I definitely agree with more rationalists having children. Any baby would be lucky to be born to a loving family that values education and helping the world.
The larger concern, however, is misplaced. If we want more rationalism and altruism in society, it isn’t a question of genes it’s a question of memes. For one, we don’t have time for the next generation to solve the biggest risks we face. We have to find a way to make vast swaths of humanity more rational and altruistic in like, the next 50 years. One generation of gene spreading is not going to increase ranks enough to make a difference. Second, intelligence can help rationality and altruism, but it can just as easily hurt those things. I’ve known some pretty brilliant people who were completely blind to biases and treated people with cruelty.
This is similar to the discussions around AI risk, I think. Will a smart AI necessarily be kind or work in the interests of humanity? Maybe not.
The question should be how we nurture our intellectual children. What does rationality become as a mature system of thought? Will it be accessible and valuable to anybody regardless of their current social identity / location / education, etc.? Can it be easily transmitted or does it require context? These are the parental thoughts we should be having, in addition to finding somebody to love and produce babies with.
I definitely agree with more rationalists having children. Any baby would be lucky to be born to a loving family that values education and helping the world.
The larger concern, however, is misplaced. If we want more rationalism and altruism in society, it isn’t a question of genes it’s a question of memes. For one, we don’t have time for the next generation to solve the biggest risks we face. We have to find a way to make vast swaths of humanity more rational and altruistic in like, the next 50 years. One generation of gene spreading is not going to increase ranks enough to make a difference. Second, intelligence can help rationality and altruism, but it can just as easily hurt those things. I’ve known some pretty brilliant people who were completely blind to biases and treated people with cruelty.
This is similar to the discussions around AI risk, I think. Will a smart AI necessarily be kind or work in the interests of humanity? Maybe not.
The question should be how we nurture our intellectual children. What does rationality become as a mature system of thought? Will it be accessible and valuable to anybody regardless of their current social identity / location / education, etc.? Can it be easily transmitted or does it require context? These are the parental thoughts we should be having, in addition to finding somebody to love and produce babies with.