I think that negative claims are often more polarizing than positive ones, but I agree that there is a reason to advocate for a large movement that applies science and reasoning to do some good. I just think it already exists, albeit in a more dispersed form than a single “EA-lite.” (It’s what almost every large foundation already does, for example.)
I do think that there is a clear need for an “EA-Heavy,” i.e. core EA, in which we emphasize the “most” in the phrase “do the most good.” My point here is that I think that this core group should be more willing to allow for diversity of action and approach. And in fact, I think the core of EA, the central thinkers and planners, people at CEA, Givewell, Oxford, etc. already advocate this. I just don’t think the message has been given as clearly as possible to everyone else.
I think that negative claims are often more polarizing than positive ones, but I agree that there is a reason to advocate for a large movement that applies science and reasoning to do some good. I just think it already exists, albeit in a more dispersed form than a single “EA-lite.” (It’s what almost every large foundation already does, for example.)
I do think that there is a clear need for an “EA-Heavy,” i.e. core EA, in which we emphasize the “most” in the phrase “do the most good.” My point here is that I think that this core group should be more willing to allow for diversity of action and approach. And in fact, I think the core of EA, the central thinkers and planners, people at CEA, Givewell, Oxford, etc. already advocate this. I just don’t think the message has been given as clearly as possible to everyone else.