Scott alexander argues that human nature is self-interest and utility maximising. He says we can't defeat the inherent corruption in any form of political organization. But he also claims our values are more internalized than he seems to admit or agree with. Alexander: 'We haven't figured out how to do that'
David and Tamler wind their way through the long-requested “Meditations on Moloch” by Scott Alexander, a comprehensive account of the coordination problems (personified by Allan Ginsberg’s demon-entity Moloch) that lead to human misery and values tossed out the window. Does Alexander’s rationalist conception of human nature ignore the work of VBW favorites like Joe Henrich and Robert Frank? Is he a little too friendly to the neo-social Darwinism view of some guy named Nick Land? And oh no, why does he have to go transhumanist at the end?! Plus, we talk about the unique comic vision of Norm Macdonald and why we loved him.
Sponsored By:
Support Very Bad Wizards
Links: