Estimating the Philanthropic Discount Rate suggests that we have some reason to believe it is extremely valuable to put more effort into estimating the philanthropic discount rate.
Thanks, I added the first two, as well as reducing value drift.
With regards to your four weird ideas.
Nice to see that Humane Pesticides has seen some work since then; I already had it in the list.
Happy Animal Farms / “titling the universe with rats on heroin” / “filling the universe with tiny beings whose minds are specifically geared toward feeling as much pure happiness as possible” sort of feel like the same cause, just a difference in implementation. Do you have a canonical reference for the idea? Also, “universal eudaimonia” is the wrong word to use for this because it sort of implies happiness through higher virtues, maybe “universal euphoria” would be a better fit.
At the risk of being overly self-promotional, I have written a few posts on cause candidates that I don’t see listed here.
Unknown existential risks (not exactly a cause, but conceptually similar)
Estimating the Philanthropic Discount Rate suggests that we have some reason to believe it is extremely valuable to put more effort into estimating the philanthropic discount rate.
Charities I Would Like to See proposes four weird and neglected ideas.
Another potential cause area that’s not listed: reducing value drift (e.g., this post).
Thanks, I added the first two, as well as reducing value drift.
With regards to your four weird ideas.
Nice to see that Humane Pesticides has seen some work since then; I already had it in the list.
Happy Animal Farms / “titling the universe with rats on heroin” / “filling the universe with tiny beings whose minds are specifically geared toward feeling as much pure happiness as possible” sort of feel like the same cause, just a difference in implementation. Do you have a canonical reference for the idea? Also, “universal eudaimonia” is the wrong word to use for this because it sort of implies happiness through higher virtues, maybe “universal euphoria” would be a better fit.
Notes for future reference re: Values spreading / Highly targeted values Spreading:
https://forum.effectivealtruism.org/posts/BpuTtsz6J6GBycYvJ/on-values-spreading
https://www.utilitarian-essays.com/values-spreading.html
https://rationalaltruist.com/2013/06/13/against-moral-advocacy/
https://forum.effectivealtruism.org/posts/54Cdt4BR84vDcki6i/effective-altruism-and-free-riding
Added value spreading
Added universal euphoria