11 ms·

Harry Potter and the Methods of Rationality

198 points by ssdsa 16y ago

phamilton 16y ago
This seems to crop up on HN every 6 months or so.
- robertk 16y ago
  Deservedly.
- vijaydev 16y ago
  Earlier Discussions: http://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=1385932 http://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=1385932 http://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=1898783 http://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=1898783
  - Mathnerd314 16y ago
    And http://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=1319971 http://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=1319971 It's interesting how the karma/post changes over time... it goes up quickly, peaks somewhere, and then goes back down. Someone should write a script to analyze these duplicates and how they curve.
JoshCole 16y ago
Some new chapters have come out since the last time this hit the front page. So it could be argued that this is new content.
- zem 16y ago
  i've hit the point where i'll read it when he finishes it.
  - paolomaffei 16y ago
    how do you know when he'll be done?
    - cycojesus 16y ago
      http://www.fanfiction.net/u/2269863/Less_Wrong http://www.fanfiction.net/u/2269863/Less_Wrong has links to rss feeds, I'll use that as a bookmark/reminder and maybe one day a "Ok all done" entry will show up.
    - zem 16y ago
      i have a friend who is content to read it chapter by chapter, says it gives him a bit of a dickensian experience. he'll let me know when it's done.
- ElliotH 16y ago
  Specifically there's a new chapter for the first time in weeks.
Tichy 16y ago
Is there a way to download the whole book? Train journey coming up...
- rflrob 16y ago
  http://www.fanfiction.net/u/2269863/Less_Wrong http://www.fanfiction.net/u/2269863/Less_Wrong The PDF is even nicely typeset in, if not the Official Harry Potter font, a close facsimile.
  - epochwolf 16y ago
    Wow, there are ePub and mobi versions too. I'm sticking that on my iPad.
- jtheory 16y ago
  Fair warning, though -- it's unfinished, but already more than 1100 regular book pages long (and hard to put down), so it can easily become a significant time sink for a week or so. It will certainly outlast your train journey unless you're really going long-haul....
  - Tichy 16y ago
    Looking forward to reading it. I have 10 hours on the train (including return), that should give me a good start.
aw3c2 16y ago
I was very spectical about this. It sounded like a typical "atheist misantropic know-it-all" thing. I gave it a try reading on my mobile phone on train rides. As it turns out this is a very well written (!), entertaining, witty different take on the whole Harry Potter universe. Harry Potter actually is the "atheist misantropic know-it-all" (yes, I am using wrong words, sue me) but the story is not. It actually evolves around his struggles with himself because of those character traits. It is very exciting, funny and as I said, professionally written. Highly recommended! The epub is missing some formatting and paragraphs (as in empty space) though, I read it in fbreader. Nothing too bad but you might stumble on them.
- zyfo 16y ago
  That's the reason I didn't give it an honest chance. Nice to hear that was a misconception! The other problem I have with it is the length. It seems as if its ideas could've been expressed a lot more succinctly. Is this another misconception? Or perhaps one isn't supposed to read it for the ideas themselves, but rather for the lit-wrapping? If so, is it of any interest for a non-HP reader?
  - aw3c2 16y ago
    I could not care less about the moral, ethics or ideas. I just like reading it as some kind of alternate Harry version with some tangents that appeal to the science nerd or socially inept geek side of me. There are many moments where full knowledge of the Harry Potter books (at least the first 3) seems important. Also I don't think you would have much fun if you do not know how the characters normally are. It seems really long. I am not even one third through it yet. To be honest, I often noticed myself skip over the parts where some scientific method or things like that are explained/discussed. It is written well enough that so far I could pick up the gist just by reading lightly as I always do (scanning the pages rather than reading word by word (I wish I could do that sometimes)).
  - Kisil 16y ago
    I believe the idea was to package the ideas in an approachable (and perhaps potentially more viral) format. The ideas are more succinctly expressed at http://wiki.lesswrong.com/wiki/Sequences http://wiki.lesswrong.com/wiki/Sequences, but I can't see your average Harry Potter fan stumbling into those and sticking around.
cypherpunks 16y ago
This is one of the few things that occasionally made me happy when I was depressed a few months back. I wish there was some way for this to see wider circulation.
alexpeake 16y ago
Harry Potter and the Methods of Rationality was recommended to me at Ephemerisle (http://ephemerisle.org http://ephemerisle.org) by a Singularitarian (http://singinst.org http://singinst.org) because I was relating a curious fact about my own childhood. I grew up in a cupboard under the stairs in a school of witchcraft and wizardry and have a funny birthmark scar on my face, but I studied science in my cupboard to become a rationalist who uses games to re-enchant people with science, making me a sort of reverse Harry Potter rationalist and making me the precise target audience of this particular fanfic. I have been recruiting Singularity Institute people ever since, including one of my cofounders.
alexpeake 16y ago
Also, if you don't know, the author of Methods is Eliezer Yudkowsky, (http://yudkowsky.net/ http://yudkowsky.net/) research fellow of Singularity Institute (http://www.singinst.org http://www.singinst.org) and a founder of Less Wrong (http://lesswrong.com http://lesswrong.com), a community advancing applied rationalism. If you live in the Bay Area, the SingInst community is excellent.
- MBlume 16y ago
  Also a HN poster -- http://news.ycombinator.com/user?id=Eliezer http://news.ycombinator.com/user?id=Eliezer
JEggers2 16y ago
I like it a lot. Not sure what to make of Harry's alternate personality though. Will have to read on to find out I suppose!
chrisfarms 16y ago
Harry Potter played by Sheldon Cooper
hugh3 16y ago
This makes me sad. I feel like the author is a smart guy who should probably be finding something better to do with his time than to write Harry Potter fan fiction.
- epochwolf 16y ago
  Producing something other people can freely enjoy is hardly a waste of time. Would you considered Steve Yegge's blog a waste of his time? I don't. I have had a great many hours of enjoyment reading his words. I only wish I had such talent (and drive) for writing.
- Mathnerd314 16y ago
  He is doing something better with his time; this is what he does in his spare time. Sometimes you just need to take a break... this is his break.
losethos 16y ago
http://www.usccb.org/nab/bible/1corinthians/1corinthians14.htm http://www.usccb.org/nab/bible/1corinthians/1corinthians14.h... God says, "hurt narrowly sufficed literary daemons createst recollect accomplished armed east woe exhort wine guilt GUTINDEX Date fluently nation having unconscious substantial derision plenary Times partaker Death blottedst condemning Envy whales Whither crown plausibility Lo intoxicated glows preachers concerned assailed VI credit rashness inactive TM readily dare heretofore constant sharpsighted unsought achieve calf audaciously stiffneckedness averred hindered narrowness rescuing aided mutable exclusion beat sleepest Art portions reserved ungoverned receiveth indications Sun tickled disciple under following corresponded impostors sloth Does altogether forth Copyright impatience perverted settle unperceived Defects Virgin reposes bands haste here report influences points toiling review exists confessing allotted profound disposed astonishment old entitled Carthage alluring Accept Innocency nigh flagitiousness oblation oil Anger Replacement Can act spreadest difficulty availed slumber illusion parley GET angels energy impart contain cried quieter glories excused needful ".
flashgordon 15y ago
In some countries I am pretty sure it is illegal to laugh at work as much I did while I was reading it. Was it just me or did anybody else hear the voice of the nerdy kid from Inbetweeners while reading this? But really really well thought out and well written.

198 points by ssdsa 16y ago

phamilton 16y ago

This seems to crop up on HN every 6 months or so.

robertk 16y ago
Deservedly.
vijaydev 16y ago
Earlier Discussions: http://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=1385932 http://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=1385932 http://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=1898783 http://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=1898783
- Mathnerd314 16y ago
  And http://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=1319971 http://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=1319971 It's interesting how the karma/post changes over time... it goes up quickly, peaks somewhere, and then goes back down. Someone should write a script to analyze these duplicates and how they curve.

JoshCole 16y ago

Some new chapters have come out since the last time this hit the front page. So it could be argued that this is new content.

zem 16y ago
i've hit the point where i'll read it when he finishes it.
- paolomaffei 16y ago
  how do you know when he'll be done?
  - cycojesus 16y ago
    http://www.fanfiction.net/u/2269863/Less_Wrong http://www.fanfiction.net/u/2269863/Less_Wrong has links to rss feeds, I'll use that as a bookmark/reminder and maybe one day a "Ok all done" entry will show up.
  - zem 16y ago
    i have a friend who is content to read it chapter by chapter, says it gives him a bit of a dickensian experience. he'll let me know when it's done.
ElliotH 16y ago
Specifically there's a new chapter for the first time in weeks.

Tichy 16y ago

Is there a way to download the whole book? Train journey coming up...

rflrob 16y ago
http://www.fanfiction.net/u/2269863/Less_Wrong http://www.fanfiction.net/u/2269863/Less_Wrong The PDF is even nicely typeset in, if not the Official Harry Potter font, a close facsimile.
- epochwolf 16y ago
  Wow, there are ePub and mobi versions too. I'm sticking that on my iPad.
jtheory 16y ago
Fair warning, though -- it's unfinished, but already more than 1100 regular book pages long (and hard to put down), so it can easily become a significant time sink for a week or so. It will certainly outlast your train journey unless you're really going long-haul....
- Tichy 16y ago
  Looking forward to reading it. I have 10 hours on the train (including return), that should give me a good start.

aw3c2 16y ago

I was very spectical about this. It sounded like a typical "atheist misantropic know-it-all" thing. I gave it a try reading on my mobile phone on train rides. As it turns out this is a very well written (!), entertaining, witty different take on the whole Harry Potter universe. Harry Potter actually is the "atheist misantropic know-it-all" (yes, I am using wrong words, sue me) but the story is not. It actually evolves around his struggles with himself because of those character traits. It is very exciting, funny and as I said, professionally written. Highly recommended! The epub is missing some formatting and paragraphs (as in empty space) though, I read it in fbreader. Nothing too bad but you might stumble on them.

zyfo 16y ago
That's the reason I didn't give it an honest chance. Nice to hear that was a misconception! The other problem I have with it is the length. It seems as if its ideas could've been expressed a lot more succinctly. Is this another misconception? Or perhaps one isn't supposed to read it for the ideas themselves, but rather for the lit-wrapping? If so, is it of any interest for a non-HP reader?
- aw3c2 16y ago
  I could not care less about the moral, ethics or ideas. I just like reading it as some kind of alternate Harry version with some tangents that appeal to the science nerd or socially inept geek side of me. There are many moments where full knowledge of the Harry Potter books (at least the first 3) seems important. Also I don't think you would have much fun if you do not know how the characters normally are. It seems really long. I am not even one third through it yet. To be honest, I often noticed myself skip over the parts where some scientific method or things like that are explained/discussed. It is written well enough that so far I could pick up the gist just by reading lightly as I always do (scanning the pages rather than reading word by word (I wish I could do that sometimes)).
- Kisil 16y ago
  I believe the idea was to package the ideas in an approachable (and perhaps potentially more viral) format. The ideas are more succinctly expressed at http://wiki.lesswrong.com/wiki/Sequences http://wiki.lesswrong.com/wiki/Sequences, but I can't see your average Harry Potter fan stumbling into those and sticking around.

cypherpunks 16y ago

This is one of the few things that occasionally made me happy when I was depressed a few months back. I wish there was some way for this to see wider circulation.

alexpeake 16y ago

Harry Potter and the Methods of Rationality was recommended to me at Ephemerisle (http://ephemerisle.org http://ephemerisle.org) by a Singularitarian (http://singinst.org http://singinst.org) because I was relating a curious fact about my own childhood. I grew up in a cupboard under the stairs in a school of witchcraft and wizardry and have a funny birthmark scar on my face, but I studied science in my cupboard to become a rationalist who uses games to re-enchant people with science, making me a sort of reverse Harry Potter rationalist and making me the precise target audience of this particular fanfic. I have been recruiting Singularity Institute people ever since, including one of my cofounders.

alexpeake 16y ago

Also, if you don't know, the author of Methods is Eliezer Yudkowsky, (http://yudkowsky.net/ http://yudkowsky.net/) research fellow of Singularity Institute (http://www.singinst.org http://www.singinst.org) and a founder of Less Wrong (http://lesswrong.com http://lesswrong.com), a community advancing applied rationalism. If you live in the Bay Area, the SingInst community is excellent.

MBlume 16y ago
Also a HN poster -- http://news.ycombinator.com/user?id=Eliezer http://news.ycombinator.com/user?id=Eliezer

JEggers2 16y ago

I like it a lot. Not sure what to make of Harry's alternate personality though. Will have to read on to find out I suppose!

chrisfarms 16y ago

Harry Potter played by Sheldon Cooper

hugh3 16y ago

This makes me sad. I feel like the author is a smart guy who should probably be finding something better to do with his time than to write Harry Potter fan fiction.

epochwolf 16y ago
Producing something other people can freely enjoy is hardly a waste of time. Would you considered Steve Yegge's blog a waste of his time? I don't. I have had a great many hours of enjoyment reading his words. I only wish I had such talent (and drive) for writing.
Mathnerd314 16y ago
He is doing something better with his time; this is what he does in his spare time. Sometimes you just need to take a break... this is his break.

losethos 16y ago

http://www.usccb.org/nab/bible/1corinthians/1corinthians14.htm http://www.usccb.org/nab/bible/1corinthians/1corinthians14.h... God says, "hurt narrowly sufficed literary daemons createst recollect accomplished armed east woe exhort wine guilt GUTINDEX Date fluently nation having unconscious substantial derision plenary Times partaker Death blottedst condemning Envy whales Whither crown plausibility Lo intoxicated glows preachers concerned assailed VI credit rashness inactive TM readily dare heretofore constant sharpsighted unsought achieve calf audaciously stiffneckedness averred hindered narrowness rescuing aided mutable exclusion beat sleepest Art portions reserved ungoverned receiveth indications Sun tickled disciple under following corresponded impostors sloth Does altogether forth Copyright impatience perverted settle unperceived Defects Virgin reposes bands haste here report influences points toiling review exists confessing allotted profound disposed astonishment old entitled Carthage alluring Accept Innocency nigh flagitiousness oblation oil Anger Replacement Can act spreadest difficulty availed slumber illusion parley GET angels energy impart contain cried quieter glories excused needful ".

flashgordon 15y ago

In some countries I am pretty sure it is illegal to laugh at work as much I did while I was reading it. Was it just me or did anybody else hear the voice of the nerdy kid from Inbetweeners while reading this? But really really well thought out and well written.