3 ms·

Can anyone please explain to me what the train of thought was from effective altruism (of which I choose to know very little) to a "bunker/shelter" in Nauru? []

• roywiggins 3y ago
  I had something long typed out, but it's basically their attempt to do "Foundation."[0] It's important for EA to survive the apocalypse, so that in any possible future, EA will be around to shepherd humanity to its apotheosis. In this view, even an apocalypse is only a speedbump as long as EA survives it. They're looking toward a million years in the future where we've colonized the galaxy as trillions of machine intelligences or whatever. It's fine for 99% of humanity to be wiped out tomorrow as long as an order of Hari Seldon-mathematician-kings can keep humanity steered toward that future. When you're humanity's best hope for transcending Earth and achieving techno-godhood, the best money you can spend is on yourself. See? Altruism. [0] https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Foundation_series https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Foundation_series
  • suzzer99 3y ago
    I imagine Pol Pot had similar justifications for his agrarian utopia.
    • JohnFen 3y ago
      It's 100% the sort of thinking that can easily justify atrocities today in the service of achieving nirvana tomorrow. Very nearly everyone, even truly evil people, think of themselves as good. "You have to break a few eggs to make an omelet" can help to maintain the illusion.