I think this approach wouldn’t work for rationalists, for two reasons:
The rationality community is based around disputation, not canonicalization, of texts. That is, the litmus test for being a rationalist is not “Do you agree with this list of propositions?” (I have tried many times to draw up such a list, but this always just leads to even more debate), but rather “Are you familiar with this body of literature and do you know how to respond to it?” The kind of person who goes to LW meetups isn’t going to enjoy simply being “talked at” and told what to believe—they want to be down in the arena, getting their hands dirty.
Your “recommended template” is essentially individualistic—participants come with their hopes and desires already in-hand, and the only question is “How can I use this community to help me achieve my goals?” Just as a gut feeling I don’t think this is going to work well in building a community or meaningful relationships (seeing others not merely as means, but as ends in themselves—or something like that). Instead, there needs to be some shared purpose for which involvement in the community is essential and not just an afterthought. Now, this isn’t easy. “Solving AI alignment” might be a tall order. But I think the rationality community is doing a passable job at one thing at least—creating a culture of high epistemic standards that will be essential (for both ourselves and the wider world) in navigating the unprecedented challenges our civilization faces.
I know very little about Judaism, so I am not qualified to say, but I can quote Yudkowsky on the topic:
Modern Orthodox Judaism is like no other religion I have ever heard of, and I don’t know how to describe it to anyone who hasn’t been forced to study Mishna and Gemara. There is a tradition of questioning, but the kind of questioning . . . It would not be at all surprising to hear a rabbi, in his weekly sermon, point out the conflict between the seven days of creation and the 13.7 billion years since the Big Bang—because he thought he had a really clever explanation for it, involving three other Biblical references, a Midrash, and a half-understood article in Scientific American. In Orthodox Judaism you’re allowed to notice inconsistencies and contradictions, but only for purposes of explaining them away, and whoever comes up with the most complicated explanation gets a prize.
There is a tradition of inquiry. But you only attack targets for purposes of defending them. You only attack targets you know you can defend.
In Modern Orthodox Judaism I have not heard much emphasis of the virtues of blind faith. You’re allowed to doubt. You’re just not allowed to successfully doubt.
I think this approach wouldn’t work for rationalists, for two reasons:
The rationality community is based around disputation, not canonicalization, of texts. That is, the litmus test for being a rationalist is not “Do you agree with this list of propositions?” (I have tried many times to draw up such a list, but this always just leads to even more debate), but rather “Are you familiar with this body of literature and do you know how to respond to it?” The kind of person who goes to LW meetups isn’t going to enjoy simply being “talked at” and told what to believe—they want to be down in the arena, getting their hands dirty.
Your “recommended template” is essentially individualistic—participants come with their hopes and desires already in-hand, and the only question is “How can I use this community to help me achieve my goals?” Just as a gut feeling I don’t think this is going to work well in building a community or meaningful relationships (seeing others not merely as means, but as ends in themselves—or something like that). Instead, there needs to be some shared purpose for which involvement in the community is essential and not just an afterthought. Now, this isn’t easy. “Solving AI alignment” might be a tall order. But I think the rationality community is doing a passable job at one thing at least—creating a culture of high epistemic standards that will be essential (for both ourselves and the wider world) in navigating the unprecedented challenges our civilization faces.
Is Judaism not also based around disputation of texts?
I know very little about Judaism, so I am not qualified to say, but I can quote Yudkowsky on the topic:
https://www.lesswrong.com/posts/dHQkDNMhj692ayx78/avoiding-your-belief-s-real-weak-points