Clik here to view.
Non-existent people are people too
Perhaps the simplest argument for caring deeply about the future is this obvious one: if humanity doesn’t wipe itself out, by far more people will live there than here. If you’re concerned with morally...
View ArticleClik here to view.
Don’t help refugees, you bastards
Actually, please do. More posts on immigration. Australian Prime Minister Kevin Rudd says: “People smugglers are engaged in the world’s most evil trade and they should all rot in jail because they...
View ArticleClik here to view.
Is politics a productive activity for the truly compassionate? Usually not.
Would we collectively be better off with a lot less of this? Related to: Why politics is inefficient compared to institutional and technological innovation. Arepo over at Felicifia does a cost-benefit...
View ArticleClik here to view.
Terrorism the fruit of sincerity, intelligence and a need for consistency
Robin Hanson explains idealistic outliers: “Humans are built to be hypocritical, i.e., to give lip service and soft thought to high ideals, while mostly acting to achieve low practical personal ends....
View ArticleClik here to view.
For the real reason, check for consistency
“After more than a quarter century of debate, Yale faculty members are now barred from sexual relationships with undergraduates—not just their own students, but any Yale undergrads. The new policy,...
View ArticleClik here to view.
Why stories celebrate conflict rather than compromise
I wrote this for the Alternative Law Journal some time ago: As I was watching the film Avatar and the cinemagoers around me were cheering on the Na’vi heroes in their fight against human invaders, I...
View ArticleClik here to view.
Beeminding your way to greatness
Ever had a long term goal you wanted to achieve, like publishing a paper, getting fit or maintaining a blog, that you always put off and never actually got done? You and me both! I’m not sure whether...
View ArticleClik here to view.
What do smoking and cleaning have in common?
There are four possible effects a habit can have on someone’s preferences that I would like to distinguish. For convenience I have labelled them appreciation, satisfaction, dependency and addiction....
View Article