I agree with the characterization of EA here: it is, in my view, about doing the most good that you can do, and EA has generally defined “good” in terms of the well-being of sentient beings. It is cause-neutral.
People can disagree on whether potential beings (who would not exist if extinction occurred) have well-being (total vs. prior-existence), they can disagree on whether non-human animals have well-being, and can disagree on how much well-being a particular intervention will result in, but they don’t arbitrarily discount the well-being of sentient beings in a speciesist manner or in a manner which discriminates against potential future beings. At least, that’s the strong form of EA. This doesn’t require one to be a moral realist, though it is very close to utilitarianism.
If I’m understanding this post correctly, the “weak form” of EA—donating more and donating more effectively to causes you already care about, or even just donating more effectively given the resources you’re willing to commit—is not unique enough for Lila to stay. I suspect, though, that many EAs (particularly those who are only familiar with the global poverty aspect of EA) only endorse this weak form, but the more vocal EAs are the ones who endorse the strong form.
I agree with the characterization of EA here: it is, in my view, about doing the most good that you can do, and EA has generally defined “good” in terms of the well-being of sentient beings. It is cause-neutral.
People can disagree on whether potential beings (who would not exist if extinction occurred) have well-being (total vs. prior-existence), they can disagree on whether non-human animals have well-being, and can disagree on how much well-being a particular intervention will result in, but they don’t arbitrarily discount the well-being of sentient beings in a speciesist manner or in a manner which discriminates against potential future beings. At least, that’s the strong form of EA. This doesn’t require one to be a moral realist, though it is very close to utilitarianism.
If I’m understanding this post correctly, the “weak form” of EA—donating more and donating more effectively to causes you already care about, or even just donating more effectively given the resources you’re willing to commit—is not unique enough for Lila to stay. I suspect, though, that many EAs (particularly those who are only familiar with the global poverty aspect of EA) only endorse this weak form, but the more vocal EAs are the ones who endorse the strong form.