7 What Do You Think?

Key Points
  • Independent impressions

    • In the long run, you’re likely to gain a deeper understanding of important issues if you think through the arguments for yourself. But (since you can’t reason through everything) it can still sometimes make sense to defer to others when you’re making decisions.

  • Criticism is healthy

  • Uncertainty within EA

    • Many people have uncertainty about various aspects of EA, including people who are highly involved

    • There is a lot of disagreement within the community, what brings people together is the desire to do the most good and figuring out how


Suggested Icebreaker
  • Best Tips for Constructive Disagreement

    • How would you like to receive disagreement?

Suggested Session Flow

Drawing
Critique - Good or Bad?

Good or Bad?

  • What are the benefits of Critique?

    • Should Criticism be encouraged?

    • What are the disadvantages of Critique?

Opinions

  • How do you manage your opinions?

    • When do you and don't update your opinion when encountering disagreement?

  • Should one make decisions upon one's 'independent impression' or 'all-things-considered beliefs'?

Critique to the Core Principle

Effective Altruism is a research field and practical community that aims to find the best ways to help others, and put them into practice.'

  • After a few weeks of reflecting upon EA, does the above definition align with your impression of EA? How would you describe EA's core principle?

  • Any suggestions for improvement or offerings of disagreement?

Critique to the Implementation of the Core Principle
  • Within the EA community, there seems to be harmony when it comes to the core principle. Do you think there is harmony when it comes to the implementation of the core principle?

    • Where do you encounter dis-harmony? Is this negative or positive?

  • What are your best suggestions for improving EA?

    • What areas do you think are wrongly prioritized, neglected or completely ignored?

    • Where do you think EA is doing actual harm or any concerns if EA continues as is?

  • Are there similar movements to EA to which one could look for doing the most good or from which EA could learn from?

Taking Ideas Seriously
  • What do the ideas imply, if taken seriously?

    • How could they impact your actions?

    • How could they impact society's actions?

  • Reflecting upon the critiques mentioned: Does this change your e.g., prioritization, cause area, confidence, etc.

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