Hello! Everything in this newsletter issue is about meta-rationality, for a change. I have two new essays, plus I want to let you know about some podcasts and a video, also about meta-rationality, by friends of mine.
Two new essays
It’s natural to feel skeptical about meta-rationalism, or even hostile, when you first encounter it. This essay explains why, and what might change your mind. It’s based on an extended analogy with learning systematic rationality. The emotional obstacles you faced in becoming rational are similar to those you will face in becoming meta-rational.
A couple days ago, I found a nearly-complete Vintage 2016 draft of that essay, from before I started work on In The Cells Of The Eggplant. It’s a simpler, easier take than the book, and so probably a better introduction. It took all day yesterday to polish it up, and along the way it gave me the idea for another page. I wrote that one from scratch today:
What would it be like to work in an environment in which everyone was meta-rational, in a company organized meta-rationally?
You might hate it! Or you might love it. Here’s why.
Do explain
On the Do Explain podcast, Jake Orthwein discusses meta-rationality with Christopher Lövgren. This is a great starting point for learning about meta-rationality, because Jake’s explanations are simple, vivid, and precise. The ideas are new to Christopher, who initially didn’t get it, and was skeptical if not outright hostile. But over the course of several sessions, spread over several months, they started to make sense for him, and even to transform his experience.
Jake and Christopher have made three episodes so far, with more to come:
Matt Arnold’s video presentation
Matt Arnold’s 45-minute presentation may be the best introduction to adult developmental theory, from which my understanding of meta-rationality draws extensively. He makes great use of concrete examples and jokes.
(Matt also produces the audiobook of Meaningness.)