80,000 Hours Podcast

#90 Classic episode – Ajeya Cotra on worldview diversification and how big the future could be

9 snips
Jan 12, 2024
Ajeya Cotra, a senior research analyst at Open Philanthropy, dives into the philosophical and practical implications of charitable giving. She presents a thought-provoking thought experiment on anthropic reasoning that challenges our understanding of existence. The discussion also emphasizes the importance of diverse worldviews in philanthropy, exploring themes like longtermism versus near-termism and the complexities of AI development. Ajeya sheds light on the moral dilemmas surrounding resource allocation and the future of humanity, particularly in the context of space colonization.
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INSIGHT

Worldview Diversification at Open Philanthropy

  • Open Philanthropy divides its giving into three worldviews: long-termism, near-termism, and animal-inclusive near-termism.
  • Long-termists emphasize existential risk reduction due to the potential for vast future populations, while near-termists focus on more immediate, measurable problems.
INSIGHT

The Problem of Scale in Cause Prioritization

  • Cause prioritization is complex because different worldviews suggest different scales of potential good.
  • Even a low-probability worldview could warrant significant investment if it posits a vastly larger scope of impact.
INSIGHT

Long-Termism vs. Near-Termism

  • Long-termists prioritize existential risk reduction to preserve a potentially vast future.
  • Near-termists focus on more immediate, measurable good, skeptical of extreme prioritization of existential risks.
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