This is my first post, as despite being aware of EA for quite some time, I’ve always been sceptical of it for reasons hinted at in this article. Inevitably, after reading a bit of EA stuff I start to think, “But what about power?” There seems to be an unwillingness to talk about power: how it’s exercised, how it can be controlled, how “we” can take control. I find the notion comical that you can consort with billionaires and retain even an iota of power. These are people who control more wealth than most of us can even understand. I find it similarly absurd to talk about donating to the Democrats as pro-tax. US democracy is crumbling and giving money to the hopelessly compromised and comically incompetent crew who are unwilling and unable to do anything about it—and who largely benefit from the system—isn’t going to do anything to change that.
I’ll finish by pointing out that I am here, and that what attracts me to EA and has drawn me here, is the sense that beneath the naivete about power there is an open mindedness. I think EA might present the opportunity to have outcome-focused conversations about power in a manner less bound by dogma or “realism” than other forums. And yes, I look forward to my argument being challenged with evidence of good EA writing on power!
This is my first post, as despite being aware of EA for quite some time, I’ve always been sceptical of it for reasons hinted at in this article. Inevitably, after reading a bit of EA stuff I start to think, “But what about power?” There seems to be an unwillingness to talk about power: how it’s exercised, how it can be controlled, how “we” can take control. I find the notion comical that you can consort with billionaires and retain even an iota of power. These are people who control more wealth than most of us can even understand. I find it similarly absurd to talk about donating to the Democrats as pro-tax. US democracy is crumbling and giving money to the hopelessly compromised and comically incompetent crew who are unwilling and unable to do anything about it—and who largely benefit from the system—isn’t going to do anything to change that.
I’ll finish by pointing out that I am here, and that what attracts me to EA and has drawn me here, is the sense that beneath the naivete about power there is an open mindedness. I think EA might present the opportunity to have outcome-focused conversations about power in a manner less bound by dogma or “realism” than other forums. And yes, I look forward to my argument being challenged with evidence of good EA writing on power!