By Reason Alone

'By Reason Alone' explores a broad spectrum of intellectual curiosity, from recreational mathematics and academic spoofs to cultural observations and critiques of digital technology's impact on society. It weaves together discussions on education, philosophy, behavioral genetics, and media consumption, while occasionally delving into personal experiences with bureaucracy and travel.

Mathematics and Science Housing Policy and Society Academia and Humor Productivity and Life Optimization Media Consumption Cultural Studies Philosophy and Debate Historical Curiosities Behavioral Genetics Misinformation and Belief Travel Experiences Literature and Reading Film Reviews Education Technology and Inequality

The hottest Substack posts of By Reason Alone

And their main takeaways

My Pub Quiz

16 implied HN points • 07 Mar 24
  1. Hosting a pub quiz is a fun way to interact socially outside of work.
  2. Well-written trivia questions make you feel like you should know the answers.
  3. A balanced quiz with various rounds like economics, history, picture round, or culture can make the experience engaging for participants.

Links & What I’ve Been Reading, February

21 implied HN points • 21 Feb 24
🎭️ Culture Media Blogs Podcasts Music Films Books Papers
  1. The post includes media recommendations like blogs, podcasts, music, films, books, and papers that the author enjoyed in February.
  2. There are interesting reading recommendations from various domains and genres suggested by the author, including philosophy, music, documentaries, and movies.
  3. The author provides a personal touch by sharing thoughts on the media consumed, such as novels, music albums, podcasts, and academic papers.

Links & What I’ve Been Reading, January

25 implied HN points • 24 Jan 24
📚 Literature Books Blogs Podcasts Music Films Papers
  1. Reading links posts can provide insights into what influences someone at a specific time.
  2. Compiling lists of books, blogs, podcasts, and music can help you reflect on your media consumption and discover new recommendations.
  3. Exploring a variety of media like books, blogs, podcasts, and music can give you a diverse range of perspectives and entertainment.
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By Reason Alone

21 implied HN points • 09 Apr 23
📖 Philosophy
  1. The blog 'By Reason Alone' is a new home for personal blogging, moving from samenright.com
  2. The blog touches on philosophy, referencing debates on the source of knowledge
  3. Posts on the blog will be shorter, informal, and cover a wide variety of topics

Bryan Caplan Meets Socrates

1 HN point • 11 Feb 24
📖 Philosophy Dialogue Education Knowledge Wisdom Ethics
  1. Education should aim to refine virtue, not just for practical gains. Seeking education for its own sake leads to better outcomes.
  2. Sophistry in education can be dangerous, leading to superficial learning and a focus on appearances over substance.
  3. Interest in philosophy and the arts can be cultivated in all individuals with the right instruction, even if they initially lack enthusiasm.

Some Poetry about Behavioural Genetics

12 implied HN points • 01 May 23
📚 Literature Poetry
  1. Parenting has little impact on adult life outcomes compared to genetics.
  2. Twin studies show that shared environment, including parenting, has a minimal effect on life outcomes.
  3. Understanding genetic influence on behavior can lead to varied reactions, from depression to acceptance.

Misinformation is at Most Weakly Related to Lack of Knowledge

9 HN points • 20 Jun 23
🔬 Science Misinformation Knowledge Beliefs Education Climate change
  1. Misinformation is not always due to lack of knowledge, but can stem from having too much specific information on certain topics.
  2. More education can sometimes lead to more polarized beliefs, rather than always resulting in correct beliefs.
  3. Understanding is not just about having true information, but also about navigating biases and not getting caught up in popular misconceptions.

The Agonies of an Indian Visa

4 HN points • 14 Jun 23
🌐 International
  1. Indian visa application process can be overly complicated and frustrating.
  2. Government forms can be poorly designed, leading to unnecessary difficulties for travelers.
  3. Bureaucratic processes can dissuade tourism and investment in certain countries.

Film Review: Oppenheimer

2 HN points • 28 Jul 23
🎭️ Culture Biography Ethics History Entertainment
  1. The film 'Oppenheimer' is really three movies in one, which may have worked better as a series rather than a three-hour film.
  2. Uninformed audiences might not grasp the emotional significance of certain plot points in the film, like Oppenheimer's security clearance.
  3. The movie has too many famous actors and a lot of music, which can be distracting and take away from the storytelling.

Andy Clark Meets the Grasshopper

0 implied HN points • 26 Feb 24
📖 Philosophy Mind Existence Knowledge Ethics Reality
  1. Life could be considered a game with a goal of minimizing surprise, which is a simple and shared objective
  2. The belief-updating process in life might follow Bayesian principles, but this approach is debated among philosophers
  3. Dreams could serve the purpose of testing and challenging the brain's models of the world to minimize surprises and enhance adaptability