Yes, I don’t consider either the CEO of a GiveWell competitor or a couple of theologians to be well-qualified to critique effective altruism. Part of my motivation in writing this was specifically the abysmal quality of such critiques.
I think that e.g. Michael Vassar is a much more qualified outside critic (outside in the sense of not associating with the EA movement) and indeed several of my arguments here were inspired by him (as filtered through my ability to interpret his sometimes oracular remarks, so he can feel free to disown the results, though he hasn’t yet). Some of what I’m doing is making these outside critiques more visible to effective altruists—although arguably a true outsider would be able to make them more forcefully through lack of bias, Vassar understandably would rather spend his time on other stuff, so the best workable option is writing them up myself.
I didn’t mean that you can just take other people’s critiques as sound nor unbiased, but I can guarantee you that the GiveWell competitor won’t share your bias.
In theory, you’re even his intended audience (liking EA but not 100% convinced), which means that if he’s doing his job right the arguments would be tailored to you. (Though I suspect tailoring an argument for rationalists might require different skills than tailoring it for other types of groups.)
Yes, I don’t consider either the CEO of a GiveWell competitor or a couple of theologians to be well-qualified to critique effective altruism. Part of my motivation in writing this was specifically the abysmal quality of such critiques.
I think that e.g. Michael Vassar is a much more qualified outside critic (outside in the sense of not associating with the EA movement) and indeed several of my arguments here were inspired by him (as filtered through my ability to interpret his sometimes oracular remarks, so he can feel free to disown the results, though he hasn’t yet). Some of what I’m doing is making these outside critiques more visible to effective altruists—although arguably a true outsider would be able to make them more forcefully through lack of bias, Vassar understandably would rather spend his time on other stuff, so the best workable option is writing them up myself.
I didn’t mean that you can just take other people’s critiques as sound nor unbiased, but I can guarantee you that the GiveWell competitor won’t share your bias.
In theory, you’re even his intended audience (liking EA but not 100% convinced), which means that if he’s doing his job right the arguments would be tailored to you. (Though I suspect tailoring an argument for rationalists might require different skills than tailoring it for other types of groups.)