It depends on the EA. I don’t know if there is a universal trend or generalized flaws. EAs seem so diverse that it’s hard to generalize.
Still, if I generalize based on what I’ve read and whom I’ve talked to, here’s what I see:
1. EAs sometimes forget political economy issues. When they offer a political policy that would work, they forget that it will likely be captured by others who don’t share their values, or that the people running it will possibly be incompetent. In general, for politics, I recommend imagining that your preferred policies will cost 3 times what you expect and deliver 1/3rd the goods. Look at how incompetent the US government is and then remember institutions like this will be in charge.
2. EAs sometimes forget that most other people are not rationalists and do not base their opinions on evidence. The EA message doesn’t sell not because their arguments are bad—their arguments are sound!--but but because good arguments do not persuade people.
What do you think EAs get wrong about politics?
It depends on the EA. I don’t know if there is a universal trend or generalized flaws. EAs seem so diverse that it’s hard to generalize.
Still, if I generalize based on what I’ve read and whom I’ve talked to, here’s what I see:
1. EAs sometimes forget political economy issues. When they offer a political policy that would work, they forget that it will likely be captured by others who don’t share their values, or that the people running it will possibly be incompetent. In general, for politics, I recommend imagining that your preferred policies will cost 3 times what you expect and deliver 1/3rd the goods. Look at how incompetent the US government is and then remember institutions like this will be in charge.
2. EAs sometimes forget that most other people are not rationalists and do not base their opinions on evidence. The EA message doesn’t sell not because their arguments are bad—their arguments are sound!--but but because good arguments do not persuade people.