I think the main comparative advantage (= irreplaceability) of the typical EA comes not from superior technical skill but from motivation to improve the world (rather than make money, advance one’s career or feel happy). This means researching questions which are ethically important but not grant-sexy, donating to charities which are high-impact but don’t yield a lot of warm-fuzzies, promoting policy which goes against tribal canon etc.
Sometimes it’s not about promoting policy which goes against tribal canon. It can also be about promoting policy so technical and obtuse that virtually everyone else’s eyes glaze over when thinking about it, so they never pay it any mind.
I think the main comparative advantage (= irreplaceability) of the typical EA comes not from superior technical skill but from motivation to improve the world (rather than make money, advance one’s career or feel happy). This means researching questions which are ethically important but not grant-sexy, donating to charities which are high-impact but don’t yield a lot of warm-fuzzies, promoting policy which goes against tribal canon etc.
Sometimes it’s not about promoting policy which goes against tribal canon. It can also be about promoting policy so technical and obtuse that virtually everyone else’s eyes glaze over when thinking about it, so they never pay it any mind.