Dystopia Now UNLOCKED: Zizians Part 1- A Cult Within a Cult
Aug 21, 2025
Delve into the cult-like aspects of the Zizians within the rationalist community. Explore their alarming ideologies tied to Effective Altruism and AI safety. Discover the psychological impact of the unsettling thought experiment, Roko's Basilisk, and its ethical dilemmas. Learn how doom circles echo manipulative cult techniques, culminating in tensions among rationalists living life on sailboats. The discussion warns of the dangerous convictions held by apocalyptic movements, shedding light on the consequences of their extreme beliefs.
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Rationalism As A Cult
- The hosts argue the rationalist community has many cult-like features and doom-focused beliefs.
- This framing links rationalist epistemic practices to apocalyptic group dynamics.
Ziz Lasota's Radicalization
- Ziz Lasota, from Alaska, joined LessWrong and became obsessed with AI risk and effective altruism.
- She pursued CFAR workshops and tried startups but grew disillusioned and deeper into rationalist circles.
LessWrong's Rationality Project
- LessWrong aims to remove cognitive biases and promote 'rationality' among its members.
- The show notes that this approach produced extreme thought experiments and niche decision theories.