I have seen much written about how EA considers itself merit-based, however, to be recognized for epistemic merit, one would need to have at least a post-secondary education to achieve a reputable job. Most EA leaders seem to have at minimum graduate degrees, if not tenured professorships.
One of the highest status EA leaders of all time is literally a high school dropout.
As a college dropout from the SF Bay Area EA/rationalist community where it’s common for people at parties (including non-EA/rationalist parties) to brag about who dropped out of school earliest, I’ve never really grokked some people’s impression that EA is highly credentialist.
One of the highest status EA leaders of all time is literally a high school dropout.
As a college dropout from the SF Bay Area EA/rationalist community where it’s common for people at parties (including non-EA/rationalist parties) to brag about who dropped out of school earliest, I’ve never really grokked some people’s impression that EA is highly credentialist.
If you’re privileged in other ways, it’s easier to get away with dropping out (or even use it as a countersignal). It’s an intersectional issue.
Right. I’m also “literally a highschool dropout” and am studying for my master’s.
Yes, seems like clear self-selection of people who enjoy schooling.
Interesting! He is an outlier. I would be very interested to learn his story, if possible.
https://intelligence.org/2018/02/28/sam-harris-and-eliezer-yudkowsky/