Epistemology
Understanding in the Age of AI
Why serious epistemologists must be programmers, and whether vibe coding with AI counts as understanding. Takeaways from my Conjecture Con 2026 talk.
Epistemology
The Blind Truth-Seeker
Karl Popper’s theory of knowledge explained through a blind man throwing darts. The metaphor exposes common errors in epistemology.
Epistemology
Experimental Controls Aren’t What You Think
Why scientists use experimental controls like randomization and blinding – and what these methods are actually designed to do.
Epistemology
Taking Popper Too Far, Again
Karl Popper rejected the possibility of a scientific method and the justification of scientific theories – but not all methods or justification. Some David Deutsch followers take him too far.
Epistemology
Rationality as Computation
Why rational decision-making should be expressed as code, and why serious epistemologists need programming skills.
Epistemology
Insentience in Animals and Sleepwalkers
The behavior of animals and sleepwalkers challenges our assumptions about consciousness and which tasks require it.
Politics
Freedom of Association Maxxing
People should be free to leave each other alone. In other words, they should have freedom of association. It’s a core enlightenment value.
Epistemology
Simple Refutation of David Deutsch’s ‘Hard to Vary’
David Deutsch says we form rational preferences by choosing explanations that are hardest to vary. But that doesn’t work. I explain why.
Epistemology
What Makes a Professional Epistemologist?
What distinguishes a hobby epistemologist from a professional one? What criteria should you meet to be successful in this field?
Epistemology
Fallibilism vs. Cynicism
Man can err, and by an effort, he can learn from his mistakes. But is he always wrong, no matter how hard he tries?
Current events
Maybe Publishing the Epstein Files Was a Bad Idea
When the people who claim to be on the victims’ side repeatedly make elementary mistakes, when they’re being led by their emotions, it helps the criminals, who can then reasonably call their opponents’ credibility into question.
Epistemology
Consider This Before You Have Kids
What are valid reasons to have a child? How can you prepare for parenthood?
Economics
Simple Solution to the Free-Rider Problem
I recently stumbled upon a curiosity called the ‘free-rider problem’. It’s a curiosity because Wikipedia describes it as “a type of market failure that occurs when those who benefit from … public goods … do not pay for them or under-pay.” How can it be a market failure if it affects public goods?
Education
Are Private Lessons Immoral?
Imagine some parents offer you money to teach their son math. You want your lessons to be fully voluntary, so you need to make sure he wants to learn. But how can you know that?