In the past, people like Eliezer Yudkowsky (see 1, 2, 3, 4, and 5) have argued that MIRI has a medium probability of success. What is this probability estimate based on and how is success defined?
I've read standard MIRI literature (like "Evidence and Import" and "Five Theses"), but I may have missed something.
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(Meta: I don't think this deserves a discussion thread, but I posted this on the open thread and no-one responded, and I think it's important enough to merit a response.)
I'm not sure which fallacy you're invoking, but saying (to paraphrase), 'superintelligence is likely difficult to aim' and 'MIRI's work may not have an impact' are certainly possible, and already contribute to my estimates.
I think a fair amount of people argue that because a cause is important, anyone working on that cause must be doing important work.