the main titled professorship in ethics at that time was held by John Broome, a utilitarianism-sympathetic former economist, who had written famous stuff on expected utility theory. I can’t remember if he was the PhD supervisor of anyone important to the founding of EA, but I’d be astounded if some of the phil. people involved in that had not been reading his stuff and talking to him about it.
Indeed, Broome co-supervised the doctoral theses of both Toby Ord and Will MacAskill. And Broome was, in fact, the person who advised Will to get in touch with Toby, before the two had met.
Indeed, Broome co-supervised the doctoral theses of both Toby Ord and Will MacAskill. And Broome was, in fact, the person who advised Will to get in touch with Toby, before the two had met.