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dr.Pep
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Copyright © 2023 Pepijn van der Laan.
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Elections are not democratic but aristocratic, because only members of the elite get on the ballot

Elections are not democratic but aristocratic, because only members of the elite get on the ballot

David van Reybrouk – Against Elections (read in Dutch)

It would be interesting to expand the solution space to include not just random selection of citizens but also modes of participation and collaboration from non-political domains like open source software development.

To solve the problems facing our planet today, we need to think ahead seven generations

To solve the problems facing our planet today, we need to think ahead seven generations

Roman Krznaric – The good ancestor

Hard-felt plea for including future generations into political decision making.

Seneca and his friends have a lot of practical advice for navigating life

Seneca and his friends have a lot of practical advice for navigating life

Ward Fransworth – The practicing Stoic

there is no reason to get too excited about this book.

Experiencing other people’s suffering leads us away from rational decision making

Experiencing other people’s suffering leads us away from rational decision making

Paul Bloom – Against empathy

The seemingly controversial thesis turns out to be a platitude hidden behind a carefully crafted facade of definitions.

Ongoing advances in technology make that ethical norms develop incredibly fast

Ongoing advances in technology make that ethical norms develop incredibly fast

Juan Enriquez – Right/Wrong

Filled with highly interesting statistics about the evolution of public perception on ethical issues.

The philosophy of the Silicon Valley elite is just a bunch of ill understood one-liners from preferably obscure thinkers

The philosophy of the Silicon Valley elite is just a bunch of ill understood one-liners from preferably obscure thinkers

Adrian Daub – What tech calls thinking

Entertaining and polemic book, although many of the author’s points hardly need to be argued.

Don’t estimate probabilities, but ask: ‘What is really going on here?’

Don’t estimate probabilities, but ask: ‘What is really going on here?’

John Kay and Mervin King – Radical Uncertainty

Economists should stay away from pseudo-philosophical assertions, in particular when these hinge on misinterpretation of Bayesian methods, use flawed logic, and do not lead to realistic recommendations.

To disprove ‘Intelligent Design’, just note that one can very well exhibit intelligent behavior without actual intelligence

To disprove ‘Intelligent Design’, just note that one can very well exhibit intelligent behavior without actual intelligence

Daniel Dennett – From bacteria to Bach and back

Caleidoscopic overview of Dennett’s ideas, but it would benefit from an more thorough justification of its antropocentric perspective (compare: Frans de Waal).

The principles of the enlightment are still the main driver for human progress

The principles of the enlightment are still the main driver for human progress

Steven Pinker – Enlightnent now

Considering his plea for scientific thinking, Pinker is remarkably confident on (1) hard to assess long term risks and (2) strong realism (in the epistomological sense).

Live by the philosophy of the stoics, but do not take their advice too literally

Live by the philosophy of the stoics, but do not take their advice too literally

Svend Brinkmann – Stand firm

Brinkmann’s many nuances and exceptions kill his argument and concept.

N.B. Read in Dutch translation

Unlike ‘to lie’, ‘to bullshit’ implies an utter indifference towards the notion of truth

Unlike ‘to lie’, ‘to bullshit’ implies an utter indifference towards the notion of truth

On bullshit – Harry Frankfurt

Entertaining and still eerily relevant (although already published in 2005).

There are a huge number of ways in which Artificial General Intelligence (AGI) can take over the world, rendering humanity essentially useless.

There are a huge number of ways in which Artificial General Intelligence (AGI) can take over the world, rendering humanity essentially useless.

Max Tegmark – Life 3.0

Interesting exploration of the implications of AGI, faulted by the typical preference of Analytical Philosophy for construction of intricate, highly  theoretical scenario’s, under-emphasizing basic challenges (in the case of AGI: lack of robustness / antifragility).

Philip Fernbach and Steven Sloman – The Knowledge Illusion

Philip Fernbach and Steven Sloman – The Knowledge Illusion

In a world that is both complex and polarized, progress (which is fueled by sharing  knowledge) is in serious danger of reversal.

The concept is almost trivial (which makes for a boring 1st half of the book), but the examples (partizan politics, fake news, pseudo science, etc.) are convincing and entertaining.

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Copyright © 2023 Pepijn van der Laan.
All rights reserved.