I am an investor. I give out microgrants. I podcast (sometimes with EA aligned thinkers). I angel invest. I make theatre.
More on me: thendobetter.com/links
Ben Yeoh
Karma: 264
Great question, will try and weave it into the conversation.
Thanks. Tipping points is a good question.
I asked climate Scientist, Zeke Hausfather—who Halstead cites in his work—on this too:
If you are interested.
Thanks! I will link to a few examples in case of interest:
Larry Temkin with EA critiques: https://www.thendobetter.com/arts/2022/7/24/larry-temkin-transitivity-critiques-of-effective-altruism-international-aid-pluralism-podcast
Leopold Aschenbrenner, x-risk, EA: https://www.thendobetter.com/arts/2021/6/22/leopold-aschenbrenner-on-existential-risk-german-culture-valedictorian-efficiency-podcast
and many other random topics, for EAs, this one with Alex Stapp who thinks about the EA framework with his thinktank, Institute for Progress:
Podcast: Questions for John Halstead
Thanks for the link. It is a good summary.
We might try a weekend for another UnConference, but feel free to come for a half day if that suits.
I’m organising a meet-up. It’s not only EA, but EA and EA-curious people come along. It’s more about getting curious minded thinkers together. Thought i’d leave it here in short form.
https://www.eventbrite.com/e/mingle-for-the-curious-tickets-407058341457
These meet-ups are a small experiment in having interesting chats across investing, arts, long-termism, progress, sustainability, life… it’s a way of cross-pollinating ideas from arts, investing, sustainabililty, theatre, progress, long-termism....
Longtermism Sustainability Unconference Invite
This is the whole theory of change behind what the UK charity ShareAction do. While they rarely campaign on EA aligned topics (but cf. climate where they do), they have case studies where it can work. Also, depending on the region/company you do not need much capital to propose a vote (although for some areas you do). Check out here: https://shareaction.org/
Or, I also podcast with the CEO here:
and we chat about the shareholder activism campaigns. Sanjay is knowledgable here—but if you want more on the topics or details on fid duty—and it varies somewhat between US and UK interpretations—for instance—feel free to reach out.
[Cause Exploration Prizes] Advanced Market Commitments for public goods
Invite: UnConference, How best for humans to thrive and survive over the long-term
Concerns/Thoughts over international aid, longtermism and philosophical notes on speaking with Larry Temkin.
Open Climate Data as a possible cause area, Open Philanthropy
I think this is a good idea. I feel there might be enough for EA adjacent to Progress Studies for this to be a field. I think Tom Westgarth was interested here too and in London you have a small progress cluster.
Nadia Asparouhova (Eghbal) on future of philanthropic giving, podcast
OK. That makes sense. As new-ish to this forum and more EA people, I do not think people outside EA looking in get this impression.
For a counterpoint to much of this:
“avoid unstructured interviews, train your interviewers to do structured interviews”
I suggest reading Tyler Cowen / Daniel Gross’s Talent. They argue structured interviews might be fine for low-skill, standard jobs; but for “creative spark”, high impact hires and, or, talent then the meta/challenging/quirky interview—which they talk about is superior.
They argue most of the academic research focused on low skill, standard jobs so not apply to “elite” or any creative spark type of job.
There is much much more—and would summarise more if interested, but it pretty much runs counter to many of your points, but might be aimed at a different thing. That said, I think many EA hires are probably of the Cowen/Gross type.
You might be right in your points, but I found Cowen/Gross interesting. Be well and thanks for writing.
Thanks that’s very useful context for me. So, eg, my reading if that many EAs would say art charity does not fall under EA thinking.
But, it would be part of wider charity.
You are saying that EA is not making any claims or efforts in wider charity but more specifically on maximising good.
But does EA think wider charity that does not maximise good eg art charity is therefore a waste or it’s not really in EA’s purpose universe so it’s not really relevant.
will try and bring this to the conversation,thanks for the thoughts.