Thanks for this, and I can definitely see the parallels here.
Interestingly, from an initial read of the extracts you helpfully posted above, I can see Popper’s argument working for or against mine.
On one hand, it is not hard to identify a utopian strain in EA thought (particularly in long-termism as you have pointed out). On the other, I think there is a strong case to be made that EA is doing exactly what Popper suggests when he says: Work for the elimination of concrete evils rather than for the realization of abstract goods. Do not aim at establishing happiness by political means. Rather aim at the elimination of concrete miseries. I see the EA community’s efforts in areas like malaria and direct cash transfers as falling firmly within the ‘elimination of concrete evils’ camp.
I agree 100% that the EA community’s efforts in areas like malaria and direct cash transfers are falling quite firmly within the ‘elimination of concrete evils’ camp. IIRC you differentiate between the philosophical foundations and actual practice of effective altruism in your essay. So even if most EA work currently is part of the aforementioned camp, the philosophical foundations might not actually imply this.
Thanks for this, and I can definitely see the parallels here.
Interestingly, from an initial read of the extracts you helpfully posted above, I can see Popper’s argument working for or against mine.
On one hand, it is not hard to identify a utopian strain in EA thought (particularly in long-termism as you have pointed out). On the other, I think there is a strong case to be made that EA is doing exactly what Popper suggests when he says: Work for the elimination of concrete evils rather than for the realization of abstract goods. Do not aim at establishing happiness by political means. Rather aim at the elimination of concrete miseries. I see the EA community’s efforts in areas like malaria and direct cash transfers as falling firmly within the ‘elimination of concrete evils’ camp.
I agree 100% that the EA community’s efforts in areas like malaria and direct cash transfers are falling quite firmly within the ‘elimination of concrete evils’ camp. IIRC you differentiate between the philosophical foundations and actual practice of effective altruism in your essay. So even if most EA work currently is part of the aforementioned camp, the philosophical foundations might not actually imply this.