Sure, I’ve taken a hiatus from medicine to help more directly with existential risk reduction charities. Marek also left finance to work at CEA. For some people, working in finance is going to be psychologically unhealthy. Some will get fatigued and drop out. But it’s also a good option for many. Have you looked for other ways to do good?
I have not seen any extended discussion of it, but I know of individuals in this position (ie considering leaving jobs where they are earning to give) and I’m sure Benjamin Todd, the executive director of 80,000 Hours, will be aware of other examples. Obviously, career decisions are intensely personal, so I don’t think either of us can say much publicly about any such individuals.
I think exploration of leaving earning to give jobs is a (small) gap in Effective Altruist discussion at the moment—but then we’re only less than four years past the point when 80,000 hours was founded! Perhaps more writing on the topic will appear in the coming few months and years.
I’m a former coworker of Matt Wage, an effective altruist that was mentioned recently in the NYT (see http://www.nytimes.com/2015/04/05/opinion/sunday/nicholas-kristof-the-trader-who-donates-half-his-pay.html). I wrote a piece you can see here http://www.modestinsights.com/?p=103 about EA and leaving wall street. Has the question of leaving a job where you are earning to give (or perhaps your coworkers are) ever received much discussion? I would be interested in any reactions.
Sure, I’ve taken a hiatus from medicine to help more directly with existential risk reduction charities. Marek also left finance to work at CEA. For some people, working in finance is going to be psychologically unhealthy. Some will get fatigued and drop out. But it’s also a good option for many. Have you looked for other ways to do good?
I have not seen any extended discussion of it, but I know of individuals in this position (ie considering leaving jobs where they are earning to give) and I’m sure Benjamin Todd, the executive director of 80,000 Hours, will be aware of other examples. Obviously, career decisions are intensely personal, so I don’t think either of us can say much publicly about any such individuals.
I think exploration of leaving earning to give jobs is a (small) gap in Effective Altruist discussion at the moment—but then we’re only less than four years past the point when 80,000 hours was founded! Perhaps more writing on the topic will appear in the coming few months and years.