The words “I’m a utilitarian” in the OP link to a different interview.
Is this the interview you are talking about here? I failed to find that quote in the transcript of that interview either. (Both in the transcript that YouTube provides automatically and in the transcript that the description links to.)
Will MacAskill: I think this was a huge realization for me. And I have to thank a very excellent therapist, who I have subsequently put a bunch of EAs onto. I think she was really confused with why she gets so many referrals from me. Because when I came in there — in 2012, 2013, probably even earlier, 2011 — I definitely had this mindset that the self-flagellation, the negative blame propaganda was very important. I remember she said, “Well, you seem very stressed.” I was like, “Of course I’m stressed. I’m a utilitarian.”
Rob Wiblin: “We have to suffer!”
Will MacAskill: Exactly.
Rob Wiblin: That’s the core part of the philosophy.
Will MacAskill: Exactly. It felt like it’s a sacrifice of my own wellbeing, but it’s in order to achieve things.
(My mistake, on the quote being inexact. I am fixing it now.)
It was a quote from Will. Cf. his interview with Tyler Cowen recounting his early adherence to strict maximization.
The words “I’m a utilitarian” in the OP link to a different interview.
Is this the interview you are talking about here? I failed to find that quote in the transcript of that interview either. (Both in the transcript that YouTube provides automatically and in the transcript that the description links to.)
Will MacAskill: I think this was a huge realization for me. And I have to thank a very excellent therapist, who I have subsequently put a bunch of EAs onto. I think she was really confused with why she gets so many referrals from me. Because when I came in there — in 2012, 2013, probably even earlier, 2011 — I definitely had this mindset that the self-flagellation, the negative blame propaganda was very important. I remember she said, “Well, you seem very stressed.” I was like, “Of course I’m stressed. I’m a utilitarian.”
Rob Wiblin: “We have to suffer!”
Will MacAskill: Exactly.
Rob Wiblin: That’s the core part of the philosophy.
Will MacAskill: Exactly. It felt like it’s a sacrifice of my own wellbeing, but it’s in order to achieve things.
(My mistake, on the quote being inexact. I am fixing it now.)