Fair question! I should’ve been more clear that the implicit premise of the concern is that there has been an overcorrection toward longtermism.
The value-add of EA is distributing utility efficiently (not longtermism). If there’s been an overcorrection, then there’s an inefficiency and a recalibration is needed. So this concern is: how hard will it be to snap back toward the right calibration? The longer longtermism dominates, and the degree to which it does, will make it harder for the muscle memory.
If the EA movement has perfectly calibrated the amount of longtermism needed in the movement (or if there’s currently not enough longtermism), then this concern can be put aside.
Thanks for clarifying. I just thought I should mention that I interpreted “core value-add” as “most important project or aspect” and I had thought you were saying near-termist projects were the most important project.
Hmm… I’m not sure how much I agree with you regarding muscle memory since the Against Malaria Foundation and Givewell are still running and perhaps as well-funded as ever. Even if EA reduced its donations to AMF by 90% I suspect that the vast majority of “muscle memory” would be retained as I suspect continuity is more important than scale.
Fair question! I should’ve been more clear that the implicit premise of the concern is that there has been an overcorrection toward longtermism.
The value-add of EA is distributing utility efficiently (not longtermism). If there’s been an overcorrection, then there’s an inefficiency and a recalibration is needed. So this concern is: how hard will it be to snap back toward the right calibration? The longer longtermism dominates, and the degree to which it does, will make it harder for the muscle memory.
If the EA movement has perfectly calibrated the amount of longtermism needed in the movement (or if there’s currently not enough longtermism), then this concern can be put aside.
Thanks for clarifying. I just thought I should mention that I interpreted “core value-add” as “most important project or aspect” and I had thought you were saying near-termist projects were the most important project.
Hmm… I’m not sure how much I agree with you regarding muscle memory since the Against Malaria Foundation and Givewell are still running and perhaps as well-funded as ever. Even if EA reduced its donations to AMF by 90% I suspect that the vast majority of “muscle memory” would be retained as I suspect continuity is more important than scale.