culturally-polarizing |
# L-zombies! (L-zombies?)
**Reply to:** Benja~2010~'s [Self-modification is the correct justification for updateless decision theory](/lw/22m/selfmodification_is_the_correct_justification_for/); Wei Dai's [Late great filter is not bad news](/lw/214/late_great_filter_is_not_bad_news/)
_"[P-zombie](http://wiki.lesswron... | https://www.lesswrong.com/posts/7nAxgQYGYrEY5ZCAD/l-zombies-l-zombies |
# White Lies
**Background:** As can be seen from some of the comments on this post, many people in the LessWrong community take an extreme stance on lying. A few days before I posted this, I was at a meetup where we played the game [Resistance](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Resistance_(game)), and one guy announced... | https://www.lesswrong.com/posts/Kg6hkNENWa8e84rAE/white-lies |
# Preferences without Existence
[Cross-posted](http://bywayofcontradiction.com/preferences-without-existence/) on [By Way of Contradiction](http://bywayofcontradiction.com/)
My current beliefs say that there is a Tegmark 4 (or larger) multiverse, but there is no meaningful “reality fluid” or “probability” measure on ... | https://www.lesswrong.com/posts/NvwJMQvfu9hbBdG6d/preferences-without-existence |
# Finance as a career option
As a part of our research for [Cognito Mentoring](/lw/jee/cognito_mentoring_an_advising_service_for/), Vipul Naik and I compiled a draft of a page on finance as a career option. Because some Less Wrongers are planning on [earning to give](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Earning_to_give) and f... | https://www.lesswrong.com/posts/gw7jsRYzAv4n8uAwF/finance-as-a-career-option |
# [Meta] Open thread even more often?
This week's [open thread](/r/discussion/lw/jnx/open_thread_for_february_11_17 "Open thread February 11-17") is less than a day old, and has already accumulated more comments than the 15 latest non-open-thread posts combined. I fear the thread will wither and die before Friday.
G... | https://www.lesswrong.com/posts/qk6ArDxwC5S9HgTdZ/meta-open-thread-even-more-often |
# Embracing the "sadistic" conclusion
This is not the post I was planning to write. Originally, it was going to be a heroic post where I showed my devotion to philosophical principles by reluctantly but fearlessly biting the bullet on the sadistic conclusion. Except... it turns out to be nothing like that, because the... | https://www.lesswrong.com/posts/ZGSd5K5Jzn6wrKckC/embracing-the-sadistic-conclusion |
# A few remarks about mass-downvoting
_To whoever has for the last several days been downvoting ~10 of my old comments per day_:
It is possible that your intention is to discourage me from commenting on Less Wrong.
The actual effect is the reverse. My comments still end up positive on average, and I am therefore mot... | https://www.lesswrong.com/posts/c6Hv472TZNju6zSyE/a-few-remarks-about-mass-downvoting |
# Cambridge (England) lecture: Existential Risk: Surviving the 21st Century, 26th February
The [Centre for the Study of Existential Risk](http://www.cser.org) will be holding a public lecture on "Existential Risk: Surviving the 21st Century" in collaboration with [80,000 Hours: Cambridge](https://www.facebook.com/80k... | https://www.lesswrong.com/posts/yeqe7DHT5dHDXiD2k/cambridge-england-lecture-existential-risk-surviving-the |
# I like simplicity, but not THAT much
**Followup to:** [L-zombies! (L-zombies?)](/r/discussion/lw/jkm/lzombies_lzombies/)
**Reply to:** Coscott's [Preferences without Existence](/r/discussion/lw/jn2/preferences_without_existence/); Paul Christiano's [comment on my l-zombies post](/r/discussion/lw/jkm/lzombies_lzomb... | https://www.lesswrong.com/posts/jZvTWB6Z75cv2q3Nw/i-like-simplicity-but-not-that-much |
# Thoughts on Death
Death sucks.
Today (14/2/2014) my mothers’ father died after struggling with cancer for about a year.
What pains me is the loss, but more so how it affects my mother, especially my imagination being ‘useful’ in imagining how losing her would be like.
The tragedy as I see it has a slightly diffe... | https://www.lesswrong.com/posts/oB8eipAD4ditPrEe4/thoughts-on-death |
# Meetup report: London LW paranoid debating session
_A photo from a (different) recent LW London meetup_
_[Cross-posted from my blog.](http://reasonableapproximation.net/2014/02/16/london-lw-paranoid-debating.html)
_
I wasn't going ... | https://www.lesswrong.com/posts/maw5DkXSNdihAWbcJ/meetup-report-london-lw-paranoid-debating-session |
# Meta: social influence bias and the karma system
Given LW’s keen interest in bias, it would seem pertinent to be aware of the biases engendered by the karma system. Note: I used to be strictly opposed to comment scoring mechanisms, but witnessing the general effectiveness in which LWers use karma has largely redeeme... | https://www.lesswrong.com/posts/7Hq4SNdDBcYJo9jjT/meta-social-influence-bias-and-the-karma-system |
# Methods for treating depression
Many people struggle with depression, and I've been trying to formulate some general advice for treating it as a part of my work for [Cognito Mentoring](http://cognitomentoring.org/). I'm hesitant to write about the subject on account of lacking professional expertise, and so am espec... | https://www.lesswrong.com/posts/sagbSbm3KdH6tHQKP/methods-for-treating-depression |
# Book Review: Linear Algebra Done Right (MIRI course list)
I'm reviewing the books in the MIRI course list.
It's been a while since I did a book review. The last book I reviewed was [Computation and Logic](/lw/j4r/book_review_computability_and_logic/), which I read in November. After that, I spent a few weeks brushi... | https://www.lesswrong.com/posts/DWmrLjo5CgzK2Xmzk/book-review-linear-algebra-done-right-miri-course-list |
# Don't rely on the system to guarantee you life satisfaction
_A brief essay intended for high school students: any thoughts?_
If you go to school, take the classes that people tell you to, do your homework, and engage in the extracurricular activities that your peers do, you'll be setting yourself up for an "okay" l... | https://www.lesswrong.com/posts/h5R2gnpqsgXEsDuT7/don-t-rely-on-the-system-to-guarantee-you-life-satisfaction |
# Identity and Death
This recent [SMBC comic](http://www.smbc-comics.com/index.php?id=3262#comic) illustrates the old question of what exactly is _you_ by referencing the Star Trek Teleporter Problem. Do you actually get teleported or does the teleporter just kill you before making a copy of you somewhere else?
Well,... | https://www.lesswrong.com/posts/c6e9ysWLuWMoPdewM/identity-and-death |
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