I think there is some under emphasis on the extent to which “regular” researchers are, or could be induced to do things that are in fact very closely aligned to EA research priorities. Why do people get into research and academia? (Other than amenities, prestige, and to pay the bills?)
Some key reasons are 1. Love of knowledge and love of intellectual puzzles and 2. The desire to make the world a better place through the research. That at least was my impression of why people going to areas like Economics, most social sciences, Philosophy, and biology. I think that some of these researchers may have more parochial concerns, or nonutilitarian values (e.g. social justice) and not be fully convinced by the desire to maximise The long-term good for people and sentient beings everywhere. However, I think that academics and researchers tend to be much further down this road then the general public. Perhaps an interesting project (for my team in fellow travellers) could involve “convincing and communicating with academics/researchers”.
I think we can do more to leverage and “convert” research and researchers who are not affiliated with EA (yet).
I just listen to this again on the ea forum podcast https://open.spotify.com/episode/6i2pVhJIF0wrF2OPFjaL2n?si=e3jTibMfRY6G9r99zveFzA Having only skimmed the written version. Somehow I got more out of the audio.
Anyways, I want to add a few impressions.
I think there is some under emphasis on the extent to which “regular” researchers are, or could be induced to do things that are in fact very closely aligned to EA research priorities. Why do people get into research and academia? (Other than amenities, prestige, and to pay the bills?)
Some key reasons are 1. Love of knowledge and love of intellectual puzzles and 2. The desire to make the world a better place through the research. That at least was my impression of why people going to areas like Economics, most social sciences, Philosophy, and biology. I think that some of these researchers may have more parochial concerns, or nonutilitarian values (e.g. social justice) and not be fully convinced by the desire to maximise The long-term good for people and sentient beings everywhere. However, I think that academics and researchers tend to be much further down this road then the general public. Perhaps an interesting project (for my team in fellow travellers) could involve “convincing and communicating with academics/researchers”.
I think we can do more to leverage and “convert” research and researchers who are not affiliated with EA (yet).