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My two cents on why his writings are popular: - He uses anecdotal evidence which appears to be sound at first. Looking at the top 100 billionaires seems to give
by hexhex 5y ago
My two cents on why his writings are popular:
- He uses anecdotal evidence which appears to be sound at first. Looking at the top 100 billionaires seems to give a good idea on how wealth is created and distributed, but really it is only a glimpse at a much bigger phenomenon (especially since the data only comes from two years).
- His style of writing is very accessible and natural. He wrote an article on his style (http://www.paulgraham.com/simply.html http://www.paulgraham.com/simply.html), and it seems to strike a chord with technicians who prefer this over more complicated prose.
I feel these are the same reasons for why effective altruism is so popular among technicians. It offers clear cut answers, and avoids uncomfortable questions.
- jrochkind1 5y agoAlso his conclusions are what some people want to hear, that confirms their worldview. This is not at all unique to PG, you and I and everyone does the same thing, at least to some extent, in choosing what argument/opinion pieces (now the dominant form of textual media?) we are tickled by.
- milesskorpen 5y agoSame reason Malcolm Gladwell is popular — it's pop science/economics/whatever, made to be readable and digestible, but over simplifies (and sometimes falsifies) in the process.
- jonny_eh 5y agoAt least Gladwell's writings are not so obviously self-serving.
- tommyderami 5y agoCould you expand on the last sentence a bit more regarding effective altruism? Are the uncomfortable questions related to the utilitarian nature of how the movement racks and stacks the causes they choose to support or not?
- hexhex 5y agoI was more referring to the fact that EA promotes philanthropy instead of asking why we have inequalities in the first place. So it evades questions of redistribution or fairness in a similar fashion as PG. I'm not quite sure how strong the analogy is though.