I think that if we lifted billions of people out of childhood poverty and they had access to quality food, healthcare, and education starting at a young age, we

I think that if we lifted billions of people out of childhood poverty and they had access to quality food, healthcare, and education starting at a young age, we would have 100x more people producing top-tier scientific output. So no, I don't think it's absurd to really care much more about the people in cotton fields and sweatshops, even if all you really care about is scientific output.