I broadly resonate with the message that EAs should focus on the things that make them unique and that we should uphold the mentality of figuring out the most impact.
But I think some parts of the EA mindset would be very useful to tackle some other important issues like reproductive rights, and I think we should encourage playful and scientific exploration of topics.
These explorations are good exercises of cost effectiveness analysis, will help us find new problems to tackle and curiosity is a great value to promote.
But I think some parts of the EA mindset would be very useful to tackle some other important issues like reproductive rights, and I think we should encourage playful and scientific exploration of topics.
I think this is a reasonable position, but I don’t think it’s a convincing defense of the OP. “Does it make sense to fly business class, and if so when” is a plausible ‘playful and scientific exploration’, that could benefit from EA-style analysis. But “how can I get my employer to let me fly business” is not, because the it assumes the part of the question—whether flying business class at all is good—where EA considerations can bring the most light. Considering a wide range of possible issues can help us find new problems to tackle, and hence is worthwhile as you said, but not if you simply assume they are good things to work on—you have to actually analyze this question, including the potential that the exact opposite is true.
I have downvoted this comment.
I broadly resonate with the message that EAs should focus on the things that make them unique and that we should uphold the mentality of figuring out the most impact.
But I think some parts of the EA mindset would be very useful to tackle some other important issues like reproductive rights, and I think we should encourage playful and scientific exploration of topics.
These explorations are good exercises of cost effectiveness analysis, will help us find new problems to tackle and curiosity is a great value to promote.
I think this is a reasonable position, but I don’t think it’s a convincing defense of the OP. “Does it make sense to fly business class, and if so when” is a plausible ‘playful and scientific exploration’, that could benefit from EA-style analysis. But “how can I get my employer to let me fly business” is not, because the it assumes the part of the question—whether flying business class at all is good—where EA considerations can bring the most light. Considering a wide range of possible issues can help us find new problems to tackle, and hence is worthwhile as you said, but not if you simply assume they are good things to work on—you have to actually analyze this question, including the potential that the exact opposite is true.