Since I’ve been interested in these topics for years (and I have almost started a PhD at Leiden University about this) I am pondering the possibility of writing something in the same cluster of this post but slightly different—e.g. like “The case for cognitive enhancement as a priority cause”, a reading list or something like that.
But before that I want briefly to tell you my story. I think it could be valuable for this conversation by looking at like at a Minimum Viable Product for what you said here
”...For example, we could improve at teaching rationality, or we could make progress on online education...”
Since July 2020 I am running an educational project on Instagram (named @school_of_thinking) with the intention of teaching rationality to the general public (at the moment I have 12.500 follower). Not only rationality, actually, but also critical thinking, decision theory, strategic thinking, epistemology and effective communication. I’ve been a passive member of the rationalist community for several years and I decided to start this project in part because in Italy (the project is all runned in italian) we lack the critical thinking culture that is present in other anglo-saxon countries. An example of this is that I haven’t found on amazon.it any updated serious textbook on critical thinking written in italian. This project is all EA-value based.
I’ve had a constant organic growth, a high and stable engagement rate (between 8% and 15%) and a decent number of positive and unbiased detailed feedbacks. It is all based on some informal pedagogic considerations that I have in mind about how to teach things in general. My idea now is to expand this project into other platforms, to create courses and books and to start a rationalist podcast.
There will be too much to say about my project, but if anyone want to ask me questions I am completely open. I also think I will write an entire post about it.
Sounds like very interesting work! As a Frenchman, it’s encouraging to see this uptake in another “latin” European country. I think this analytic/critical thinking culture is also underdeveloped in France. I’m curious: in your project, do you make connections to the long tradition of (mostly Continental?) philosophical work in Italy? Have you encountered any resistance to the typically anglo-saxon “vibe” of these ideas? In France, it’s not uncommon to dismiss some intellectual/political ideas (e.g., intersectionality) as “imported from America” and therefore irrelevant.
Hi Baptiste! Not even a single connection to the Continental tradition could be found in School of Thinking :D.
Actually, I have always been pretty clear in defining my approach as strongly analytical/anglo-saxon. Until now, fortunately, I haven’t received any particular resistance regarding my approach but mainly positive feedback, probably because most of my followers are into STEM or already into analytical philosophy.
Since I’ve been interested in these topics for years (and I have almost started a PhD at Leiden University about this) I am pondering the possibility of writing something in the same cluster of this post but slightly different—e.g. like “The case for cognitive enhancement as a priority cause”, a reading list or something like that.
But before that I want briefly to tell you my story. I think it could be valuable for this conversation by looking at like at a Minimum Viable Product for what you said here
”...For example, we could improve at teaching rationality, or we could make progress on online education...”
Since July 2020 I am running an educational project on Instagram (named @school_of_thinking) with the intention of teaching rationality to the general public (at the moment I have 12.500 follower). Not only rationality, actually, but also critical thinking, decision theory, strategic thinking, epistemology and effective communication. I’ve been a passive member of the rationalist community for several years and I decided to start this project in part because in Italy (the project is all runned in italian) we lack the critical thinking culture that is present in other anglo-saxon countries. An example of this is that I haven’t found on amazon.it any updated serious textbook on critical thinking written in italian. This project is all EA-value based.
I’ve had a constant organic growth, a high and stable engagement rate (between 8% and 15%) and a decent number of positive and unbiased detailed feedbacks. It is all based on some informal pedagogic considerations that I have in mind about how to teach things in general. My idea now is to expand this project into other platforms, to create courses and books and to start a rationalist podcast.
There will be too much to say about my project, but if anyone want to ask me questions I am completely open. I also think I will write an entire post about it.
Sounds like very interesting work! As a Frenchman, it’s encouraging to see this uptake in another “latin” European country. I think this analytic/critical thinking culture is also underdeveloped in France. I’m curious: in your project, do you make connections to the long tradition of (mostly Continental?) philosophical work in Italy? Have you encountered any resistance to the typically anglo-saxon “vibe” of these ideas? In France, it’s not uncommon to dismiss some intellectual/political ideas (e.g., intersectionality) as “imported from America” and therefore irrelevant.
Hi Baptiste! Not even a single connection to the Continental tradition could be found in School of Thinking :D.
Actually, I have always been pretty clear in defining my approach as strongly analytical/anglo-saxon. Until now, fortunately, I haven’t received any particular resistance regarding my approach but mainly positive feedback, probably because most of my followers are into STEM or already into analytical philosophy.