analects noun, pl

/ˈan.ə.lɛkts/

a collection of ideas, extracts, or teachings.

On Thinking and Reasoning

stuff On knowing things, and how we get there

show:

analects under the categories btrmt. believes in, as set out in the manifesto

analects organised according to the fundamental questions of philosophy

sequences of articles gathered around a more focused idea

  • successful prophets 5 Jun 2026 [article] We think of cults as the product of dangerously charismatic leaders but on examination this narrative falls apart. Really, the most successf...
  • there are no levels 1 May 2026 [article] Ideas that stick are shaped to be interesting, not true. Some of these are weaponised; snuck by our faculties of reason. AI uses them in spa...
  • affordance competition 14 Mar 2026 [article] The brain prepares multiple action plans simultaneously and the environment biases which one fires, via salience, practice, goals, and urgen...
  • stupid questions 1 Jan 2026 [article] Nature is just nurture over time, and nurture is far more obviously in charge; nothing changes if free will isn’t real; and the same is true...
  • ai hallucination is just man-guessing 1 Nov 2025 [article] Human reasoning isn’t flawed, it’s a social tool we use in the wrong places. It’s about sharing and evaluating intuitive claims, not generat...
  • beyond system 1 and system 2 13 Jun 2025 [article] System 1 vs System 2 is a useful shorthand, but our minds aren’t two-speed engines—they’re multi-process coalitions of specialised agents wo...
  • the neuroscience con 6 Jun 2025 [article] The neuroscience confidence game trades content for cosmetic filler, making vacuous advice look smart.
  • preferring coherence 2 May 2025 [article] Cogntive dissonance often describes a bias towards seeing ourselves as coherent. Sure, it’s sneaky and prevalent, but entirely necessary. An...
  • cognitive dissonance isn't discomfort 25 Apr 2025 [article] Cognitive dissonance is often thought of as the discomfort we have with conflicting cognitions. But it’s really about how the brain will smo...
  • evolution is overrated 18 Apr 2025 [article] Without time-travel, evolutionary narratives can only identify theories that don’t make sense (like death drives). It can’t tell you what th...
  • there is no authentic self 11 Apr 2025 [article] There’s no hidden version of you. If anything, we are a collection of bits and pieces that we weave together from the stories we learn from...
  • ai is never human-like 14 Mar 2025 [article] AI has human-like output, but a very different environment and different values for than environment, and until all three align, they will n...
  • on cynosure 7 Mar 2025 [article] Cynosure is the idea betterment is empty without gratification and connection. No true betterment can occur without celebrating the fruits o...
  • language is a barrier to communication 28 Feb 2025 [article] Our brain clusters things that are similar to each other together. This includes ideas and the words we attach to them. If your words are at...
  • not brain regions, brain networks 14 Feb 2025 [article] Brain networks are groups of brain regions that work together. There are only a handful of interesting ones, but you can actually use them t...
  • mini-brains inside the brain 7 Feb 2025 [article] If you look closely, you’ll see that our ability to speak just hides the fact that other processes are running the show. Find a way to cut t...
  • everyone's suggestible 10 Jan 2025 [article] Everyone is suggestible, not just children or the easily hypnotised; our memories and behaviours are heavily influenced by external suggesti...
  • bias is good 15 Nov 2024 [article] Bias reduces noise—if you know roughly what to expect, then being biased by those expectations means you won’t get distracted by less releva...
  • confirmation bias is all there is 18 Oct 2024 [article] Many cognitive biases seem like they can be boiled down to a handful of fundamental beliefs, and then belief-consistent information processi...
  • neurotransmitters are a confidence game 11 Oct 2024 [article] Neurotransmitters are psychological snake oil. A confidence game pop-psychologists play with their audience. There is frankly no convincing...

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