I think as an individual reading and mathematical modeling is more conducive to learning true things about the world more than most other things on the list. Certainly I read much more often than I conduct RCTs! Even working scientists have reading the literature as a major component of their overall process.
I also believe this is true for civilization overall. If we imagine in an alternative civilization that is incapable of RCTs but can learn things from direct observation, natural experiments, engineering, etc, I expect substantial progress is still possible. However, if all information can only be relayed via the oral tradition, I think it’d be very hard to build up a substantial civilization. There’s a similar argument for math as well, though less so.
Likewise I think what thought experiments I’m influenced by is more important than the idea that thought experiments are (possibly) less trustworthy than at helping me make decisions than a full blown philosophical framework or more trustworthy than folk wisdown.
Sure, the article discusses this in some detail. Context and discernment definitely matters. I could’ve definitely spent more effort on it, but I was worried it was already too long, and am also unsure if I could provide anything novel that’s relevant to specific people’s situations anyway.
FWIW I think the infographic was fine and would suggest reinstating it (I don’t think the argument is clearer without it, and it’s certainly harder for people to suggest methods you might have missed if you don’t show methods you included!)
I think the infographic probably makes it more likely for people to downvote the post without reading it.
Your linkpost also strips most of the key parts from the article, which I suspect some of the downvoters missed
Yeah the linkpost is just an introduction + explanation of why the post is relevant to EA Forum + link. I strongly suspect, based on substack analytics (which admittedly might be inaccurate) most people who downvoted the post didn’t read or even skim the post. I frankly find this extremely [1]rude.
(Less than 1% of my substack’s views came from the EA Forum, so pretty much every single one of the clickers have to have downvoted; I think it’s much more likely that people who didn’t read the post downvoted. I personally only downvote posts I’ve read, or at least skimmed carefully enough that I’m confident I’d downvote upon a closer read. I can’t imagine having the arrogance to do otherwise.)
I think as an individual reading and mathematical modeling is more conducive to learning true things about the world more than most other things on the list. Certainly I read much more often than I conduct RCTs! Even working scientists have reading the literature as a major component of their overall process.
I also believe this is true for civilization overall. If we imagine in an alternative civilization that is incapable of RCTs but can learn things from direct observation, natural experiments, engineering, etc, I expect substantial progress is still possible. However, if all information can only be relayed via the oral tradition, I think it’d be very hard to build up a substantial civilization. There’s a similar argument for math as well, though less so.
Sure, the article discusses this in some detail. Context and discernment definitely matters. I could’ve definitely spent more effort on it, but I was worried it was already too long, and am also unsure if I could provide anything novel that’s relevant to specific people’s situations anyway.
I think the infographic probably makes it more likely for people to downvote the post without reading it.
Yeah the linkpost is just an introduction + explanation of why the post is relevant to EA Forum + link. I strongly suspect, based on substack analytics (which admittedly might be inaccurate) most people who downvoted the post didn’t read or even skim the post. I frankly find this extremely [1]rude.
(Less than 1% of my substack’s views came from the EA Forum, so pretty much every single one of the clickers have to have downvoted; I think it’s much more likely that people who didn’t read the post downvoted. I personally only downvote posts I’ve read, or at least skimmed carefully enough that I’m confident I’d downvote upon a closer read. I can’t imagine having the arrogance to do otherwise.)