Peter Hurford and I have planned to write a defence of global poverty as a cause for over a year now. All we have so far are a dozen or so conversations and my notes from representing this perspective at the cause selection debate at the 2013 CEA weekend away. So I’m posting this comment to increase the pressure on us to get it done by the end of September! And also to see if anyone else would like to contribute to it: if so, I’ve created a publicly editable Google doc for drafting this and contributing notes and suggestions (open to all, but a work-in-progress draft, not something we’d want to widely publish).
My attempt at self-imposed pressure didn’t work—Peter and I have once again not had time to write our defence. Since I’m the one who imposed the pressure with the above comment, I’m the one who should have egg on my face, not him. Perhaps given another year we’ll be able to get it done. ;)
Heh. I think this was a case of reasonable prioritisation rather than weakness of the will, so I’m not sure I want to put a lot of money on the line. However, Peter and I do plan to free up enough time to get it done by the end of the year somehow.
Note to others: just because Tom and Peter plan to write a defense of prioritizing global poverty doesn’t mean you don’t need to, can’t, or shouldn’t write your own defense of the same cause if it’s the one you favor as well. More publishing of cause selection rationale can only lead to a more robust defense of that cause! Even if you inadvertently make some of the same points Tom and Peter do, you’ll probably phrase or put them differently, and having different angles on the same premise can help a wider diversity intuit its validity better.
I might contribute to it. I don’t prioritize global poverty as a cause right now, but I don’t prioritize any cause. I’m very uncertain, but it’s more “every opportunity seems so good” rather than “so bad”. That doesn’t mean I can’t help out, learn more, and maybe speed up my prioritization process by getting these essays up faster. This offer to help edit or draft extends to anyone.
Peter Hurford and I have planned to write a defence of global poverty as a cause for over a year now. All we have so far are a dozen or so conversations and my notes from representing this perspective at the cause selection debate at the 2013 CEA weekend away. So I’m posting this comment to increase the pressure on us to get it done by the end of September! And also to see if anyone else would like to contribute to it: if so, I’ve created a publicly editable Google doc for drafting this and contributing notes and suggestions (open to all, but a work-in-progress draft, not something we’d want to widely publish).
Public admission of failure:
My attempt at self-imposed pressure didn’t work—Peter and I have once again not had time to write our defence. Since I’m the one who imposed the pressure with the above comment, I’m the one who should have egg on my face, not him. Perhaps given another year we’ll be able to get it done. ;)
Beeminder instead?
Heh. I think this was a case of reasonable prioritisation rather than weakness of the will, so I’m not sure I want to put a lot of money on the line. However, Peter and I do plan to free up enough time to get it done by the end of the year somehow.
Note to others: just because Tom and Peter plan to write a defense of prioritizing global poverty doesn’t mean you don’t need to, can’t, or shouldn’t write your own defense of the same cause if it’s the one you favor as well. More publishing of cause selection rationale can only lead to a more robust defense of that cause! Even if you inadvertently make some of the same points Tom and Peter do, you’ll probably phrase or put them differently, and having different angles on the same premise can help a wider diversity intuit its validity better.
Very much looking forward to the full write-up, Tom!
Can’t wait. I drifted from global poverty toward animal activism but am rife for reconsidering!
I might contribute to it. I don’t prioritize global poverty as a cause right now, but I don’t prioritize any cause. I’m very uncertain, but it’s more “every opportunity seems so good” rather than “so bad”. That doesn’t mean I can’t help out, learn more, and maybe speed up my prioritization process by getting these essays up faster. This offer to help edit or draft extends to anyone.