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Epistemic Spot Check

Edited by Yoav Ravid, gustaf, et al. last updated 9th Oct 2025

Epistemic Spot Check is a technique for figuring out the value of a learning resource (usually a book). 
Fact checking every single claim of a book takes too long. But you can sample a few claims and fact check them, this let's you gauge better whether other claims by that author are correct.

This technique was invented by Elizabeth.

See also: Epistemic Review, Scholarship & Learning

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Posts tagged Epistemic Spot Check
45Why Yudkowsky is wrong about "covalently bonded equivalents of biology"
titotal
2y
41
122What Comes After Epistemic Spot Checks?
Elizabeth
6y
9
39How’s that Epistemic Spot Check Project Coming?
Elizabeth
6y
16
174Did Christopher Hitchens change his mind about waterboarding?
Isaac King
1y
24
319Epistemic Legibility
Elizabeth
4y
30
46The Urgency of Normal: An Exercise in Bounded Distrust
Zvi
4y
3
84Can we hold intellectuals to similar public standards as athletes?
ozziegooen
5y
48
72“Eating Dirt Benefits Kids” is Basically Made Up
Elizabeth
4y
13
55A question about Eliezer
perpetualpeace1
14y
160
33Epistemic spot checking one claim in The Precipice
Isaac King
2y
3
22Review: Martyr Made Podcast
Elizabeth
4y
0
82Epistemic Spot Check: The Role of Deliberate Practice in the Acquisition of Expert Performance
Elizabeth
6y
9
72How accurate is the quantum physics sequence?
Paul Crowley
14y
68
43Epistemic Spot Check: The Dorito Effect (Mark Schatzker)
Elizabeth
7y
8
39Epistemic Spot Check: The Fate of Rome (Kyle Harper)
Elizabeth
6y
3
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