So I agree that there is a danger of thinking too much of oneself as some sort of ubermensch do-gooder, but the question of to what extent impact varies by person or action is separate.
I think that makes sense and is definitely a take that I feel respect (and gratitude/hope) for.
I think it is lamentable but probably true that some people’s lives will have far greater instrumental effects on the world than others.
Even after a week of reflecting on the empirical question—do some people have magnitudes higher impact than others? - and the conceptual question—which impact evaluation framework (counterfactual, Shapley value attribution, something else entirely) should we use to assess levels of impact? -, I remain uncertain and confused on my own beliefs here (see more in my comment on the polio vaccine example above). So I’m not sure what my current response to your claim “[it’s] probably true that some people’s lives will have far greater instrumental effects on the world than others” is or should be.
I think that makes sense and is definitely a take that I feel respect (and gratitude/hope) for.
Even after a week of reflecting on the empirical question—do some people have magnitudes higher impact than others? - and the conceptual question—which impact evaluation framework (counterfactual, Shapley value attribution, something else entirely) should we use to assess levels of impact? -, I remain uncertain and confused on my own beliefs here (see more in my comment on the polio vaccine example above). So I’m not sure what my current response to your claim “[it’s] probably true that some people’s lives will have far greater instrumental effects on the world than others” is or should be.