This year’s Nobel prizes for Physics and for Chemistry went to computer scientists (among others).
Previous prizes have stretched the discipline boundaries, e.g., the Economics Prize for Ostrom (poli sci) and Kahnemann (psych).
Probably because the prize categories are not set optimally to maximize their goal
Those who, during the preceding year, shall have conferred the greatest benefit on mankind
… especially as the world has progressed.
The current categories are: Physics, Chemistry, Physiology or Medicine, Literature, Economics (*slightly different prize), and Peace
What would be the ideal categories for this, considering what the real world (not just EA) will latch onto?
My quick take, in approximate order of importance to this goal: (revised)
Humanitarian prize (policies, programs, innovation, and action); includes of global catastrophic risks (this one might be hard to sell), response to disasters and pandemics. If feasible, also considers animal welfare
Peace (actual work towards international peace, not humanitarian stuff), governance and public policy
Basic and pure science (Life sciences, physical science, math, basic CS research)
Applied science, technology, and engineering
[1x per 3 years] Social science (including economics, including history)
[1x per 2 years] Philosophy, journalism, and communication
This year’s Nobel prizes for Physics and for Chemistry went to computer scientists (among others).
Previous prizes have stretched the discipline boundaries, e.g., the Economics Prize for Ostrom (poli sci) and Kahnemann (psych).
Probably because the prize categories are not set optimally to maximize their goal
… especially as the world has progressed.
The current categories are: Physics, Chemistry, Physiology or Medicine, Literature, Economics (*slightly different prize), and Peace
What would be the ideal categories for this, considering what the real world (not just EA) will latch onto?
My quick take, in approximate order of importance to this goal: (revised)
Humanitarian prize (policies, programs, innovation, and action); includes of global catastrophic risks (this one might be hard to sell), response to disasters and pandemics. If feasible, also considers animal welfare
Peace (actual work towards international peace, not humanitarian stuff), governance and public policy
Basic and pure science (Life sciences, physical science, math, basic CS research)
Applied science, technology, and engineering
[1x per 3 years] Social science (including economics, including history)
[1x per 2 years] Philosophy, journalism, and communication
[1x per 2 years] Arts and culture
This keeps the budget about the same.