I’m uncomfortable with this too, but more comfortable than I used to be.
Privileged people have a lot of power/leverage in the world. That leverage can be squandered, used for selfish means, or used for good.
If we think EAs have uniquely good ideas for identifying and solving neglected, pressing global problems, I want people with lots of leverage to learn from EA. The counterfactual is they use their leverage to do less altruistic or less effective things. I am willing to put money toward avoiding that.
I’m uncomfortable with this too, but more comfortable than I used to be.
Privileged people have a lot of power/leverage in the world. That leverage can be squandered, used for selfish means, or used for good.
If we think EAs have uniquely good ideas for identifying and solving neglected, pressing global problems, I want people with lots of leverage to learn from EA. The counterfactual is they use their leverage to do less altruistic or less effective things. I am willing to put money toward avoiding that.