Inadequate Equilibria: Where and How Civilizations Get Stuck

Inadequate Equilibria: Where and How Civilizations Get Stuck

When should you think that you may be able to do something <i>unusually well?</i> Whether you're trying to outperform in science, or in business, or just in finding good deals shopping on eBay, it's important that you have a sober understanding of your relative competencies. The story only ends there, however, if you're fortunate enough to live in an <i>adequate</i> civilization. Eliezer Yudkowsky's <i>Inadequate Equilibria</i> is a sharp and lively guidebook for anyone questioning when and how they can know better, and do better, than the status quo. Freely mixing debates on the foundations of rational decision-making with tips for everyday life, Yudkowsky explores the central question of when we can (and can't) expect to spot systemic inefficiencies, and exploit them.