I believe the value EA contributes relative to other social justice movements is our ability to judge research on its merits no matter how uncomfortable it makes us feel. I’ve never seen anything like it in the others I’ve been a part of. This is how we discovered that donating abroad is better at preventing death than donating locally, that AI and biosecurity were bigger risks before our views became mainstream, and a host of other topics. I believe losing this value would be worse than losing a relationship with Oxford University or losing funding from one donor. As the response on the forum and the author of the CEA statement’s correction of their statement shows, the case for it damaging our ability to find new collaborators and funders is weak. The essential role epistemic integrity plays in our movement is the biggest reason that to me and many others the merits of the case for/against the apology email raised in this post are more important that some logistical problems it created.
I feel like you and Ben are talking past each other; you claim that, like Ben, you don’t want to discuss this. Yet you don’t respond to Bill’s comment about how the problems Nick faces are not contingent on whether the research is discredited. Your point about the value EA contributes is also irrelevant, unless you’re making a claim here that Bostrom is providing this value and that this value is stronger than the value of his counterfactual replacement.
Yes I agree we are talking past each other, and tried to clarify that in a comment that seems to have gotten overlooked because it wasn’t upvoted. I am not arguing with people like Ben who believe he should go regardless of the apology and the logistical challenges it may have caused. Bostrom may deserve to go for all I know. As I mentioned in my original comment, I have no opinion about it overall. I am only arguing that the apology and fallout from it are not a good reason to think he should go. I am not trying to distract from the non-apology discourse. I intended my original comment to be a small addition to much more important points others are making.
Many people (such as the author) feel the apology and fallout are a good reason or even the best reason for him to go , so my point is worth making. The author himself said he believed the views expressed in the apology such as the one I am addressing are “disqualifying views for someone in his position as Director.” (regardless of the fallout) .
Even if someone were just as suited as Bostrom, the act of dismissing him based on the fallout from the apology would be a violation of our epistemic standards. Therefore he is better than a hypothetical identical counterfactual on this issue.
If Bostrom stepped down for unrelated reasons, I am arguing that people should expect a statement from officials in the community that it wasn’t because of pressure due to the apology.
I’m not sure who Bill is, but my entire intention with the comment you are responding to was to address the argument you mention him making. I believe the case that the fallout should influence our decisions rests on the case that the fallout is justified. If it is not, we should find another solution instead of compromising our integrity.
I believe the value EA contributes relative to other social justice movements is our ability to judge research on its merits no matter how uncomfortable it makes us feel. I’ve never seen anything like it in the others I’ve been a part of. This is how we discovered that donating abroad is better at preventing death than donating locally, that AI and biosecurity were bigger risks before our views became mainstream, and a host of other topics. I believe losing this value would be worse than losing a relationship with Oxford University or losing funding from one donor. As the response on the forum and the author of the CEA statement’s correction of their statement shows, the case for it damaging our ability to find new collaborators and funders is weak. The essential role epistemic integrity plays in our movement is the biggest reason that to me and many others the merits of the case for/against the apology email raised in this post are more important that some logistical problems it created.
I feel like you and Ben are talking past each other; you claim that, like Ben, you don’t want to discuss this. Yet you don’t respond to Bill’s comment about how the problems Nick faces are not contingent on whether the research is discredited. Your point about the value EA contributes is also irrelevant, unless you’re making a claim here that Bostrom is providing this value and that this value is stronger than the value of his counterfactual replacement.
Yes I agree we are talking past each other, and tried to clarify that in a comment that seems to have gotten overlooked because it wasn’t upvoted. I am not arguing with people like Ben who believe he should go regardless of the apology and the logistical challenges it may have caused. Bostrom may deserve to go for all I know. As I mentioned in my original comment, I have no opinion about it overall. I am only arguing that the apology and fallout from it are not a good reason to think he should go. I am not trying to distract from the non-apology discourse. I intended my original comment to be a small addition to much more important points others are making.
Many people (such as the author) feel the apology and fallout are a good reason or even the best reason for him to go , so my point is worth making. The author himself said he believed the views expressed in the apology such as the one I am addressing are “disqualifying views for someone in his position as Director.” (regardless of the fallout) .
Even if someone were just as suited as Bostrom, the act of dismissing him based on the fallout from the apology would be a violation of our epistemic standards. Therefore he is better than a hypothetical identical counterfactual on this issue.
If Bostrom stepped down for unrelated reasons, I am arguing that people should expect a statement from officials in the community that it wasn’t because of pressure due to the apology.
I’m not sure who Bill is, but my entire intention with the comment you are responding to was to address the argument you mention him making. I believe the case that the fallout should influence our decisions rests on the case that the fallout is justified. If it is not, we should find another solution instead of compromising our integrity.