Rationality Meetups (session 2): Near vs. Far Mode of Thinking

Join us for a series of six open-format meetings, taking place twice a month on Tuesdays from October to December. There’s no need to register in advance; you are welcome to join even if you can’t attend every session. The meetings will feature discussions based on required readings, focusing primarily on the works of Scott Alexander (author of the Astral Codex Ten blog). It’s an opportunity to deepen your understanding of key rationalist topics and explore them with others. English speakers welcome.

What’s the Goal?

The sessions are for both regular participants who want to catch up on classic texts and expand their knowledge, as well as for newcomers eager to dive into valuable rationalist literature. 

The upcoming 2nd session: Near vs. Far Mode of Thinking (October 15)

The second session will be facilitated by Jiří Nádvodník. We will dive into writings by Robin Hanson on the Near vs. Far modes of thinking also known as the Construal Level Theory, which explores how psychological distance—whether in time, space, or personal relevance—shapes our thinking. Distant events lead us to think more abstractly and idealistically, influencing how we make decisions, predict outcomes, and form moral judgments. While this abstract thinking enables greater perspective and future planning, it also brings risks of hypocrisy and self-deception. We’ll examine how these cognitive shifts impact both individual behavior and societal development.

Each of us will be able to pick 4 articles from the NearFar category on the blog. We will also optionally read two academic papers that challenge the theory.

You can see an overview of all the upcoming sessions as well as our other events here: https://www.efektivni-altruismus.cz/kalendar-akci/

Not able to attend?

If you are interested in the topic but cannot attend due to time constraints, for example, leave us your contact details and we will get back to you with other opportunities (events, discussions, lectures, projects): https://forms.gle/jqVaFWPhcPZmiFFy8.