Is it because the second quote is saying EA is about doing the very best thing, and what’s best for the long term is probably not what’s best for the short term, while the third quote is saying funding a very broad, non-lethal health intervention is justifiable from a longtermist basis?
Yes, I think so! It seems like saying: “all the theoretical arguments for long-termism are extremely important because they imply things not implied by other theories” but when asked for the concrete implications the answer is: donating for something non-longtermists would like because it helps people today, while zhe future effects are probably vague.
Is it because the second quote is saying EA is about doing the very best thing, and what’s best for the long term is probably not what’s best for the short term, while the third quote is saying funding a very broad, non-lethal health intervention is justifiable from a longtermist basis?
Yes, I think so! It seems like saying: “all the theoretical arguments for long-termism are extremely important because they imply things not implied by other theories” but when asked for the concrete implications the answer is: donating for something non-longtermists would like because it helps people today, while zhe future effects are probably vague.