handoflixue comments on Optimal Philanthropy for Human Beings - Less Wrong

36 Post author: lukeprog 25 July 2011 07:27AM

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Comment author: handoflixue 25 July 2011 11:25:12PM 5 points [-]

They've published papers. Presumably if we didn't donate anything, they couldn't publish papers. They also hand out paychecks to Eliezer. Eliezer is a tribal leader, so we want him to succeed! Between those two, we have proof that they're doing more than just signalling affiliation.

The far better question is whether they're doing something useful with that money, and whether it would be better spent elsewhere. That, I do not feel qualified to answer. I think even Give Well gave up on that one.

Comment author: wedrifid 26 July 2011 01:59:57AM 5 points [-]

Eliezer is a tribal leader, so we want him to succeed!

Really? I thought we wanted the tribal leader to fail in a way that allowed ourselves or someone we have more influence over to take his place.

Comment author: Duk3 26 July 2011 03:58:50AM 9 points [-]

Or we want the tribal leader to be conveniently martyred at their moment of greatest impact. You know, for the good of the cause.

Comment author: MBlume 26 July 2011 02:09:39AM 8 points [-]

I think that depends on how we perceive the size of the tribe, our position within it, and the security of its status in the outside world...