Expected Volume Does EA church need its trinity? w/ Arden Koehler
Jan 11, 2026
Arden Koehler, Web director at 80,000 Hours, dives deep into the Effective Altruism (EA) landscape. They debate the impact of AI safety on community growth and whether traditional EA values should be revived. Arden defends the trinity of cause areas as crucial for inclusivity and diverse contributions. The conversation highlights the evolving role of EA, likening it to a religion with moral rituals and community responsibilities, while also exploring scalable actions for AI safety. Insightful takes on community dynamics and moral growth models make for a compelling discussion!
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Episode notes
Marginalism Narrows Community Entry
- 80,000 Hours' focus on marginal impact narrows perceived belonging for many potential community members.
- Prioritizing marginally highest-impact work reduces surface area for diverse ways to contribute to EA.
Influence Creates Hidden Obligations
- High-status actors face a tension between truth-telling and responsibility for downstream influence.
- Explicit hierarchy clarifies obligations, while flat structures hide implicit duties and political games.
Account For Second-Order Effects
- Track second-order effects of public recommendations rather than only stating first-order truth.
- Be explicit about influence and aesthetic effects when giving high-profile advice.
