On any problem that won’t become an absolute crisis in the next few decades, someone will take the Bandersnatch view that it will be more easily solved later (with cheaper or more socially acceptable technology) so we shouldn’t work directly on it now. The way out is forward—let’s step on the gas and get to the finish line before any annoying problems catch up with us.
Ah, the black and white fallacy. The approach more likely to succeed is to start mapping out and working toward the potential solutions, among other things, dedicating proportionately more resources to the more immediate and dangerous problems, while still keeping in mind the long-term issues. There are exceptions, of course, but the Adam’s law of slow-moving disasters seems to hold pretty well.
Ah, the fallacy of gray. When any particular person evaluates any particular issue, the details are going to matter. That doesn’t mean it’s a fallacy to identify two generic approaches to problems like this.
Ah, the black and white fallacy. The approach more likely to succeed is to start mapping out and working toward the potential solutions, among other things, dedicating proportionately more resources to the more immediate and dangerous problems, while still keeping in mind the long-term issues. There are exceptions, of course, but the Adam’s law of slow-moving disasters seems to hold pretty well.
Ah, the fallacy of gray. When any particular person evaluates any particular issue, the details are going to matter. That doesn’t mean it’s a fallacy to identify two generic approaches to problems like this.
No, but it’s a fallacy to insist that they are the only two approaches possible.
I’m by no means insisting on that. Of course you can hedge your bets.