Longtermism and power; the tangle of pseudoscience
An essay by Gwilym David Blunt; an event with Ann C. Thresher and Peter Vickers
Dear all,
Nothing much to report this week as I am on holiday!
Your Sunday Read
“A Mirror for Tech-Bros? Effective Altruism, Longtermism, and the Problem of Arbitrary Power” by Gwilym David Blunt.
Power for effective altruism and longtermism is mostly a benign tool that can be used to help people. It should be used effectively (with a side-constraint against causing harm). And that’s about it.
The Sam Bankman-Fried/FTX fraud scandal rocked the foundations of last year’s most widely discussed philosophical movement, longtermism (and its related movement, effective altruism). Having published a review by Peter Wolfendale of William MacAskill’s longtermist bible, What We Owe the Future, at the end of last year, we now follow this up with an essay by Gwilym David Blunt that explores the FTX fiasco and how naivety about power has allowed a rot to set into effective altruism and longtermism, making the movements too comfortable with uncontrolled power and too willing to internalise the worldview of their ultra-wealthy patrons. You can read the essay here.
Monday Event: 11am PT/2pm ET/7pm UK
“The Tangle of Pseudoscience”
Ann C. Thresher in conversation with Peter Vickers
Science is remarkably reliable. It puts people on the moon, performs laser eye surgery, tells us about ancient civilizations and species, and predicts the future of our climate. But what is it that underwrites this reliability?
In this conversation, philosophers of science Ann C. Thresher and Peter Vickers will argue that the standard answers – the scientific method, rigour, and objectivity – are insufficient for the job. If any reliable piece of science is underpinned by a vast, diverse, and thick network of other scientific products, by the “tangle” of science, then what are the key tools at our disposal to help us identify bad or deliberately misleading science? You can find out more and register here.
Ending
The Philosopher is unfunded and relies on your support to keep doing the work we do. It is a constant struggle to break even and requires an immense amount of hard work - almost all of it unpaid.
You can offer a donation, join us via Patreon, or become a print or digital subscriber. All support is greatly appreciated!
Wishing you all a lovely Sunday, wherever you are.
Anthony Morgan
Editor