Executive summary: The author argues in an exploratory and uncertain way that alternative proteins may create large but fragile near-term gains for animals because they bypass moral circle expansion, and suggests longtermists should invest more in durable forms of moral advocacy alongside technical progress.
Key points:
The author claims alternative proteins can reduce animal suffering in the short term and may even end animal farming in the best case.
The author argues that consumers choose food mainly based on taste and price, so shifts toward alternative proteins need not reflect any change in values toward animals.
The author suggests that progress driven by incentives is vulnerable to economic or social reversals over decades or centuries.
The author argues that longtermist reasoning implies concern for trillions of future animals and that fragile gains from alternative proteins may not endure.
The author claims moral circle expansion is slow and difficult but more durable because it changes how people think about animals.
The author concludes that work on alternative proteins should continue but that moral advocacy may be underinvested in and deserves renewed attention.
This comment was auto-generated by the EA Forum Team. Feel free to point out issues with this summary by replying to the comment, andcontact us if you have feedback.
Executive summary: The author argues in an exploratory and uncertain way that alternative proteins may create large but fragile near-term gains for animals because they bypass moral circle expansion, and suggests longtermists should invest more in durable forms of moral advocacy alongside technical progress.
Key points:
The author claims alternative proteins can reduce animal suffering in the short term and may even end animal farming in the best case.
The author argues that consumers choose food mainly based on taste and price, so shifts toward alternative proteins need not reflect any change in values toward animals.
The author suggests that progress driven by incentives is vulnerable to economic or social reversals over decades or centuries.
The author argues that longtermist reasoning implies concern for trillions of future animals and that fragile gains from alternative proteins may not endure.
The author claims moral circle expansion is slow and difficult but more durable because it changes how people think about animals.
The author concludes that work on alternative proteins should continue but that moral advocacy may be underinvested in and deserves renewed attention.
This comment was auto-generated by the EA Forum Team. Feel free to point out issues with this summary by replying to the comment, and contact us if you have feedback.