Thanks for writing this up as a post Remmelt—great to have these kind of thoughts written up! I agree that type 2 efforts can i) help us improve the quality of our work through exposing blindspots, and ii) access expertise quickly in response to changing situations (the example you give of working with anthropologists specialising in the funeral rites during Ebola). I also think it could improve the reputation of the EA community through i) above and the act of engaging with others. Also hopefully we can have a positive impact on the groups we interact with (treating it as a two-way learning process)! I think this is particularly important for cause areas where there’s been lots of work done outside EA circles in a range of disciplines. I see an important part of the efforts we’re undertaking on IIDM (improving institutional decision-making) as translating what’s been done by experts already and then understanding how they interact with an EA lens. Thanks again, Vicky
Thank you too for the input, Vicky. This gives me a more grounded sense of what EA initiators with experience in policy are up to and thinking. Previously, I corresponded with volunteers of Dutch EA policy initiatives as well as staff from various established EA orgs that coordinate and build up particular professional fields. Your comment and the post by your working group made me feel less pessimistic about a lack of open consultation and consensus-building in IIDM initiatives .
I like your framing of a two-way learning process. I think it’s useful to let go of one’s own theory of impact sometimes in conversations, and ask about why they’re doing what they do and find relevant.
I had missed your excellent write-up so just read through it! It seems carefully written, makes nuanced distinctions, and considers complexity in the many implicit interactions involved. I found it useful.
I’m interested in your two cents on any societal problems where a lot of of work has been done by specialists who are not directly involved in the effective altruism community.
Thanks for writing this up as a post Remmelt—great to have these kind of thoughts written up! I agree that type 2 efforts can i) help us improve the quality of our work through exposing blindspots, and ii) access expertise quickly in response to changing situations (the example you give of working with anthropologists specialising in the funeral rites during Ebola). I also think it could improve the reputation of the EA community through i) above and the act of engaging with others. Also hopefully we can have a positive impact on the groups we interact with (treating it as a two-way learning process)! I think this is particularly important for cause areas where there’s been lots of work done outside EA circles in a range of disciplines. I see an important part of the efforts we’re undertaking on IIDM (improving institutional decision-making) as translating what’s been done by experts already and then understanding how they interact with an EA lens. Thanks again, Vicky
Thank you too for the input, Vicky. This gives me a more grounded sense of what EA initiators with experience in policy are up to and thinking. Previously, I corresponded with volunteers of Dutch EA policy initiatives as well as staff from various established EA orgs that coordinate and build up particular professional fields. Your comment and the post by your working group made me feel less pessimistic about a lack of open consultation and consensus-building in IIDM initiatives .
I like your framing of a two-way learning process. I think it’s useful to let go of one’s own theory of impact sometimes in conversations, and ask about why they’re doing what they do and find relevant.
I had missed your excellent write-up so just read through it! It seems carefully written, makes nuanced distinctions, and considers complexity in the many implicit interactions involved. I found it useful.
I’m interested in your two cents on any societal problems where a lot of of work has been done by specialists who are not directly involved in the effective altruism community.