Thanks. That’s very interesting to me, even as an anecdote. I’ve heard the opposite here too; that’s why I made it a normative statement (“everyone already should know”). Between the missing money and the publication record, I can’t imagine what would make SI look worth investing in to me. Yes, that would sometimes lead you astray. But even posts like, oh:
http://lesswrong.com/lw/43m/optimal_employment/?sort=top
are pretty much the norm around here (I picked that since Luke helped write it). Basically, an insufficient attempt to engage with the conventional wisdom.
How much should you like this place just because they’re hardliners on issues you believe in? (generic you). There are lots of compatibilists, materialists, consequentialists, MWIers, or whatever in the world. Less Wrong seems unusual in being rather hardline on these issues, but that’s usually more a sign that people have turned it into a social issue than a matter of intellectual conviction (or better, competence). Anyway, probably I’ve become inappropriately off topic for this page; I’m just rambling. To say at least something on topic: A few months back there was an issue of Nature talking about philanthropy in science (cover article and a few other pieces as I recall); easily searchable I’m sure, and may have some relevance (both as SI tries to get money or “commission” pieces).
Thanks. That’s very interesting to me, even as an anecdote. I’ve heard the opposite here too; that’s why I made it a normative statement (“everyone already should know”). Between the missing money and the publication record, I can’t imagine what would make SI look worth investing in to me. Yes, that would sometimes lead you astray. But even posts like, oh: http://lesswrong.com/lw/43m/optimal_employment/?sort=top
are pretty much the norm around here (I picked that since Luke helped write it). Basically, an insufficient attempt to engage with the conventional wisdom.
How much should you like this place just because they’re hardliners on issues you believe in? (generic you). There are lots of compatibilists, materialists, consequentialists, MWIers, or whatever in the world. Less Wrong seems unusual in being rather hardline on these issues, but that’s usually more a sign that people have turned it into a social issue than a matter of intellectual conviction (or better, competence). Anyway, probably I’ve become inappropriately off topic for this page; I’m just rambling. To say at least something on topic: A few months back there was an issue of Nature talking about philanthropy in science (cover article and a few other pieces as I recall); easily searchable I’m sure, and may have some relevance (both as SI tries to get money or “commission” pieces).