Risk aversion. Risk aversion is normally a reason not to make a hard-to-reverse decision. Since reversibility gives you the option to switch course if your strategy underperforms, it normally reduces the risk of a truly bad outcome. Note, though, that the standard view within the effective altruism movement seems to be that altruists should not be risk-averse.
It could similarly be argued that reversibility gives one the option to switch course despite their strategy performing well, this increasing the risk of missing a truly great outcome? The takeaway is that one should make certainly bad options less available, and certainly good options more unavoidable?
Thanks for the great post, Stefan.
It could similarly be argued that reversibility gives one the option to switch course despite their strategy performing well, this increasing the risk of missing a truly great outcome? The takeaway is that one should make certainly bad options less available, and certainly good options more unavoidable?