Of Marx and Moloch: How My Attempt to Convert Effective Altruists Backfired
11 days ago
- #Socialism
- #Political Psychology
- #Effective Altruism
- Understanding 'root causes' doesn't always lead to better solutions.
- Abstract sociological theories are often unfalsifiable and unhelpful.
- Social problems stem from misaligned incentives, not coordinated oppression.
- Individual variation undermines collective class-based action.
- Political beliefs often serve psychological functions over accuracy.
- Human brains prioritize survival and status over truth or happiness.
- Marx's theories, when applied individually, explain why the working class won't overthrow capitalism.
- Effective Altruism (EA) challenges socialism by focusing on moral evolution rather than class struggle.
- Economic growth, not moral improvement or class struggle, drove post-industrial revolution progress.
- Democracy's rise was influenced by elite balancing acts, not just moral evolution.
- Oppressed classes historically failed to achieve freedom until oppressors' ethical evolution.
- Charity, redefined as a driver of moral evolution, can be revolutionary.
- EA and socialism operate in different spheres but can coexist in policy and advocacy.
- EA's reliance on wealthy donors affects its problem-solving approaches.
- State and social power could reshape EA's funding and strategies.