Rationality Meetups (session 5): Politics & Economics

Name: Rationality Meetups (session 5): Politics & Economics
Start: 2024-11-26T19:00:00+02:00
Location: Kavárna U Vojtěcha, Šmeralova 292/12, Praha - Letná

Schedule

Tue Nov 26 2024 at 07:00 pm

UTC+02:00

Location

Kavárna U Vojtěcha, Šmeralova 292/12, Praha - Letná | Prague, PR

Join us for a series of six open-format meetings, taking place twice a month on Tuesdays from October to December. There’s no need to register in advance; you are welcome to join even if you can’t attend every session. The meetings will feature discussions based on required readings, focusing primarily on the works of Scott Alexander (author of the Astral Codex Ten blog). It’s an opportunity to deepen your understanding of key rationalist topics and explore them with others. English speakers welcome.

What’s the Goal?
The sessions are for both regular participants who want to catch up on classic texts and expand their knowledge, as well as for newcomers eager to dive into valuable rationalist literature.
The upcoming 5th session: Politics & Economics (November 26)

The next session will be facilitated by Hana Kalivodová. It will have two sub-themes:

Politics & pragmatics (https://www.lesswrong.com/s/rNuPrZvabXe2MaZv8)
A series of explorations examines human efforts to control nature, time, and society. Albion’s Seed and genetic studies reveal historical settlement patterns, while critiques of social vs. biological solutions argue for more focus on biology in issues like ADHD. Humorous philosophical sketches explore thinkers‘ ideas, and in a fictional tale, a town experiences a yearly time reversal, a remnant of humanity’s failed attempt to control time. Together, these works explore the limits of human knowledge and the consequences of hubris.

Economics & efficiency (https://www.lesswrong.com/s/zfXAcwLnGocsCsriG)
If you’re intrigued by the intersection of economics, culture, and philosophy, Scott Alexander’s writings offer a deep dive into the inefficiencies plaguing modern society, the clash between traditional values and rapid economic progress, and the complex moral questions these changes raise. From dissecting skyrocketing healthcare costs to satirizing gods struggling for relevance in a capitalist world, Alexander blends sharp analysis with engaging storytelling. Whether you’re curious about market distortions, fascinated by the decline of ancient power structures, or searching for pragmatic ethical reasoning in a world driven by efficiency, these chapters offer a rich, thought-provoking journey.
You can see an overview of all the upcoming sessions as well as our other events here: https://www.efektivni-altruismus.cz/kalendar-akci/.

Not able to attend?
If you are interested in the topic but cannot attend due to time constraints, for example, leave us your contact details and we will get back to you with other opportunities (events, discussions, lectures, projects): https://forms.gle/jqVaFWPhcPZmiFFy8.