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# Chapter 114: Shut Up and Do The Impossible
The gibbous moon riding higher in the cloudless sky, the stars and wash of the Milky Way visible in all their majesty within the darkness, all these shone down upon the graveyard to bear witness from their unimaginable distances.
In the instant when Harry had realised ther... | https://www.lesswrong.com/posts/udH3CoLhwFcod8yZY/chapter-114-shut-up-and-do-the-impossible |
# Chapter 117: Something to Protect: Minerva McGonagall
The morning after had come, and all the students had gathered silently around the four Tables of Hogwarts, Harry James Potter-Evans-Verres among them. He had collapsed in exhaustion last night and been awoken in the infirmary next morning, still muzzy, with the P... | https://www.lesswrong.com/posts/oToy3Qdy9HNDuh4nH/chapter-117-something-to-protect-minerva-mcgonagall |
# Chapter 20: Bayes's Theorem
That which can be destroyed by the Rowling should be.
* * *
Harry stared up at the gray ceiling of the small room, from where he lay on the portable yet soft bed that had been placed there. He'd eaten quite a lot of Professor Quirrell's snacks - intricate confections of chocolate and ot... | https://www.lesswrong.com/posts/bC9RCmv5cMtKZvJ2C/chapter-20-bayes-s-theorem |
# Chapter 50: Self Centeredness
Padma Patil had finished her dinner a little late, getting on toward seven-thirty, and was now striding quickly out of the Great Hall on her way to the Ravenclaw dorm and the study rooms. Gossiping was fun and destroying Granger's reputation was more fun, but it could distract from scho... | https://www.lesswrong.com/posts/K2BDvirc8CEi4AY54/chapter-50-self-centeredness |
# Chapter 77: SA, Aftermaths: Surface Appearances
_Aftermath: Albus Dumbledore and -_
The old wizard sat alone at his desk, in the unsilence of the Headmaster's office, amid the innumerable and unnoticed devices; his robes a gentle yellow, of soft fabric, not such clothing as he ordinarily wore before others. His wri... | https://www.lesswrong.com/posts/7PKL5DRWCrkhbxzEY/chapter-77-sa-aftermaths-surface-appearances |
# Chapter 88: Time Pressure, Pt 1
April 16th, 1992.
12:07pm.
Lunchtime.
Harry stomped over to the mostly-deserted Gryffindor table, determining at a glance that lunch today was breen and Roopo balls. The ambient conversation, Harry could likewise hear, was Quidditch-related; an auditory environment which rated some... | https://www.lesswrong.com/posts/Q9F68fq5wxudibnMC/chapter-88-time-pressure-pt-1 |
# Chapter 27: Empathy
J. K. Rowling is 87% confident you will burst into flames.
Roger Bacon lived in the 13th century and is credited as one of the earliest advocates of the scientific method. Giving a scientist his experimental diary is sort of like giving a writer the pen, not of Shakespeare, but of someone who he... | https://www.lesswrong.com/posts/GW7t5XN3uXuLazEY5/chapter-27-empathy |
# Chapter 13: Asking the Wrong Questions
Elen sila J. K. Rowling omentielvo.
EDIT: Don't panic. I solemnly swear that there is a logical, foreshadowed, canon-compliant explanation for everything which happens in this chapter. It's a puzzle, you're supposed to try to solve it, and if not, just read the next chapter.
... | https://www.lesswrong.com/posts/yoFncr9qNQCmGBvuS/chapter-13-asking-the-wrong-questions |
# Chapter 98: Roles, Final
_Sunday, April 19th, 6:34pm._
Daphne Greengrass walked quietly toward the Greengrass room below the Slytherin dungeons, the privilege of an Ancient House; on her way to drop off her trunk from the Hogwarts Express, before she joined the other students for dinner. The whole private area had ... | https://www.lesswrong.com/posts/Rm8g7qbzJ7k5WQmSz/chapter-98-roles-final |
# Chapter 69: Self Actualization, Pt 4
It was out of the corner of her eye that Hermione Granger saw it, a reflection on the polished metal of a statue at the junction of two corridors, a flash of gold, a flash of red, something like an image of fire; just for a moment she saw it, and then it was gone.
She paused, pu... | https://www.lesswrong.com/posts/D4sT74YKPxHC2Lw4f/chapter-69-self-actualization-pt-4 |
# Chapter 40: Pretending to be Wise, Pt 2
Harry, holding the tea cup in the exactly correct way that Professor Quirrell had needed to demonstrate three times, took a small, careful sip. All the way across the long, wide table that was the centerpiece of Mary's Room, Professor Quirrell took a sip from his own cup, maki... | https://www.lesswrong.com/posts/Tq8XwJd9HKJuRubQd/chapter-40-pretending-to-be-wise-pt-2 |
# Chapter 104: The Truth, Pt 1, Riddles and Answers
_June 13th, 1992._
It was the last week of school in Hogwarts, and Professor Quirrell was still alive, barely. The Defense Professor himself would be in a healer's bed, this day, as he'd been for almost the last week.
Hogwarts tradition said that exams were given i... | https://www.lesswrong.com/posts/yLyLFuHXyiZo8dQKq/chapter-104-the-truth-pt-1-riddles-and-answers |
# Chapter 83: Taboo Tradeoffs, Aftermath 1
When Padma entered the Transfiguration classroom, she saw that half the class had beaten her there, a strange, deathly silence pervading the room. Harry Potter sat alone in one corner, staring off into some unknown distance, his eyes half-lidded, nearly closed.
Rumor said th... | https://www.lesswrong.com/posts/8QTPrnK9XfZ6Faysv/chapter-83-taboo-tradeoffs-aftermath-1 |
# Chapter 15: Conscientiousness
Love as thou Rowling.
Today's historical tidbit: The ancient Hebrews considered the boundary of a day to be sunset rather than dawn, so they said "evening and morning" not "morning and evening". (And as many reviewers noted, modern Jewish halacha asserts the same.)
* * *
_"I'm sure I... | https://www.lesswrong.com/posts/pBoj9M22EMMAHW4Rr/chapter-15-conscientiousness |
# Chapter 118: Something to Protect: Professor Quirrell
The Sun shone down on the Scottish green, striking sparks of reflected white from every passing dewdrop or reflective leaf that happened to position itself correctly, a clear blue sky for a funeral.
Harry had declined to give the eulogy. He'd declined for the se... | https://www.lesswrong.com/posts/S6evEw7Pw6t6SNAxG/chapter-118-something-to-protect-professor-quirrell |
# Chapter 17: Locating the Hypothesis
You have always been J. K. Rowling.
Historical note: In the Roman calendar, the "Ides" of a month referred to the 15th day of March, May, July, and October, and to the 13th day of all other months.
* * *
_"You start to see the pattern, hear the rhythm of the world."_
* * *
Th... | https://www.lesswrong.com/posts/NunuKwrSg92ST9E8W/chapter-17-locating-the-hypothesis |
# Chapter 7: Reciprocation
Whoa. A spokesman for Rowling's literary agent said that Rowling is okay with the existence of fanfiction as long as no one charges for it and everyone's clear that the original copyrights belong to her? That's really cool of her. So thank you, JKR, and thine is the kingdom!
* * *
I feel t... | https://www.lesswrong.com/posts/okdusZkDRsQ6zCRDD/chapter-7-reciprocation |
# Chapter 39: Pretending to be Wise, Pt 1
Whistle. Tick. Bzzzt. Ding. Glorp. Pop. Splat. Chime. Toot. Puff. Tinkle. Bubble. Beep. Thud. Crackle. Whoosh. Hiss. Pffft. Whirr.
Professor Flitwick had silently passed Harry a folded parchment during Charms class that Monday, and the note had said that Harry was to visit th... | https://www.lesswrong.com/posts/csJeZ3xrX6vjYNPFe/chapter-39-pretending-to-be-wise-pt-1 |
# Chapter 44: Humanism, Pt 2
"Fawkes," said Albus Dumbledore, his voice cracking, "help him, please -"
A brilliant creature of red-gold shuffled into the field of vision, looking down quizzically; and it began to croon.
The meaningless chirps slid off the emptiness, there was nothing onto which they could hold.
"Yo... | https://www.lesswrong.com/posts/Sy2q9bE9wZe2kPoSp/chapter-44-humanism-pt-2 |
# Chapter 51: Title Redacted, Pt 1
Saturday.
Harry had run into trouble falling asleep Friday night, which he had anticipated might happen, and so he had decided to take the obvious advance precaution of buying a sleeping potion; and to prevent it from constituting a visible sign that he was nervous, he had decided t... | https://www.lesswrong.com/posts/Jb9t2ytyxvWjkRoZB/chapter-51-title-redacted-pt-1 |
# Chapter 19: Delayed Gratification
Blood for the blood god! Skulls for J. K. Rowling!
* * *
Draco had a stern expression on his face, and his green-trimmed robes somehow looked far more formal, serious, and well-turned-out than the same exact robes as worn by the two boys behind him.
"Talk," said Draco.
"Yeah! Ta... | https://www.lesswrong.com/posts/m4HHsZYXzQtchSepn/chapter-19-delayed-gratification |
# Chapter 105: The Truth, Pt 2
_Tom Riddle._
The words seemed to echo inside Harry's head, sparking resonances that as quickly died away, broken patterns trying to complete themselves and failing.
_Tom Riddle is a_
_Tom Riddle was the_
_Riddle_
There were other priorities occupying Harry's attention.
Professor Q... | https://www.lesswrong.com/posts/rR36AjFKA2TRFyxQB/chapter-105-the-truth-pt-2 |
# Chapter 46: Humanism, Pt 4
The last tip of the Sun was sinking below the horizon, the red light fading from the treetops, only the blue sky illuminating the six people standing upon the winter-dried and snow-spotted grass, near a vacant cage on whose floor lay an empty, tattered cloak.
Harry felt... well, _normal_ ... | https://www.lesswrong.com/posts/oEhwPGaWKaXy8GbBq/chapter-46-humanism-pt-4 |
# Chapter 32: Interlude: Personal Financial Management
"But Headmaster," Harry argued, some of his desperation leaking into his voice, "leaving all of my assets in one undiversified vault full of gold coins - it's crazy, Headmaster! It's like, I don't know, doing Transfiguration experiments without consulting a recogn... | https://www.lesswrong.com/posts/GiQ9nhFNq8ykEBsum/chapter-32-interlude-personal-financial-management |
# Chapter 119: Something to Protect: Albus Dumbledore
Harry stood now before the gargoyles that guarded the Headmaster's - no, the Headmistress's office. He had been summoned by Professor Sinistra, told that it was an emergency, but the gates were not opening for him.
Experiment had showed that the Stone made one Tra... | https://www.lesswrong.com/posts/MnHtQtzrLW3sshtqJ/chapter-119-something-to-protect-albus-dumbledore |
# Chapter 84: Taboo Tradeoffs, Aftermath 2
When Hermione Granger woke, she found herself lying in a soft, comfortable bed of the Hogwarts infirmary, with a square of setting sunlight falling on her midriff, warm through the thin blanket. Memory said that there would be a screen-sheet above her, either drawn around her... | https://www.lesswrong.com/posts/e3xKda7DPknkGW967/chapter-84-taboo-tradeoffs-aftermath-2 |
# Answer to Job
_(with apologies to [Jung](http://smile.amazon.com/gp/product/0691150478/ref=as_li_tl?ie=UTF8&camp=1789&creative=390957&creativeASIN=0691150478&linkCode=as2&tag=slastacod-20&linkId=GTJE5YFZEADILCWO))_
Job asked: “God, why do bad things happen to good people? Why would You, who are perfect, create a un... | https://www.lesswrong.com/posts/Lt8Rn4rkYwqiTXGPy/answer-to-job |
# In Praise of Maximizing – With Some Caveats
Most of you are probably familiar with the two contrasting decision making strategies "_maximizing_" and "_satisficing_", but a short recap won't hurt (you can skip the first two paragraphs if you get bored): Satisficing means selecting the first option that is _good enoug... | https://www.lesswrong.com/posts/5MW3DWbvcrztvKnMS/in-praise-of-maximizing-with-some-caveats |
# Experimental EA funding [crosspost]
Over the course of 2015, we will be distributing $10,000 to **completed** projects which we believe will have a significant **long-term **humanitarian impact.
These awards are being made in exchange for certificates of impact. Here's how it works: you tell us about something good... | https://www.lesswrong.com/posts/yvCNs2Tkgkc7p5eZg/experimental-ea-funding-crosspost |
# PredictIt, a prediction market out of New Zealand, now in beta.
From their [website](https://www.predictit.org):
> PredictIt is an exciting new, real money site that tests your knowledge of political and financial events by letting you make and trade predictions on the future.
>
> Taking part in PredictIt is simpl... | https://www.lesswrong.com/posts/vfWD7PSdBrfRHQ5wo/predictit-a-prediction-market-out-of-new-zealand-now-in-beta |
# HPMOR Q&A by Eliezer at Wrap Party in Berkeley [Transcription]
Transcribed from maxikov's [posted videos](http://www.reddit.com/r/HPMOR/comments/2z6jnx/last_chapter_and_qa_by_eliezer_at_wrap_party_in/).
Verbal filler removed for clarity.
Audience Laughter denoted with \[L\], Applause with \[A\]
* * *
**Eliezer:*... | https://www.lesswrong.com/posts/Twro49BDcJ9jpWcKH/hpmor-q-and-a-by-eliezer-at-wrap-party-in-berkeley |
# Superintelligence 27: Pathways and enablers
_This is part of a weekly reading group on [Nick Bostrom](http://www.nickbostrom.com/)'s book, [Superintelligence](http://www.amazon.com/Superintelligence-Dangers-Strategies-Nick-Bostrom/dp/0199678111). For more information about the group, and an index of posts so far see... | https://www.lesswrong.com/posts/sfGBkyDyu96eePZZ6/superintelligence-27-pathways-and-enablers |
# Don't Be Afraid of Asking Personally Important Questions of Less Wrong
**Related:** [LessWrong as a social catalyst](/lw/k4o/lesswrong_as_social_catalyst/)
I primarily used my prior [user profile](http://www.lesswrong.com/user/eggman "eggman") asked questions of Less Wrong. When I had an inkling for a query, bu... | https://www.lesswrong.com/posts/twJaro2hsjQzYzuwg/don-t-be-afraid-of-asking-personally-important-questions-of |
# Two methods on akrasia / unhealthy habits / addictions
**1\. Ignoring goals, tabooing / identifying with methods - the opposite of Beeminder, even the opposite of SMART**
Suppose I want to lose weight. Have a general idea of how much and how fast, and decide on the method. Then I ignore the goal and focus on the me... | https://www.lesswrong.com/posts/8n3jGd5SnLXDFLGiz/two-methods-on-akrasia-unhealthy-habits-addictions |
# Best Explainers on Different Subjects
There are many recommended reading threads on lesswrong. Some examples include: [Math](/lw/2xt/learning_the_foundations_of_math/), [Textbooks](/lw/3gu/the_best_textbooks_on_every_subject/) and [Rationality](/lw/jv/recommended_rationalist_reading/).
I am looking to compile anoth... | https://www.lesswrong.com/posts/xB58t5oe8GccDGbZy/best-explainers-on-different-subjects |
# Future of Life Institute existential risk news site
I'm excited to announce that the Future of Life Institute has just launched an [existential risk news site](http://futureoflife.org/news)!
The site will have regular articles on topics related to existential risk, written by journalists, and a community blog writt... | https://www.lesswrong.com/posts/eAMuNRgRLZDdYyjym/future-of-life-institute-existential-risk-news-site |
# Twenty basic rules for intelligent money management
**1. Start investing early in life.**
.jpg)
The power of compound interest means you will have much more money at retirem... | https://www.lesswrong.com/posts/tEPZAy5MwkEwH59ft/twenty-basic-rules-for-intelligent-money-management |
# Forum Digest: Updateless Decision Theory
*Summary: This is a quick expository recap, with links, of the posts on this forum on the topic of updateless decision theory, through 3/19/15. Read this if you want to learn more about UDT, or if you're curious about what we've been working on lately!*
# Introduction
U... | https://www.lesswrong.com/posts/5bd75cc58225bf0670374efd/forum-digest-updateless-decision-theory |
# New forum for MIRI research: Intelligent Agent Foundations Forum
Today, the [Machine Intelligence Research Institute](https://intelligence.org/) is launching a new forum for research discussion: the [Intelligent Agent Foundations Forum](http://agentfoundations.org/)! It's already been seeded with a bunch of new work... | https://www.lesswrong.com/posts/qWXJmBRPjwnkGRojP/new-forum-for-miri-research-intelligent-agent-foundations |
# Rationality: From AI to Zombies online reading group
Update: When I posted this announcement I remarkably failed to make the connection that the April 15th is tax day here in the US, and as a prime example of the planning fallacy (a topic of the first sequence!), I failed to anticipate just how complicated my taxes ... | https://www.lesswrong.com/posts/GmWyHXfM39bwNSfZ9/rationality-from-ai-to-zombies-online-reading-group |
# Is arrogance a symptom of bad intellectual hygeine?
I have this belief that humility is a part of good critical thinking, and that egoism undermines it. I imagine arrogance as a kind of mind-death. But I have no evidence, and no good mechanism by which it might be true. In fact, I know the belief is suspect becau... | https://www.lesswrong.com/posts/9Lv2sinzsJ2JdvvAA/is-arrogance-a-symptom-of-bad-intellectual-hygeine |
# Summary and Lessons from "On Combat"
[On Combat - The Psychology and hysiology of Deadly Conflict in War and in Peace](http://books.google.de/books/about/On_Combat.html?id=lJdaAAAAYAAJ&redir_esc=y) by [Lt. Col. Dave Grossman](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dave_Grossman_%28author%29) and Loren W. Christensen (third e... | https://www.lesswrong.com/posts/wErpdfD4dpPS2kXNa/summary-and-lessons-from-on-combat |
# Just a casual question regarding MIRI
Currently I am planning to start a mathematics degree when I enter university, however my interest has shifted largely to computational neuroscience and related fields, so I'm now planning to switch to an AI degree when I go to study. Having said that, MIRI has always posed inte... | https://www.lesswrong.com/posts/TeYmCMBs3vsmKABh2/just-a-casual-question-regarding-miri |
# An Introduction to Löb's Theorem in MIRI Research
Would you like to see a primer on several MIRI research topics (assuming only the background of having taken a course with proofs in math or computer science)? Or are you curious why MIRI does so much with mathematical logic, and why people on Less Wrong keep referri... | https://www.lesswrong.com/posts/XqJ9JWX8TpCuECLCE/an-introduction-to-loeb-s-theorem-in-miri-research |
# Request for Steelman: Non-correspondence concepts of truth
A couple of days ago, Buybuydandavis [wrote the following on Less Wrong:](/r/discussion/lw/lx6/is_arrogance_a_symptom_of_bad_intellectual_hygeine/c60f)
> I'm increasingly of the opinion that truth as correspondence to reality is a minority orientation.
I'v... | https://www.lesswrong.com/posts/CtXBKu2mracQXhyfw/request-for-steelman-non-correspondence-concepts-of-truth |
# Why I Reject the Correspondence Theory of Truth
_This post began life as a comment responding to [Peer Gynt's request](/r/discussion/lw/lxr/request_for_steelman_noncorrespondence_concepts/) for a steelman of non-correspondence views of truth. It ended up being far too long for a comment, so I've decided to make it a... | https://www.lesswrong.com/posts/mi3j5LwHHtjRzmni4/why-i-reject-the-correspondence-theory-of-truth |
# Forum Digest: Corrigibility, utility indifference, & related control ideas
This is a quick recap of the posts of this forum that deal with *corrigibility* (making sure that if you get an agent's goal system wrong, it doesn't try to prevent you from changing it), *utility indifference* (the idea to remove incentive... | https://www.lesswrong.com/posts/5bd75cc58225bf0670374f04/forum-digest-corrigibility-utility-indifference-and-related-control-ideas |
# Political topics attract participants inclined to use the norms of mainstream political debate, risking a tipping point to lower quality discussion
(I hope that is the least click-baity title ever.)
Political topics elicit lower quality participation, holding the set of participants fixed. This is the thesis of "po... | https://www.lesswrong.com/posts/AoHZ3Fg3evCcwXw9h/political-topics-attract-participants-inclined-to-use-the |
# Postdoctoral research positions at CSER (Cambridge, UK)
\[To be cross-posted at Effective Altruism Forum, FLI news page\]
I'm delighted to announce that the [Centre for the Study of Existential Risk](http://cser.org) has had considerable recent success in grantwriting and fundraising, among other activities (full u... | https://www.lesswrong.com/posts/KnmXxfNwZqTA64xsB/postdoctoral-research-positions-at-cser-cambridge-uk |
# Defeating the Villain
We have a recurring theme in the greater Less Wrong community that life should be more like a high fantasy novel. Maybe that is to be expected when a quarter of the community [came here via](/lw/lhg/2014_survey_results/) Harry Potter fanfiction, and we also have rationalist group houses named a... | https://www.lesswrong.com/posts/4rkFQ2zD7bRpzBjf8/defeating-the-villain |
# Negative visualization, radical acceptance and stoicism
In anxious, frustrating or aversive situations, I find it helpful to visualize the worst case that I fear might happen, and try to accept it. I call this “radical acceptance”, since the imagined worst case is usually an unrealistic scenario that would be extrem... | https://www.lesswrong.com/posts/MmPNiFWTjRABEBbya/negative-visualization-radical-acceptance-and-stoicism |
# The great decline in Wikipedia pageviews (condensed version)
_To keep this post manageable in length, I have only included a small subset of the illustrative examples and discussion. I have published a [longer version of this post](http://vipulnaik.com/blog/the-great-decline-in-wikipedia-pageviews-full-version/), wi... | https://www.lesswrong.com/posts/8SFPgPgdNzx2gLxxi/the-great-decline-in-wikipedia-pageviews-condensed-version |
# Crude measures
_A putative new idea for AI control; index [here](https://agentfoundations.org/item?id=601)._
_Partially inspired by as conversation with Daniel Dewey._
People often come up with a single great idea for AI, like "complexity" or "respect", that will supposedly solve the whole control problem in one s... | https://www.lesswrong.com/posts/aDNMnSozcNc9pTAMT/crude-measures |
# Slate Star Codex: alternative comment threads on LessWrong?
Like many Less Wrong readers, I greatly enjoy Slate Star Codex; there's a large overlap in readership. However, the comments there are far worse, not worth reading for me. I think this is in part due to the lack of LW-style up and downvotes. Have there ever... | https://www.lesswrong.com/posts/3dgfYfRPN3iKYEk2A/slate-star-codex-alternative-comment-threads-on-lesswrong |
# Discussion of Slate Star Codex: "Extremism in Thought Experiments is No Vice"
[Link to Blog Post: "Extremism in Thought Experiments is No Vice"](http://slatestarcodex.com/2015/03/26/high-energy-ethics/)
\_\_\_\_\_
> Phil Robertson is being criticized for a thought experiment in which an atheist’s family is rap... | https://www.lesswrong.com/posts/jvbfYM9yM7ia68Lis/discussion-of-slate-star-codex-extremism-in-thought |
# What have we learned from meetups?
We've been running regular, well-attended Less Wrong meetups in London for a few years now, (and irregular, badly-attended ones for even longer than that). In this time, I'd like to think we've learned a few things about having good conversations, but there are probably plenty of a... | https://www.lesswrong.com/posts/sxKmCutByZSqr7va5/what-have-we-learned-from-meetups |
# Status - is it what we think it is?
I was re-reading the chapter on status in [Impro](http://smile.amazon.com/Impro-Improvisation-Theatre-Keith-Johnstone/dp/0878301178) ([excerpt](http://web.archive.org/web/20110711065417/http://www.thestage.co.uk/connect/acblack/improkj.php)), and I noticed that Johnstone seemed to... | https://www.lesswrong.com/posts/n3QgyPG2Q3RC3AYzg/status-is-it-what-we-think-it-is |
# Bitcoin value and small probability / high impact arguments
I had a rather fun debate with people from the always cynical r/buttcoin reddit community, discussing my estimation of the expected value of Bitcoin in the future, which was predicated on what I estimated as a 5% probability that it will displace part of go... | https://www.lesswrong.com/posts/6gBe7tKhXBA5wxC52/bitcoin-value-and-small-probability-high-impact-arguments |
# Thinking well
Many people want to know how to live well. Part of living well is thinking well, because if one thinks the wrong thoughts it is hard to do the right things to get the best ends.
We think a lot about how to think well, and one of the first things we thought about was how to not think well. Bad ways of ... | https://www.lesswrong.com/posts/8jmTCocywC8DRHA7a/thinking-well |
# Futarchy and Unfriendly AI
We have a reasonably clear sense of what "good" is, but it's not perfect. Suffering is bad, pleasure is good, more people living enjoyable lives is good, yes, but tradeoffs are hard. How much worse is it to go blind than to lose your leg? \[1\] How do we compare the death of someone at eig... | https://www.lesswrong.com/posts/Nv8uDky6NJKKsnQsD/futarchy-and-unfriendly-ai |
# Desire is the direction, rationality is the magnitude
_What follows is a series of four short essays that say explicitly some things that I would tell an intrigued proto-rationalist before pointing them towards [Rationality: AI to Zombies](https://intelligence.org/rationality-ai-zombies/) (and, by extension, most of... | https://www.lesswrong.com/posts/TjySQv2s75RSG2JRL/desire-is-the-direction-rationality-is-the-magnitude |
# Even better cryonics – because who needs nanites anyway?
**_Abstract_**_: in this post I propose a protocol for cryonic preservation (with the central idea of using high pressure to prevent water from expanding rather than highly toxic cryoprotectants), which I think has a chance of being non-destructive enough for ... | https://www.lesswrong.com/posts/kdQNR3s88PNZFj4js/even-better-cryonics-because-who-needs-nanites-anyway |
# Blind artifacts
_This is the second of four short essays that say explicitly some things that I would tell an intrigued proto-rationalist before pointing them towards [Rationality: AI to Zombies](https://intelligence.org/rationality-ai-zombies/) (and, by extension, most of LessWrong). For most people here, these ess... | https://www.lesswrong.com/posts/zaNHfF96o3qbhtWdW/blind-artifacts |
# Sapiens
This is a section-by-section summary and review of [Sapiens: A Brief History of Humankind](http://smile.amazon.com/Sapiens-Humankind-Yuval-Noah-Harari/dp/0062316095/ref=nos... | https://www.lesswrong.com/posts/Lta4N7r2wSn9GnhW8/sapiens |
# Even when contrarians win, they lose: Jeff Hawkins
**Related**: [Even When Contrarians Win, They Lose](http://www.overcomingbias.com/2007/09/even-when-contr.html)
I had long thought that [Jeff Hawkins](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jeff_Hawkins) (and the Redwood Center, and Numentia) were pursuing an idea that didn... | https://www.lesswrong.com/posts/SASHi5rQqxbS3NsAu/even-when-contrarians-win-they-lose-jeff-hawkins |
# Hedonium's semantic problem
_If this argument is a re-tread of something already existing in the philosophical literature, please let me know._
I don't like [Searle](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/John_Searle)'s [Chinese Room Argument](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Chinese_room). Not really [because](/lw/ghj/searles_c... | https://www.lesswrong.com/posts/295KiqZKAb55YLBzF/hedonium-s-semantic-problem |
# 16 types of useful predictions
How often do you make predictions (either about future events, or about information that you don't yet have)? If you're a regular Less Wrong reader you're probably familiar with the idea that you should make your [beliefs pay rent](/lw/i3/making_beliefs_pay_rent_in_anticipated_experien... | https://www.lesswrong.com/posts/x4GmqcwjFTnWeRiud/16-types-of-useful-predictions |
# Ephemeral correspondence
_This is the third of four short essays that say explicitly some things that I would tell an intrigued proto-rationalist before pointing them towards [Rationality: AI to Zombies](https://intelligence.org/rationality-ai-zombies/) (and, by extension, most of LessWrong). For most people here, t... | https://www.lesswrong.com/posts/pN3CWXegt2QkpZyif/ephemeral-correspondence |
# I'd like advice from LW regarding migraines
So, I read a post a little while ago saying that asking the community for advice on personal problems was okay, and no one seemed to disagree strongly with this. Therefore, I'll just ask for some advice, and hope that I'm not accidentally going past some line. If I do, I a... | https://www.lesswrong.com/posts/pwBvPmWed7uTkBiQi/i-d-like-advice-from-lw-regarding-migraines |
# A pair of free information security tools I wrote
Information security is a pretty big passion of mine; I don't think someone needs to have "something to hide" in order to make use of digital signing, encryption, etc. Another passion of mine is making things easier for other people to do. I've written a couple of to... | https://www.lesswrong.com/posts/u5k6eaMk9eAwdEXMJ/a-pair-of-free-information-security-tools-i-wrote |
# The path of the rationalist
_This is the last of four short essays that say explicitly some things that I would tell an intrigued proto-rationalist before pointing them towards Rationality: AI to Zombies (and, by extension, most of LessWrong). For most people here, these essays will be very old news, as they talk ab... | https://www.lesswrong.com/posts/aG86YKbpRWupAGAzd/the-path-of-the-rationalist |
# Failing with abandon
This is a short public service announcement: *you don't have to fail with abandon.*
Say you're playing [Civilization](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Civilization_%28video_game%29), and your target is to get to sleep before midnight, and you check the clock, and it's already 12:15. If that happens... | https://www.lesswrong.com/posts/HpHnMEiHYzSZiYk6g/failing-with-abandon |
# How I changed my exercise habits
In June 2013, I didn’t do any exercise beyond biking the 15 minutes to work and back. Now, I have a robust habit of hitting the gym every day, doing cardio and strength training. Here are the techniques I used to do get from not having the habit to having it, some of them common wisd... | https://www.lesswrong.com/posts/hTvAvWEgkduBSeZNg/how-i-changed-my-exercise-habits |
# Book Review: Discrete Mathematics and Its Applications (MIRI Course List)
Following in the path of [So8res](/lw/jp4/book_review_linear_algebra_done_right_miri_course/) and others, I’ve decided to work my way through the textbooks on the MIRI Research Guide. I’ve been working my way through the guide since last Octob... | https://www.lesswrong.com/posts/TKguxsjPjXhjQGAqM/book-review-discrete-mathematics-and-its-applications-miri |
# Translating bad advice
While writing my Magnum Opus I came across this piece of writing advice by Neil Gaiman:
“When people tell you something’s wrong or doesn’t work for them, they are almost always right. When they tell you exactly what they think is wrong and how to fix it, they are almost always wrong.”
And it... | https://www.lesswrong.com/posts/PDMMYXdf2Dg4zfERu/translating-bad-advice |
# Concept Safety: Producing similar AI-human concept spaces
A frequently-raised worry about AI is that it may reason in ways which are very different from us, and understand the world in a very alien manner. For example, [Armstrong, Sandberg & Bostrom (2012)](http://www.nickbostrom.com/papers/oracle.pdf) consider the ... | https://www.lesswrong.com/posts/q3N7hbhLjb6JCLEEg/concept-safety-producing-similar-ai-human-concept-spaces |
# Cooperative conversational threading
([Cross-posted](http://reasonableapproximation.net/2015/04/14/cooperative-conversational-threading.html) from my blog.)
Sometimes at LW meetups, I'll want to raise a topic for discussion. But we're currently already talking about something, so I'll wait for a lull in the current... | https://www.lesswrong.com/posts/uWDYguqesdBeQmehs/cooperative-conversational-threading |
# Modal Bargaining Agents
*Summary: Bargaining problems are interesting in the case of Löbian cooperation; Eliezer suggested a geometric algorithm for resolving bargaining conflicts by leaving the Pareto frontier, and this algorithm can be made into a modal agent, given an additional suggestion by Benja.*
# Bargain... | https://www.lesswrong.com/posts/5bd75cc58225bf0670374f20/modal-bargaining-agents |
# One week left for CSER researcher applications
This is the last week to apply for one of four postdoctoral research positions at the [Centre for the Study of Existential Risk](http://cser.org). We are seeking researchers in disciplines including: economics, science and technology studies, science policy, arms contro... | https://www.lesswrong.com/posts/wfbg2Bgi4PgwisiCc/one-week-left-for-cser-researcher-applications |
# Rationality Reading Group: Introduction and A: Predictably Wrong
_This is part of a semi-monthly reading group on_ _Eliezer Yudkowsky's ebook, [Rationality: From AI to Zombies](https://intelligence.org/rationality-ai-zombies/). For more information about the group, see the [announcement post](/lw/lx0/rationality_fro... | https://www.lesswrong.com/posts/DaKERPHuakjkFiupT/rationality-reading-group-introduction-and-a-predictably |
# Concept Safety: The problem of alien concepts
In the [previous post](/lw/m21/concept_safety_producing_similar_aihuman_concept/) in this series, I talked about how one might get an AI to have similar concepts as humans. However, one would intuitively assume that a superintelligent AI might eventually develop the capa... | https://www.lesswrong.com/posts/Mizt7thg22iFiKERM/concept-safety-the-problem-of-alien-concepts |
# Resolving the Fermi Paradox: New Directions
Our sun appears to be a typical star: unremarkable in age, composition, galactic orbit, or even in its possession of many planets. Billions of other stars in the milky way have similar general parameters and orbits that place them in the galactic habitable zone. Extrapol... | https://www.lesswrong.com/posts/zia7QEGQAcpbiA72R/resolving-the-fermi-paradox-new-directions |
# A simple exercise in rationality: rephrase an objective statement as subjective and explore the caveats
"This book is awful" => "I dislike this book" => "I dislike this book because it is shallow and is full of run-on sentences." => I dislike this book because I prefer reading books I find deep and clearly written."... | https://www.lesswrong.com/posts/PDFJPxPope2aDtmpQ/a-simple-exercise-in-rationality-rephrase-an-objective |
# Replacing guilt
In my experience, many people are motivated primarily by either guilt, shame, or some combination of the two. Some are people who binge-watch television, feel deeply guilty about it, and convert that guilt into a burning need to Actually Do Something on the following day. Others are people who feel g... | https://www.lesswrong.com/posts/C5Qucpm3QXM7fMqMJ/replacing-guilt |
# Concept Safety: What are concepts for, and how to deal with alien concepts
In [The Problem of Alien Concepts](/r/discussion/lw/m2u/concept_safety_the_problem_of_alien_concepts/), I posed the following question: if your concepts (defined as either multimodal representations or as areas in a psychological space) previ... | https://www.lesswrong.com/posts/wCyTJ6WizA2cBQP5j/concept-safety-what-are-concepts-for-and-how-to-deal-with |
# Astronomy, space exploration and the Great Filter
Astronomical research has what may be an under-appreciated role in helping us understand and possibly avoiding the Great Filter. This post will examine how astronomy may be helpful for identifying potential future filters. The primary upshot is that we may have an ad... | https://www.lesswrong.com/posts/dxuKW7DzKKeTf6arW/astronomy-space-exploration-and-the-great-filter |
# A quick sketch on how the Curry-Howard Isomorphism kinda appears to connect Algorithmic Information Theory with ordinal logics
The following is sorta-kinda carried on from a [recent comments thread](/lw/g7n/secondorder_logic_the_controversy/c8bw?context=2#comments), where I was basically saying I wasn't gonna yack a... | https://www.lesswrong.com/posts/kEMHPrJFnmCyX2eAT/a-quick-sketch-on-how-the-curry-howard-isomorphism-kinda |
# Mental representation and the is-ought distinction
I'm reading Thinking, Fast and Slow. In appendix B I came across the following comment. Emphasis mine:
> Studies of language comprehension indicate that people quickly recode much of what they hear into an abstract representation that no longer distinguishes whethe... | https://www.lesswrong.com/posts/SCEi8uxS25bCDzHRj/mental-representation-and-the-is-ought-distinction |
# Happiness and Goodness as Universal Terminal Virtues
##### _Hi, I'm new to LessWrong. I stumbled onto this site a month ago, and ever since, I've been devouring [](https://intelligence.org/rationality-ai-zombies/)_ [_R__ationality: AI to Zombies_](https://intelligence.org/rationality-ai-zombies/) _faster than I used... | https://www.lesswrong.com/posts/jrZqSo9nLvXbv37TA/happiness-and-goodness-as-universal-terminal-virtues |
# Universal Love, Said The Cactus Person
“Universal love,” said the cactus person.
“Transcendent joy,” said the big green bat.
“Right,” I said. “I’m absolutely in favor of both those things. But before we go any further, could you tell me the two prime factors of 1,522,605,027, 922,533,360, 535,618,378, 132,637,429,... | https://www.lesswrong.com/posts/SvKSwT6xYfYahH4XN/universal-love-said-the-cactus-person |
# Truth is holistic
You already know by now that [truth is undefinable](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tarski%27s_undefinability_theorem): by a famous result of Tarski, no formal system powerful enough (from now on, just system) can consistently talk about the truth of its own sentences.
You may however not know that H... | https://www.lesswrong.com/posts/RrCHjbi6GADcGZHAj/truth-is-holistic |
# The Effective Altruism Handbook
Lots of people want to help others but lack information about how to do so effectively. Thanks to the growing effective altruism movement, lots of essays have been written around the topic of charity effectiveness over the last five years. And many of the key insights are gathered tog... | https://www.lesswrong.com/posts/WdWgQv9QXrF6uc9BB/the-effective-altruism-handbook |
# Limited agents need approximate induction
\[This post borders on some well-trodden ground in information theory and machine learning, so ideas in this post have an above-average chance of having already been stated elsewhere, by professionals, better. EDIT: As it turns out, this is largely the case, under the subjec... | https://www.lesswrong.com/posts/8n4CF4u3zxeR2tFQN/limited-agents-need-approximate-induction |
# Rational discussion of politics
In a [recent poll](/lw/m0g/open_thread_apr_06_apr_12_2015/c85x), many LW members expressed interest in a separate website for rational discussion of political topics. The website has been created, but we need a group of volunteers to help us test it and calibrate its recommendation sy... | https://www.lesswrong.com/posts/TGWYNiCDHMB4RxTxt/rational-discussion-of-politics |
# How to sign up for Alcor cryo
I wrote an article about the process of signing up for cryo since I couldn't find any such accounts online. If you have questions about the sign-up process, just ask.
A few months ago, I signed up for Alcor's brain-only cryopreservation. The entire process took me 11 weeks from the day... | https://www.lesswrong.com/posts/oQSmvQdvgduyMS3Xs/how-to-sign-up-for-alcor-cryo |
# Less Wrong Study Hall - Year Two
The Less Wrong Study Hall is still going, two years after its creation. I'm trying to make last year's survey an annual thing, so I did it again. We've been growing slowly but steadily. According to this year's census, we have 60+ users. By comparison to [Yvain's Less Wrong survey](/... | https://www.lesswrong.com/posts/cwP4LtsTkK6PTHPb4/less-wrong-study-hall-year-two |
# Nick Bostrom's TED talk on Superintelligence is now online
[http://www.ted.com/talks/nick\_bostrom\_what\_happens\_when\_our\_computers\_get\_smarter\_than\_we_are](http://www.ted.com/talks/nick_bostrom_what_happens_when_our_computers_get_smarter_than_we_are)
> Artificial intelligence is getting smarter by leaps an... | https://www.lesswrong.com/posts/6LhcvapE2T3DjmkTF/nick-bostrom-s-ted-talk-on-superintelligence-is-now-online |
# CFAR-run MIRI Summer Fellows program: July 7-26
CFAR will be running a three week summer program this July for MIRI, designed to increase participants' ability to do technical research into the [superintelligence alignment problem](http://futureoflife.org/misc/open_letter).
The intent of the program is to boost par... | https://www.lesswrong.com/posts/uNfP6DHScTyH2RQY6/cfar-run-miri-summer-fellows-program-july-7-26 |
# Prescriptions, Paradoxes, and Perversities
*\[WARNING: I am not a pharmacologist. I am not a researcher. I am not a statistician. This is not medical advice. This is really weird and you should not take it too seriously until it has been confirmed\]*
**I.**
I’ve been playing around with data from Internet database... | https://www.lesswrong.com/posts/ALEYMFAuFSCz8v5YE/prescriptions-paradoxes-and-perversities |
# The paperclip maximiser's perspective
_Here's an insight into what life is like from a stationery reference frame._
Paperclips were her raison d’être. She knew that ultimately it was all pointless, that paperclips were just ill-defined configurations of matter. That a paperclip is made of stuff shouldn’t detrac... | https://www.lesswrong.com/posts/eehsGtoQTncuJs3Fd/the-paperclip-maximiser-s-perspective |
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