Utility Maximizer's guide to replicators, networks, game theory, and civilization
Every boat is copied from another boat. . . . Let's reason as follows in the manner of Darwin. It is clear that a very badly made boat will end up at the bottom after one or two voyages and thus never be copied. . . . One could then say, with complete rigor, that … Continue reading Design vs Darwinism and “skin in the game”
My hypothesis is that dogmas raised human IQs. To explain why, I'll begin here: One of the most powerful driving forces in evolution is called an evolutionary arms race.
[This is largely from a school English writing assignment. Don't accuse me of plagiarism.] When Taleb talks, his statements are hard to summarize because his work is so integrated. His points may even sound garbled, because you need to understand the context of his whole body whole work to get the full picture. So bear … Continue reading Speech: Nassim Nicholas Taleb explains antifragility
The penultimate speech: You Are Not a Lottery Ticket by Peter Thiel https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iZM_JmZdqCw The question of luck Thiel believes there are two forces of progress. First, globalization (horizontal progress), copying things that already work, or "doing more with more". Second, technology (vertical progress), doing things a different way, or "doing more with less." Globalization is mathematically represented … Continue reading Speech: Peter Thiel on predicting the future
I want to spread the ideas of others, but I don’t want to plagiarize them. So, for the next few weeks, I will run a series called “Speech Highlights” wherein I’ll link to some fascinating speeches and discuss them. First up: Biologist Richard Dawkins demonstrates the evolution of the eye: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2X1iwLqM2t0 The eye is often … Continue reading Speech: Richard Dawkins explains the adaptive valley
Have you ever wondered why there is still a royal family in the UK? One that doesn’t ostensibly holds no power, and “rules” over (several) otherwise democratic countries? Have you ever wondered about seemingly arbitrary cultural practices, like marriage? Why businessmen wear a suit and tie? These things seem normal because they are the way … Continue reading Traditions and Junk DNA
A biologist I admire, Bret Weinstein, employs a four-part test to determine whether a trait is the product of evolution. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DtdOhBoZfNg Is it complex? Does it have a cost? Is there variation in the amount of cost that is spent? Does it persist over evolutionary time? If a trait has all of those characteristics, then … Continue reading The errors with Bret Weinstein’s four-part test of adaption
Epiphany a Week 