So I definitely think I’m making a rhetorical argument there to make a point.
But I don’t think the problem is quite as bad as you imply here: I’m mostly using fire to mean “existential risks in our lifetimes,” and I don’t think almost any EA critic (save a few) think that would be fine. Maybe I should’ve stated it more clearly, but this is something most ethical systems (and common sense ethics) seem do agree upon.
So my point is that critics do agree dying of an existential risk would be bad, but are unfortunately falling into a bit of parochial discourse rather than thinking about how they can build bridges to solve this.
To the people who are actually fine with dying from x-risk (“fires aren’t as important as you think they are”), I agree my argument has no force, but I just hope that they are clear about their beliefs, as you say.
yup sounds like we’re on the same page—I think I steelmanned a little too hard. I agree that the people making these criticisms probably do in fact think that being shot by robots or something would be bad.
So I definitely think I’m making a rhetorical argument there to make a point.
But I don’t think the problem is quite as bad as you imply here: I’m mostly using fire to mean “existential risks in our lifetimes,” and I don’t think almost any EA critic (save a few) think that would be fine. Maybe I should’ve stated it more clearly, but this is something most ethical systems (and common sense ethics) seem do agree upon.
So my point is that critics do agree dying of an existential risk would be bad, but are unfortunately falling into a bit of parochial discourse rather than thinking about how they can build bridges to solve this.
To the people who are actually fine with dying from x-risk (“fires aren’t as important as you think they are”), I agree my argument has no force, but I just hope that they are clear about their beliefs, as you say.
yup sounds like we’re on the same page—I think I steelmanned a little too hard. I agree that the people making these criticisms probably do in fact think that being shot by robots or something would be bad.