Let’s say that you really want to advance science as quickly as possible.
OK. The first question is, can you advance science? You get gold stars for participation only in the kindergarten. Any reason you think you will actually produce value as a scientist instead of being a burden to be dragged along?
Right now, your options are you can either work as a scientist for $40,000 a year, or you can work in finance, earn $100,000 a year, and then donate $20,000 a year to scientific research.
A funny comparison you’re setting up. For equivalent situations, don’t you want to donate $60,000?
So even though science is getting somewhat better funding from the extra charity money coming in, it’s likely not enough to cover the higher cost of hiring scientists.
That may or may not be true—you will have to make strong assumptions about several things to argue any side of this case.
So what?
The point is that altruism is rare. Not that many people are willing to make personal sacrifices purely for the good of others.
OK. The first question is, can you advance science? You get gold stars for participation only in the kindergarten. Any reason you think you will actually produce value as a scientist instead of being a burden to be dragged along?
You could just as easily ask “can you succeed in finance”? Obviously, if you don’t actually have the ability to do a certain job, then you probably shouldn’t make that your career path.
For equivalent situations, don’t you want to donate $60,000?
I would say that if you are working in finance, living in a financial center (say, New York City), and most people you know are also working in finance, it would be very difficult to live on $40,000 a year. You would be expected by your social acquaintances to own expensive suits, to drive a nice car, to go on expensive social outings, ect.
Giving 20% of your income, the way I’m suggesting, is itself a really, really hard thing to do. Most people don’t manage to give 10%.
The point is that altruism is rare. Not that many people are willing to make personal sacrifices purely for the good of others.
Interesting. What makes you think that? My impression is that most people tend to be at least somewhat altruistic, and that “altruistic emotional rewards” (like “the joy you get from helping someone else”) tend to be a major driving factor in many people’s decision making processes.
OK. The first question is, can you advance science? You get gold stars for participation only in the kindergarten. Any reason you think you will actually produce value as a scientist instead of being a burden to be dragged along?
A funny comparison you’re setting up. For equivalent situations, don’t you want to donate $60,000?
That may or may not be true—you will have to make strong assumptions about several things to argue any side of this case.
The point is that altruism is rare. Not that many people are willing to make personal sacrifices purely for the good of others.
You could just as easily ask “can you succeed in finance”? Obviously, if you don’t actually have the ability to do a certain job, then you probably shouldn’t make that your career path.
I would say that if you are working in finance, living in a financial center (say, New York City), and most people you know are also working in finance, it would be very difficult to live on $40,000 a year. You would be expected by your social acquaintances to own expensive suits, to drive a nice car, to go on expensive social outings, ect.
Giving 20% of your income, the way I’m suggesting, is itself a really, really hard thing to do. Most people don’t manage to give 10%.
Interesting. What makes you think that? My impression is that most people tend to be at least somewhat altruistic, and that “altruistic emotional rewards” (like “the joy you get from helping someone else”) tend to be a major driving factor in many people’s decision making processes.
I am not quite sure why that is relevant. Expectations of your social acquaintances are a really bad way to run your life.
I look at what people do, not at what they say.