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#182 – Bob Fischer on comparing the welfare of humans, chickens, pigs, octopuses, bees, and more

80,000 Hours Podcast

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How Risk Aversion Affects Decisions Around Whether to Focus on Shrimp, Chickens, or Humans

Risk aversion plays a significant role in determining whether to focus on shrimp, chickens, or humans. For straight expected value maximizers, shrimp would be the preferred choice due to their sheer numbers. However, worst-case scenario risk averse individuals would find shrimp even more appealing. On the other hand, those with different forms of risk aversion, such as being concerned with difference-making or having an aversion to ambiguity, may penalize shrimp causes, making human causes more favorable. Interestingly, chickens emerge as a strong option across various types of risk aversion. While shrimp may beat chickens for straight expected value maximizers, chickens become more attractive when other forms of risk aversion come into play, potentially even surpassing human causes due to their large numbers and perceived significance.

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