Comment by ipnon

A lot of terrible people are self-aware, well-read and ultimately concerned with doing good. All of the catastrophes of the 20th century were led by men that fit this description: Stalin, Mao, Hitler. Perhaps this is a bit hyperbolic, but the troubling belief that the Rationalists have in common with these evil men is the ironclad conviction that self-awareness, being well-read, and being concerned with good, somehow makes it impossible for one to do immoral and unethical things.

I think we don't believe in hubris in America anymore. And the most dangerous belief of the Rationalists is that the more complex and verbose your beliefs become, the more protected you become from taking actions that exceed your capability for success and benefit. In practice it is often the meek and humble who do the most good in this world, but this is not celebrated in Silicon Valley.