I’m very confused about both this article and the top comment by Scott Alexander tbh. FDB highlights an aesthetic critique that seems reasonable but bundles it with among the most “out there” interventions (that afaict no one is working on). To me, I think it’d be helpful to separate out issues of the aesthetics being insufficiently “normie”, from whether the cause areas/actions are insufficiently “normie.”
Like from the article I can’t tell if Freddie considers e.g. South Asian air pollution, or rodent birth control, or interpretability for AI safety, or far-UVC light inactivating viruses, or pandemic-proof shelters, as done by reasonable, professional people, in reasonable, professional organizations, to be part of the problem or part of the solution.
If he disagrees with the specific “weirder” projects EAs are actually doing, then it’s easier to have a debate. And honestly, fair! But right now the critique just looks like glossy-sounding nonsequitors, and I’m worried it’d push people towards (much) less impactful activities via misdirection rather than reasoned argument.
I’m very confused about both this article and the top comment by Scott Alexander tbh. FDB highlights an aesthetic critique that seems reasonable but bundles it with among the most “out there” interventions (that afaict no one is working on). To me, I think it’d be helpful to separate out issues of the aesthetics being insufficiently “normie”, from whether the cause areas/actions are insufficiently “normie.”
Like from the article I can’t tell if Freddie considers e.g. South Asian air pollution, or rodent birth control, or interpretability for AI safety, or far-UVC light inactivating viruses, or pandemic-proof shelters, as done by reasonable, professional people, in reasonable, professional organizations, to be part of the problem or part of the solution.
If he disagrees with the specific “weirder” projects EAs are actually doing, then it’s easier to have a debate. And honestly, fair! But right now the critique just looks like glossy-sounding nonsequitors, and I’m worried it’d push people towards (much) less impactful activities via misdirection rather than reasoned argument.