What I’d really love is a link to someone smart saying “This is why I think the Less Wrong people are all misled, and here are good reasons why.” But that’s probably too much to expect, even around here.
There are people here who say that kind of thing all the time… whether they are smart and the reasons are actually good is somewhat less certain.
Right, that’s the problem. There are plenty of sites saying why LW is a cult, just as there are plenty of ignorant religion-bashers. I’ve found many intelligent atheists, and I’m sure that there are rational intellectuals out there who disagree with LW. But where are they?
I’ve found many intelligent atheists, and I’m sure that there are rational intellectuals out there who disagree with LW. But where are they?
If you mean rational intellectuals who are theists and disagree with LW I cannot help you. Finding those who disagree with LW on core issues is less difficult. Robin Hanson for example. For an intelligent individual well informed of LW culture who advocates theism you could perhaps consider Will Newsome. Although he has, shall we say, ‘become more eccentric than he once was’ so I’m not sure if that’ll satisfy your interest.
I’ve found many intelligent atheists, and I’m sure that there are rational intellectuals out there who disagree with LW. But where are they?
As far as I know, most criticism of LW focuses on its taking certain strange problems seriously, not on atheism. LW has an unusual focus on Pascal-like problems, on artificial intelligence, on acausal trade, on cryonics and death in general, and on Newcomb’s Problem. Many of these focuses result in beliefs that other rationalist communities consider “strange.” There is also some criticism of Eliezer’s position on quantum mechanics, but I’m not familiar enough with that issue to comment on it.
There are people here who say that kind of thing all the time… whether they are smart and the reasons are actually good is somewhat less certain.
Right, that’s the problem. There are plenty of sites saying why LW is a cult, just as there are plenty of ignorant religion-bashers. I’ve found many intelligent atheists, and I’m sure that there are rational intellectuals out there who disagree with LW. But where are they?
If you mean rational intellectuals who are theists and disagree with LW I cannot help you. Finding those who disagree with LW on core issues is less difficult. Robin Hanson for example. For an intelligent individual well informed of LW culture who advocates theism you could perhaps consider Will Newsome. Although he has, shall we say, ‘become more eccentric than he once was’ so I’m not sure if that’ll satisfy your interest.
Thanks, I’ll look them up.
As far as I know, most criticism of LW focuses on its taking certain strange problems seriously, not on atheism. LW has an unusual focus on Pascal-like problems, on artificial intelligence, on acausal trade, on cryonics and death in general, and on Newcomb’s Problem. Many of these focuses result in beliefs that other rationalist communities consider “strange.” There is also some criticism of Eliezer’s position on quantum mechanics, but I’m not familiar enough with that issue to comment on it.