Well, a number of questions may be asked here (about desert, about causation, about autonomy, etc.). However, two seem relevant in particular:
First, it seems as if (in your latter scenario) you’ve arrived (tentatively, yes, but not at all unreasonably!) at a plan involving systemic change. As you say, there is quite a bit of effort being expended on this sort of thing already, so, at the margin, any effective efforts on your part would likely be both high-level and aimed in an at-least-somewhat-unusual direction.
… yet isn’t this what you’re already doing?
Second, and unrelatedly… you say:
Suppose I actually cared about this man with the intensity he deserved—imagine that he were my brother, father, or best friend.
Yet it seems to me that, empirically, most people do not expend the level of effort which you describe, even for their siblings, parents, or close friends. Which is to say that the level of emotional and practical investment you propose to make (in this hypothetical situation) is, actually, quite a bit greater than that which most people invest in their family members or close friends.
The question, then, is this: do you currently make this degree of investment (emotional and practical) in your actual siblings, parents, and close friends? If so—do you find that you are unusual in this regard? If not—why not?
I work on technical AI alignment, so some of those I help (in expectation) don’t even exist yet. I don’t view this as what I’d do if my top priority were helping this man.
The question, then, is this: do you currently make this degree of investment (emotional and practical) in your actual siblings, parents, and close friends? If so—do you find that you are unusual in this regard? If not—why not?
That’s a good question. I think the answer is yes, at least for my close family. Recently, I’ve expended substantial energy persuading my family to sign up for cryonics with me, winning over my mother, brother, and (I anticipate) my aunt. My father has lingering concerns which I think he wouldn’t have upon sufficient reflection, so I’ve designed a similar plan for ensuring he makes what I perceive to be the correct, option-preserving choice. For example, I made significant targeted donations to effective charities on his behalf to offset (what he perceives as) a considerable drawback of cryonics: his inability to also be an organ donor.
A universe in which humanity wins but my dad is gone would be quite sad to me, and I’ll take whatever steps necessary to minimize the chances of that.
I don’t know how unusual this is. This reminds me of the relevant Harry-Quirrell exchange; most people seem beaten-down and hurt themselves, and I can imagine a world in which people are in better places and going to greater lengths for those they love. I don’t know if this is actually what would make more people go to these lengths (just an immediate impression).
Well, a number of questions may be asked here (about desert, about causation, about autonomy, etc.). However, two seem relevant in particular:
First, it seems as if (in your latter scenario) you’ve arrived (tentatively, yes, but not at all unreasonably!) at a plan involving systemic change. As you say, there is quite a bit of effort being expended on this sort of thing already, so, at the margin, any effective efforts on your part would likely be both high-level and aimed in an at-least-somewhat-unusual direction.
… yet isn’t this what you’re already doing?
Second, and unrelatedly… you say:
Yet it seems to me that, empirically, most people do not expend the level of effort which you describe, even for their siblings, parents, or close friends. Which is to say that the level of emotional and practical investment you propose to make (in this hypothetical situation) is, actually, quite a bit greater than that which most people invest in their family members or close friends.
The question, then, is this: do you currently make this degree of investment (emotional and practical) in your actual siblings, parents, and close friends? If so—do you find that you are unusual in this regard? If not—why not?
I work on technical AI alignment, so some of those I help (in expectation) don’t even exist yet. I don’t view this as what I’d do if my top priority were helping this man.
That’s a good question. I think the answer is yes, at least for my close family. Recently, I’ve expended substantial energy persuading my family to sign up for cryonics with me, winning over my mother, brother, and (I anticipate) my aunt. My father has lingering concerns which I think he wouldn’t have upon sufficient reflection, so I’ve designed a similar plan for ensuring he makes what I perceive to be the correct, option-preserving choice. For example, I made significant targeted donations to effective charities on his behalf to offset (what he perceives as) a considerable drawback of cryonics: his inability to also be an organ donor.
A universe in which humanity wins but my dad is gone would be quite sad to me, and I’ll take whatever steps necessary to minimize the chances of that.
I don’t know how unusual this is. This reminds me of the relevant Harry-Quirrell exchange; most people seem beaten-down and hurt themselves, and I can imagine a world in which people are in better places and going to greater lengths for those they love. I don’t know if this is actually what would make more people go to these lengths (just an immediate impression).