In brief, I feel positively about these broader attempts!
It seems like some of these broad efforts could be useful, instrumentally, for reducing a number of different risks (by building up the pool of available talent, building connections, etc.) The more unsure about what risks matter most, as well, the more valuable broad capacity-building efforts are.
It’s also possible that some shifts in values, institutions, or ideas could actually be long-lasting. (This is something that Will MacAskill, for example, is currently interested in.) If this is right, then I think it’s at least conceivable that trying to positively influence future values/institutions/ideas is more important than reducing the risk of global catastrophes: the goodness of different possible futures might vary greatly.
In brief, I feel positively about these broader attempts!
It seems like some of these broad efforts could be useful, instrumentally, for reducing a number of different risks (by building up the pool of available talent, building connections, etc.) The more unsure about what risks matter most, as well, the more valuable broad capacity-building efforts are.
It’s also possible that some shifts in values, institutions, or ideas could actually be long-lasting. (This is something that Will MacAskill, for example, is currently interested in.) If this is right, then I think it’s at least conceivable that trying to positively influence future values/institutions/ideas is more important than reducing the risk of global catastrophes: the goodness of different possible futures might vary greatly.
Thanks for your reply! I also feel positively about broader attempts and am glad that these are being taken more seriously by prominent EA thinkers.