Debates sound useful, although it would be great to think of something functionally similar, but without the oppositional/competitive aspect of the debate. I think a lot of EA’s would benefit from debates, but for some it would probably increase their cause partisanship and easy dismissal of other causes.
Some other things which could be useful:
Involving EAs in structured giving games with a deliberative democratic component where they had to evaluate different causes. This could be structured something like Tom’s project here- though it would have to avoid the relativism/disinclination to think about or challenge other people’s causes noted in (7.2).
Involving non-supporters of a particular cause in evaluating and selecting interventions within that cause. At the moment the people evaluating (interventions within) causes tend to be supporters of those causes. This naturally encourages wild one-sided over-optimism about your preferred cause and a lack of interest beyond that cause.
Could public debates be helpful for this?
Debates sound useful, although it would be great to think of something functionally similar, but without the oppositional/competitive aspect of the debate. I think a lot of EA’s would benefit from debates, but for some it would probably increase their cause partisanship and easy dismissal of other causes.
Some other things which could be useful:
Involving EAs in structured giving games with a deliberative democratic component where they had to evaluate different causes. This could be structured something like Tom’s project here- though it would have to avoid the relativism/disinclination to think about or challenge other people’s causes noted in (7.2).
Red teaming causes (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Red_team)
Involving non-supporters of a particular cause in evaluating and selecting interventions within that cause. At the moment the people evaluating (interventions within) causes tend to be supporters of those causes. This naturally encourages wild one-sided over-optimism about your preferred cause and a lack of interest beyond that cause.