Essays by a social scientist that examine how research and common sense interact, the limits of progress in psychology, and why people reflexively assume cynical explanations for higher motives. Readers get argued, example-driven analysis of how social science works and where its claims are strong or weak.
Website: https://www.update.news
A blog by economist Robin Hanson that applies economic reasoning and Bayesian priors to questions about human belief, morality, culture, and the long-term future. Readers get original, contrarian arguments, often with proposals such as prediction-market-based governance.
Short philosophical essays that use ideas from science, game theory and social dynamics to examine how simplification, collective behavior and hidden assumptions shape human understanding. Each issue builds a single counterintuitive argument, such as Braess's paradox or pluralistic ignorance, and draws broader conclusions about civilization.
A newsletter on statistical genetics that critically examines heritability claims, academic policy and the use of AI in research. Readers get data-driven analysis of published datasets and hands-on experiments from a practicing researcher.
Original essays applying social science methods and data analysis to questions about politics, culture and demographics, such as fertility differences by social attitudes and the effects of AI on signalling. Readers get worked empirical analysis using survey datasets alongside economic-style conceptual arguments.
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