13.b. I think EAs’ belief in concentrating power among the competent is wise.
Needs fulfilled: effectiveness
Associated emotions: confidence, trust
Description: “I strongly support some EAs’ belief that influence and resources should be concentrated among a minority of highly competent and accomplished individuals. I’m not advocating that an extreme minority has total control over the movement. But a more centralised approach is far more effective than distributing influence and resources broadly among all EA practitioners. Whilst highly competent people are indeed human and fallible, their track record demonstrates they make significantly better decisions than democratic alternatives would produce. A more distributed approach would inevitably suffer from democratic inefficiencies. These downsides aren’t minor trade-offs—they represent fundamental threats to EA’s effectiveness that could prevent us from addressing urgent global problems.”
13.b. I think EAs’ belief in concentrating power among the competent is wise.
Needs fulfilled: effectiveness
Associated emotions: confidence, trust
Description: “I strongly support some EAs’ belief that influence and resources should be concentrated among a minority of highly competent and accomplished individuals. I’m not advocating that an extreme minority has total control over the movement. But a more centralised approach is far more effective than distributing influence and resources broadly among all EA practitioners. Whilst highly competent people are indeed human and fallible, their track record demonstrates they make significantly better decisions than democratic alternatives would produce. A more distributed approach would inevitably suffer from democratic inefficiencies. These downsides aren’t minor trade-offs—they represent fundamental threats to EA’s effectiveness that could prevent us from addressing urgent global problems.”