One of my favorite tongue-in-cheek reviews of the rationalist community is “STEM nerds discovering philosophy.” I’m the other way around—a philosophy and theology nerd who is discovering STEM. My priors suggest there are no easy answers, and you will struggle with big questions like your post throughout your life.
In Christian theology, there are sins of commission and sins of omission (“We confess that we have sinned against you in thought, word, and deed, by what we have done, and by what we have left undone.”) Singer’s idea that you can be morally at fault for doing nothing is quite an old idea.
Yet...the same book that introduces the Parable of the Good Samartian and answers “Who is my neighbor?” in the most expansive way possible, also says this:
“But if anyone does not provide for his relatives, and especially for members of his household, he has denied the faith and is worse than an unbeliever.” 1 Timothy 5:8
IMO, EA is somewhat of a “luxury belief,” in the sense that it’s something one should engage in after the basic necessities of life are met. Maslow’s hierarchy applies at all times.
One of my favorite tongue-in-cheek reviews of the rationalist community is “STEM nerds discovering philosophy.” I’m the other way around—a philosophy and theology nerd who is discovering STEM. My priors suggest there are no easy answers, and you will struggle with big questions like your post throughout your life.
In Christian theology, there are sins of commission and sins of omission (“We confess that we have sinned against you in thought, word, and deed, by what we have done, and by what we have left undone.”) Singer’s idea that you can be morally at fault for doing nothing is quite an old idea.
Yet...the same book that introduces the Parable of the Good Samartian and answers “Who is my neighbor?” in the most expansive way possible, also says this:
“But if anyone does not provide for his relatives, and especially for members of his household, he has denied the faith and is worse than an unbeliever.” 1 Timothy 5:8
IMO, EA is somewhat of a “luxury belief,” in the sense that it’s something one should engage in after the basic necessities of life are met. Maslow’s hierarchy applies at all times.