I agree that when it comes to decision making, Leifs objection doesn’t work very well.
However, when it comes to communication, I think there is a point here (although I’m not sure it was the one Leif was making). If Givewell communicates about the donation and how many lives you saved, and don’t mention the aid workers and mothers who put up nets, aren’t they selling them short here, and dismissing their importance?
In Parfits experiment, obviously you should go on the four person mission and help save the hundred lives. But if you then went on to do a book tour and touted what a hero you are for saving the hundred lives, and don’t mention the other three people, you are being a jerk.
I could imagine an aid worker in Uganda being kind of annoyed that they spent weeks working full time in sweltering heat handing out malaria nets for low pay, and then watching some tech guy in america take all the credit for the lifesaving work. It could hurt EA’s ability to connect with the third world.
I agree that when it comes to decision making, Leifs objection doesn’t work very well.
However, when it comes to communication, I think there is a point here (although I’m not sure it was the one Leif was making). If Givewell communicates about the donation and how many lives you saved, and don’t mention the aid workers and mothers who put up nets, aren’t they selling them short here, and dismissing their importance?
In Parfits experiment, obviously you should go on the four person mission and help save the hundred lives. But if you then went on to do a book tour and touted what a hero you are for saving the hundred lives, and don’t mention the other three people, you are being a jerk.
I could imagine an aid worker in Uganda being kind of annoyed that they spent weeks working full time in sweltering heat handing out malaria nets for low pay, and then watching some tech guy in america take all the credit for the lifesaving work. It could hurt EA’s ability to connect with the third world.