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army1987 comments on Should effective altruists care about the US gov't shutdown and can we do anything? - Less Wrong Discussion

-2 Post author: Ishaan 01 October 2013 08:24PM

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Comment author: [deleted] 02 October 2013 01:19:04AM 0 points [-]

It's not like scientists sit around and do nothing when they don't get funds. The might not be able to buy fancy new toys but they can still use their brains.

Sure they can; but how many of them will be willing to?

Comment author: ChristianKl 02 October 2013 12:35:06PM 0 points [-]

What do you think they are going to do? Spend their time learning cooking and taking long naps?

Comment author: [deleted] 02 October 2013 12:49:32PM 2 points [-]

Don't think about the first scientist you can think of, think about the marginal scientist.

Comment author: ChristianKl 02 October 2013 01:26:59PM 0 points [-]

I think you underrate the value of unsheduled time when it comes to coming up with new creative ideas.

Comment author: [deleted] 02 October 2013 01:33:22PM *  3 points [-]

I don't -- for the typical scientist. But there are a few marginal scientists out there who are torn between keeping on doing research and quitting science to take up (say) surfing, and will pick the latter but would pick the former if counterfactually the NSF were still processing grants.

Comment author: Eugine_Nier 04 October 2013 03:05:33AM 3 points [-]

Yes, but how much would they have contributed to science had they not quit science?

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