However, it does proof that not caring much about $ and status is not an insurmountable barrier to acquiring a lot of money. By reversing it (i.e. instead of working harder/smarter and earn more, just spend less) you can still get enough to make a difference (but indeed not to the levels like Bill Gates did).
You can make a difference, yes. The relevant equation is:
Difference you make = (Earnings-Spend) x Altruism x 10^(charity rationality)
Since you are considering giving money to some highly efficient charity like SIAI, you will in the future make more of a difference than almost anyone else in the world, if you do so.
However, if you fix charity rationality or you’ve already found the most efficient charity in the world, then it seems to me than Increasing earnings is probably more effective than decreasing spend. You can earn $10^6 .year (I know of a major SIAI donor who has achieved this) , but if your current spend is $10k, you can’t increase -spend by more than a few k.
Right, but the fact remains that most of the influence in this world is going to people with high values of “earnings” and little altruism or charity-rationality, and that if we could get away from this timid, minimalist mentality, we could really change that.
You can make a difference, yes. The relevant equation is:
Difference you make = (Earnings-Spend) x Altruism x 10^(charity rationality)
Since you are considering giving money to some highly efficient charity like SIAI, you will in the future make more of a difference than almost anyone else in the world, if you do so.
However, if you fix charity rationality or you’ve already found the most efficient charity in the world, then it seems to me than Increasing earnings is probably more effective than decreasing spend. You can earn $10^6 .year (I know of a major SIAI donor who has achieved this) , but if your current spend is $10k, you can’t increase -spend by more than a few k.
You are correct off course. I was merely reacting against your statement that I can make no difference at all.
Right, but the fact remains that most of the influence in this world is going to people with high values of “earnings” and little altruism or charity-rationality, and that if we could get away from this timid, minimalist mentality, we could really change that.
I don’t think the minimalist part is the problem.