But if his text is so bad, why should anyone feel “icky” about longtermism because of it? Although I’m by far not stranger to longtermism (I’m here!), I’m really not too much into EA and I’m not a phylosopher nor have I studied it ever, so my theoretical knowledge of the topic is limited, and when I read Torres’ texts it is clear to me that they don’t really hold.
When I’m interested in one topic for which I’m not really qualified to know if what I read/hear about it holds true or is one sided, I tend to search for criticisms about it to check. What I’ve read from Torres or linked by him about longtermism, actually make me think that it seems to be difficult to fairly criticise longtermism.
I think reading Torres’ texts may well turn people away if they don’t really know much else about the topic, but “getting more people to read the original [Torres’ paper]” after having read a good piece shouldn’t be a problem.
And coming back to my starting question, if a person who has good information sources feel “icky” about a topic because of a bad piece of information, maybe it is okay that he/she is not too involved in the topic, no?
Commenting from five months into the future, when this is topically relevant:
I disagree. I read Torres’ arguments as not merely flawed, but as attempts to link longtermism to the far right in US culture wars. In such environments people are inclined to be uncharitable, and to spread the word to others who will also be uncharitable. With enough bad press it’s possible to get a Common Knowledge effect, where even people who are inclined to be openminded are worried about being seen doing so. That could be bad for recruiting, funding, cooperative endeavors, & mental health.
Now, there’s only so many overpoliticized social media bubbles capable of such a wide effect, and they don’t find new targets every day. So the chances of EA becoming a political bogeyman are low, even if Torres is actively attempting this. But I think bringing up his specific insinuations to a new audience invites more of this risk than is worth it.
It is long time ago now, but I don’t remember having the feeling that he linked longtermism to the far right in that text. I don’t know about in other places.
But if his text is so bad, why should anyone feel “icky” about longtermism because of it? Although I’m by far not stranger to longtermism (I’m here!), I’m really not too much into EA and I’m not a phylosopher nor have I studied it ever, so my theoretical knowledge of the topic is limited, and when I read Torres’ texts it is clear to me that they don’t really hold.
When I’m interested in one topic for which I’m not really qualified to know if what I read/hear about it holds true or is one sided, I tend to search for criticisms about it to check. What I’ve read from Torres or linked by him about longtermism, actually make me think that it seems to be difficult to fairly criticise longtermism.
I think reading Torres’ texts may well turn people away if they don’t really know much else about the topic, but “getting more people to read the original [Torres’ paper]” after having read a good piece shouldn’t be a problem.
And coming back to my starting question, if a person who has good information sources feel “icky” about a topic because of a bad piece of information, maybe it is okay that he/she is not too involved in the topic, no?
Commenting from five months into the future, when this is topically relevant:
I disagree. I read Torres’ arguments as not merely flawed, but as attempts to link longtermism to the far right in US culture wars. In such environments people are inclined to be uncharitable, and to spread the word to others who will also be uncharitable. With enough bad press it’s possible to get a Common Knowledge effect, where even people who are inclined to be openminded are worried about being seen doing so. That could be bad for recruiting, funding, cooperative endeavors, & mental health.
Now, there’s only so many overpoliticized social media bubbles capable of such a wide effect, and they don’t find new targets every day. So the chances of EA becoming a political bogeyman are low, even if Torres is actively attempting this. But I think bringing up his specific insinuations to a new audience invites more of this risk than is worth it.
It is long time ago now, but I don’t remember having the feeling that he linked longtermism to the far right in that text. I don’t know about in other places.