"There are many problems with such a tragic view of morality. Firstly, longtermism does not fully take progress in moral understanding into account. An assumption is made that the values of future generations will be the same as those in the present. "
This makes me think you haven't read the book, or if you have you have misunderstood it. McAskill clearly states that the current values probably aren't correct and the danger that Morality might somehow become frozen is actually one of the key themes of the book. And he warns against global dictatorships that might install one moral view and might make it hard to continue having moral progress.
I disagree with your perspective on altruism and longtermism. I think you have misinterpreted these concepts and their implications for our future.
In fact, I believe that we humans don't want much and share many values, but we build an environment around us where this is not true anymore. This is where yellow teaming comes in - a valuable approach that encourages us to consider the potential negative externalities of our actions and to align our goals with our shared values. Yellow teaming is a way of thinking that acknowledges the limitations of our current understanding and the potential unintended consequences of our actions, and it's essential for creating a more sustainable and equitable future.
By considering the potential negative externalities of our actions and aligning our goals with our shared values, we can create a more sustainable and equitable future for all. I think a more nuanced discussion about what progress means is long overdue.
Thanks, illuminating take on selfishness and altruism.
"There are many problems with such a tragic view of morality. Firstly, longtermism does not fully take progress in moral understanding into account. An assumption is made that the values of future generations will be the same as those in the present. "
This makes me think you haven't read the book, or if you have you have misunderstood it. McAskill clearly states that the current values probably aren't correct and the danger that Morality might somehow become frozen is actually one of the key themes of the book. And he warns against global dictatorships that might install one moral view and might make it hard to continue having moral progress.
I disagree with your perspective on altruism and longtermism. I think you have misinterpreted these concepts and their implications for our future.
In fact, I believe that we humans don't want much and share many values, but we build an environment around us where this is not true anymore. This is where yellow teaming comes in - a valuable approach that encourages us to consider the potential negative externalities of our actions and to align our goals with our shared values. Yellow teaming is a way of thinking that acknowledges the limitations of our current understanding and the potential unintended consequences of our actions, and it's essential for creating a more sustainable and equitable future.
By considering the potential negative externalities of our actions and aligning our goals with our shared values, we can create a more sustainable and equitable future for all. I think a more nuanced discussion about what progress means is long overdue.
Like the article, but calling people 'blacks' and 'whites' has always seemed weird to me - kinda dehumanizing