It could also be seen as a kind of rational precommitment—if you know that you want to donate to the SIAI, but can never muster the effort to get it done, this would be a good thing to do. Feeling good after using your credit card is just a bonus.
I think this would be the right way to think about it; as a willpower hack.
If you don’t have a problem donating right now, better just donate the amount you want to give without things like credit cards and such. But if you want to donate but aren’t doing it, this might help (though it would probably be best to work directly on the problem first).
It could also be seen as a kind of rational precommitment—if you know that you want to donate to the SIAI, but can never muster the effort to get it done, this would be a good thing to do. Feeling good after using your credit card is just a bonus.
I think this would be the right way to think about it; as a willpower hack.
If you don’t have a problem donating right now, better just donate the amount you want to give without things like credit cards and such. But if you want to donate but aren’t doing it, this might help (though it would probably be best to work directly on the problem first).