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The evolution of effective altruism

66 points · 171 comments · bazzmt

  1. wodow · · focus · HN ↗
    I was surprised by the weakness of this article, regardless the potential absurdities of parts of EA.

    Why does The Economist consider this the most important issue this week, in a world of complex problems, to splash its first leader on (and more than one page long too)?

    1. stefangordon · · focus · HN ↗
      Because Anthropic is the final manifestation of EA and is about to raise two trillion dollars.
      1. Loquebantur · · focus · HN ↗
        This is beyond absurd.

        Effective altruism originates from the intention to rationally approach the obvious question, how to do the most good in the world. That's obviously not a bad thing?

        The article here goes on a grotesque witch hunt, claiming baselessly things like "polyamory" was widespread among "the movements" adherents.

        You here postulate, Anthropic was a "final" manifestation of that movement. How? Why? Do they practice polyamory there?

        1. Quartzium · · focus · HN ↗
          >Effective altruism originates from the intention to rationally approach the obvious question, how to do the most good in the world.

          Rationality tends to fail spectacularly when basing it on wrong assumptions. Which are subtly made.

          1. Loquebantur · · focus · HN ↗
            If so, why don't you point them out explicitly?

            It's pretty wild how people denounce the very possibility of approaching that question rationally, while doing so in an obviously irrational way.

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