Rationality Minicamp a Success
June 21st, 2011 –
Starting on May 28th, the Singularity Institute ran a one-week Rationality Training Camp. Our exit survey shows that the camp was very well-received, surpassing the expectations of the organizers and the participants.
Knowledge and skills taught and practiced include:
- Testing one’s beliefs, updating on evidence
- Designing and modifying desires
- Avoiding rationalization and overcoming biases
- Using probability theory, Fermi calculations, and microeconomics in everyday decisions
- Motivation, productivity, and efficient scholarship
- Effective communication
- Body language, social touch, and fashion
- Optimal philanthropy
- Existential risks
Participants volunteered to teach from their own fields of expertise, too, and led lessons on business, martial arts stretching, salsa dancing, and more.
Participants are positioned to have current and future impact on the world in math, artificial intelligence, philosophy, finance, optimal philanthropy, software engineering, and other fields. They continue to share the minicamp’s impact on themselves, and the impact they are having on others as a result, via an online mailing list and regular Skype video chats. There are also ongoing strategic discussions, for example concerning how best to persuade AI researchers of AI risks.
Oh, and we became friends, too. 
Data concerning the minicamp’s effect on participants’ rationality and life success are still being collected.
So if that was a success, how do you plan to allow others to share in that success? What residue of the camp is available to others who would like to learn these things as well? Is there even a discussion of the teaching methods or a recording of the presentations or the hours of the camp experience?
[...] Held a wildly successful Rationality Minicamp. [...]
[...] for Singularity Institute. We held two small conferences in Salt Lake City, conducted a week-long Rationality Minicamp and nine week Rationality Boot Camp in Berkeley, established the Research Associates program, have [...]
[...] Anna and I put together the minicamp, a one-week camp full of classes and activities about rationality, social effectiveness, and [...]