One point made there is that “likely interventions in human welfare, as well as being immediately effective to relieve suffering and improve lives, also tend to have a significant long-term impact… By contrast, no analogous mechanism ensures that an improvement in the welfare of one animal results in the improvements in the welfare of other animals.” An important long-term consideration for the effects of welfare reforms is whether they generate more momentum for further reforms for animals and for expansion of the moral circle, or whether they generate complacency. I’m currently very uncertain on this, though lean slightly towards momentum. See here for relevant considerations and evidence.
Some other posts related to considering the long-term effects of animal advocacy interventions:
Thanks for this, hadn’t seen that link before.
One point made there is that “likely interventions in human welfare, as well as being immediately effective to relieve suffering and improve lives, also tend to have a significant long-term impact… By contrast, no analogous mechanism ensures that an improvement in the welfare of one animal results in the improvements in the welfare of other animals.” An important long-term consideration for the effects of welfare reforms is whether they generate more momentum for further reforms for animals and for expansion of the moral circle, or whether they generate complacency. I’m currently very uncertain on this, though lean slightly towards momentum. See here for relevant considerations and evidence.
Some other posts related to considering the long-term effects of animal advocacy interventions:
1) Jacy Reese, “Why I prioritize moral circle expansion over artificial intelligence alignment”
2) Me, “How tractable is changing the course of history?” (see especially some of the considerations in “How tractable are trajectory changes towards moral circle expansion?”)
3) Brian Tomasik, “Charity Cost-Effectiveness in an Uncertain World” (not necessarily specific to animal issues, but I think there is some v useful theoretical discussion)