Different people having different comparative advantage.
Consider the question “is it better to become a doctor, or a banker?” that’s been raised by 80K. Someone who’s naturally suited to being a doctor will be motivated to believe that becoming a doctor is higher value, and somebody who’s naturally suited to being a banker will be motivated to believe that becoming a banker is higher value.
Thinking about one’s comparative advantage can be a good heuristic for figuring out how to do the most good. The trouble arises, when, e.g., people who are especially good at being doctors (resp. bankers) are motivated to believe that their activity is of higher value, and then try to convince others (who don’t have the same comparative advantage) to adopt the same profession because of this.
Also, people can be confused as to what their comparative advantage actually is, and so be in a field that’s suboptimal for themselves, and try to get other people to go into the field for the reasons described above.
Different people having different comparative advantage.
Consider the question “is it better to become a doctor, or a banker?” that’s been raised by 80K. Someone who’s naturally suited to being a doctor will be motivated to believe that becoming a doctor is higher value, and somebody who’s naturally suited to being a banker will be motivated to believe that becoming a banker is higher value.
Thinking about one’s comparative advantage can be a good heuristic for figuring out how to do the most good. The trouble arises, when, e.g., people who are especially good at being doctors (resp. bankers) are motivated to believe that their activity is of higher value, and then try to convince others (who don’t have the same comparative advantage) to adopt the same profession because of this.
Also, people can be confused as to what their comparative advantage actually is, and so be in a field that’s suboptimal for themselves, and try to get other people to go into the field for the reasons described above.