I very much welcome the opening of this discussion.
Many utilitarian EAs simultaneously claim that EA is “compatible” with most other forms of ethical thinking while also continuing to make their arguments very narrowly consequentialist.
I genuinely believe that most EA actions are actually required of people who subscribe to other ethical systems, and I try my best to adapt my language to the person I’m trying to convince based on what they care about.
One example: many left-leaning students talk a lot about “privilege”. I tell them that the best thing they could do if they were serious about finding it “problematic” that so many of us are overly privileged is by giving that privilege away!
Alternatively, people who care about justice are very receptive if you tell them that globalization means we now have reciprocal relationships with most of the world and that we elect governments that are utterly hypocritical on the issue of free trade, causing extreme poverty. Our riches often do in some sense come out of their poverty, and if one believes the global economy is in need of change they should refuse to submit to it by voting with their wallets as well as with their ballots.
I very much welcome the opening of this discussion.
Many utilitarian EAs simultaneously claim that EA is “compatible” with most other forms of ethical thinking while also continuing to make their arguments very narrowly consequentialist.
I genuinely believe that most EA actions are actually required of people who subscribe to other ethical systems, and I try my best to adapt my language to the person I’m trying to convince based on what they care about.
One example: many left-leaning students talk a lot about “privilege”. I tell them that the best thing they could do if they were serious about finding it “problematic” that so many of us are overly privileged is by giving that privilege away!
Alternatively, people who care about justice are very receptive if you tell them that globalization means we now have reciprocal relationships with most of the world and that we elect governments that are utterly hypocritical on the issue of free trade, causing extreme poverty. Our riches often do in some sense come out of their poverty, and if one believes the global economy is in need of change they should refuse to submit to it by voting with their wallets as well as with their ballots.
Oh, I like that framing! Nice way of getting across to the audience that you are speaking to.