I agree that this point is worth taking seriously. But isn’t the counterfactual simply that the folks are influenced (deliberately, or not) by other sets of ideas/values, and so we might as well make an effort—carefully, thoughtfully, etc—to share ‘our’ values?
I disagree that the counterfactual is comparable. I agree that they will have SOME influences, but I think the magnitude of influence really matters. By default, people aren’t exposed to strong, deliberate influence of the kind described in this post, for any set of ideas/values.
I guess you could argue that living in the West is a process of ambient influence towards Western values?
I agree that this point is worth taking seriously. But isn’t the counterfactual simply that the folks are influenced (deliberately, or not) by other sets of ideas/values, and so we might as well make an effort—carefully, thoughtfully, etc—to share ‘our’ values?
I think the set of values commonly ascribed to EA is both more totalizing and a stronger attractor state than most counterfactuals.
I disagree that the counterfactual is comparable. I agree that they will have SOME influences, but I think the magnitude of influence really matters. By default, people aren’t exposed to strong, deliberate influence of the kind described in this post, for any set of ideas/values.
I guess you could argue that living in the West is a process of ambient influence towards Western values?