The Rich Have Their Own Ethics: Effective Altruism & the Crypto Crash (ft. F1nn5ter)

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  • Опубліковано 28 тра 2024
  • Get Nebula cheaper with this link: go.nebula.tv/philosophytube
    Watch "The Prince: nebula.tv/videos/philosophytu..."
    Support the show! - / philosophytube
    When crypto company FTX crashed, it posed big questions for the Effective Altruism movement!
    Twitter: @PhilosophyTube
    Instagram & TikTok & Tumblr: @theabigailthorn
    Facebook: / philosophytube
    Email: philosophytubebusiness@gmail.com
    BIBLIOGRAPHY: docs.google.com/document/d/e/...
    0:00 Intro
    2:23 What is Effective Altruism?
    7:27 Who is Sam Bankman-Fried?
    15:23 What is Longtermism?
    30:34 How Do We Change the World?
    #crypto #charity #philosophy

КОМЕНТАРІ • 8 тис.

  • @PhilosophyTube
    @PhilosophyTube  Рік тому +5237

    I really hope you enjoy this one - I worked super hard on it and tried my very best to keep things even-handed and educational! If you appreciate that effort, Patreon.com/PhilosophyTube is what helps me keep making work like this!

    • @guyfawkes5012
      @guyfawkes5012 Рік тому +32

      definitely one of my favorites from you :)

    • @thtb
      @thtb Рік тому +2

      I like the joke in the title, the rich having ethics (of any kind).
      It seems hard to disprove that the 0,01% cause and benefit from everything negative on this planet.

    • @graymeinders7645
      @graymeinders7645 Рік тому +9

      @@guyfawkes5012 What do you mean????? It's still 7 hours away, and you posted this comment 9 hours ago wtf

    • @freemansteinslab
      @freemansteinslab Рік тому +48

      @@graymeinders7645 Abi's vids drop on Nebula about a week before YT, so some people have already seen it

    • @graymeinders7645
      @graymeinders7645 Рік тому +18

      @@freemansteinslab ahhhhh fair enough

  • @greencatsick
    @greencatsick Рік тому +5588

    Finally someone else referring to him by his proper title; "Grimes' Ex"

    • @Sophia-vk5bq
      @Sophia-vk5bq Рік тому +118

      I prefer Elon Husk.

    • @oiaeyu
      @oiaeyu Рік тому +260

      Given Elon's proclivity for putting "X" at the end of everything, it would be more appropriate if it were "Grimes' X"

    • @RoseOnFire
      @RoseOnFire Рік тому +3

      Timestamp?

    • @Aldric524
      @Aldric524 Рік тому +2

      @@trinitym5552 Is music for the deaf?

    • @oiaeyu
      @oiaeyu Рік тому +38

      @Trinity M the oc is defining musk based on his relationship with grimes, not the other way around. And not all women are dope 😭

  • @eveoftheroses3766
    @eveoftheroses3766 Рік тому +10697

    I absolutely love how this F1nn colab is just a normal philosophy tube video but F1nn is just sorta there vibing. Like bring your femboy to work day. Iconic

    • @capucnechaussonpassion14
      @capucnechaussonpassion14 Рік тому +375

      Hahaha ok i want that for my work day too

    • @logosloki
      @logosloki Рік тому +617

      @@capucnechaussonpassion14 Everyone deserves to bring a femboy to bring your femboy to work day.

    • @Matthew_Raymond
      @Matthew_Raymond Рік тому +62

      A low-key Derol from Glass Onion reference, perhaps?

    • @introprospector
      @introprospector Рік тому +9

      Ideal.

    • @Maers_
      @Maers_ Рік тому +47

      Timestamps 4:35

  • @bogwoman
    @bogwoman Рік тому +1833

    I read a book called The Anxieties of Affluence, which was a sort-of anthropological look at the ultra wealthy families of Manhattan. Nearly all of the (mostly women) in the families struggled a great deal with how to be rich "ethically", and how to best donate to charities. But the thing is, how is a random millionaire in Manhattan supposed to know what exactly their community needs, or how their money can best be implemented? As a result, the majority of wealthy people tend to donate to their children's (probably already financially healthy) schools. The book made the conclusion that rich people should simply be taxed more, as even though the govt is not by any means a perfect means to distribute wealth effectively, it is at least ran by people who are (theoretically) democratically elected to represent their communities. I really think philanthropy is just another big smoke screen the wealthy use to avoid taxes. It's an incredibly ironic twist of fate to me that most rich people donate to their children's private schools, while public schools languish due to a lack of tax revenue from their neighborhoods. Cool!

    • @maebandy
      @maebandy Рік тому

      Ahhh, you forget the very useful action of busying one's meddling wife in charitable ventures and the subsequent validation she derives from it, freeing you to go back to pillaging the world she'll then ceremoniously apply a rhinestone band-aid to.

    • @Kas_Styles
      @Kas_Styles Рік тому +26

      This

    • @jackrutledgegoembel5896
      @jackrutledgegoembel5896 11 місяців тому +34

      idk, no effective altruist would ever argue for spending on private schools. I feel like real, effective charities that work in super-impoverished countries doing things like feeding starving ppl can definitely be more effective than giving money to the US government

    • @vlr4631
      @vlr4631 11 місяців тому +66

      More taxes for the ultra rich, yes please, sure! But not avoiding the little they should pay would be a start aswell

    • @MrTaxiRob
      @MrTaxiRob 11 місяців тому +29

      Abi mentions the rise of the charitable foundation, but doesn't mention its tax benefits. Eventually the taxpayer ends up subsidizing them because donations to them are tax deductible. Same with religious orgs.

  • @kerd4
    @kerd4 Рік тому +304

    I live on the Swinomish Reservation, where Shell had an entire train derail and spill into our watershed. I'm working now for a degree in Environmental Biology to deal with the long-term effects of this catastrophe. This video helped me a lot to understand what I'm doing and why. Thank you

    • @syiridium703
      @syiridium703 7 місяців тому

      But then Shell bought some malaria nets and donated to a bunch of rich men's tax evasion side gigs, I mean, charities. So we should all forgive them. Hash tag effective scam, I mean, altruism.
      BTW, good luck with your study. I think your approach is million times more effective way of securing the future than EA.

    • @catnublia
      @catnublia Місяць тому +1

      Best of luck in your education and future work! Idk if this is helpful, as I know it is still quite expensive, but the South East Technological University in Ireland has a robust environmental remediation department. Since it's been recently changed from a college to a university, SETU is desperate for graduate and postgraduate students. There are some fast tracked postgraduate scholarships that offer a research based opportunity to earn a PhD in 2 or so years, all tuition paid by the school, and you get paid a fairly decent stipend to live off of during your studies.

  • @GentlemensClubHolyEdition
    @GentlemensClubHolyEdition Рік тому +2565

    Disclaimer for gamers, EA is referring to Effective Altruism, not Electronic Arts

  • @MaxWattage
    @MaxWattage Рік тому +12405

    As someone qualified in AI, I can assure you that the real danger to humanity from AI isn't that it will go rogue and disobey its masters.
    The real danger from AI is that it will never disobey its masters, and it will carry out their instructions without any compassion or ethical considerations, making those masters ever richer and more powerful, forever.

    • @tamarabrugara
      @tamarabrugara Рік тому +597

      Yep the most dangerous part about AI is that it's got everything from us , and we then get it into our heads it’s impartial just because we have an algorithm do exactly what we do.

    • @vylbird8014
      @vylbird8014 Рік тому +1

      @@tamarabrugara More that it's ideal for manipulation. Consider this scenario: You take a successor version of GPT. Is it intelligent? No. Actually, if you were to compare it to a human, it's a moron and a compulsive liar. But that's ok: You don't need an intelligent program for this, you just need something that can pass as a human in a brief conversation in internet comments. Now, direct this AI to your desired goal. It might be "promote by product" or "support my politician" or "insult this ideology" or "talk about this news story."
      Now, rent yourself some computing power, and duplicate your AI. Ten thousand instances. Tie them in to the APIs for some popular social media services. And there you have it: Your auto-troll. A tool with the power to flood the public conversation through sheer numbers and direct it, shaping public opinion to your own views. The AI isn't intelligent, but it's intelligent enough to pass in youtube comments.
      Within a couple of years, I expect to see the internet just flooded by billions upon billions of comments explaining why China is the best, safest, most successful, richest, cleanest and most free country, and anyone saying otherwise is just a sucker for western propaganda.

    • @69Kazeshini
      @69Kazeshini Рік тому

      Another dangerous aspect of AI is that if we ask it do something it may not give us exactly what we want or the method it chose to obtain it may be unfavourable. AI hss no ethics, morajs or human understanding, you ask it to create a money making idea it would suggest hacking into a randkm person bank account.

    • @viinisaari
      @viinisaari Рік тому +384

      As an AI researcher, I agree with this statement.

    • @tinetannies4637
      @tinetannies4637 Рік тому

      That's A danger. Another is that humans will be displaced from their own world. Automation and robotics will make them unnecessary for manual labor, and AI will make them unnecessary for mental and creative labor. We will come to live in a world where we will not be needed and have no purpose or value. It's hard to imagine what would become of people in such a world.

  • @Troconnell
    @Troconnell Рік тому +661

    I just want to take a moment to appreciate how this information is being delivered by a person in costumes that look like they come straight out of video games.

  • @endlessxaura
    @endlessxaura Рік тому +141

    I think there's also a question about how good and harm exists in the first place. Many disabled people, myself included, suffer because we live in a world that routinely fails to accommodate them. Alleviating disability can be helpful, but it puts the cart before the horse.

    • @vixxcelacea2778
      @vixxcelacea2778 5 місяців тому +6

      I have a different view on this as a disabled person. I'd say that society coming up with ways to accommodate is more task intensive than "solving" the problem at the basis. Accommodating vs preventing the need for accommodation with out sacrificing those who would need said accommodation. IE if we eliminated disabilities (with regards to that some are considered as such only due to cultural implications, vs functional ability, which I understand is a whole other can of worms conversation to have) but say that we had a perfect way of doing that, I'd more agree with preventing the need for accommodation where possible, if that makes sense.

    • @fawn2911
      @fawn2911 4 місяці тому +17

      ​@@vixxcelacea2778what do you mean by eliminating disabilities...eugenics?

    • @Existential_Robot
      @Existential_Robot 4 місяці тому +6

      @@fawn2911 By... curing them? That's a really weird leap in logic.

    • @theapocasmith
      @theapocasmith 4 місяці тому +21

      ​@@Existential_RobotThere are a multitude of disabilities that aren't curable. Knowing this makes the idea that eugenics was the intended goal an easier conclusion to reach

    • @gourdtube
      @gourdtube 2 місяці тому +10

      As someone whose been homeless and works multiple jobs to keep from going back, I wish the world was more accommodating for everyone.

  • @Bennick323
    @Bennick323 Рік тому +3177

    I might have missed a line somewhere but... I'm embarrassed at how long it took me to realize EA stood for Effective Altruists rather than Electronic Arts... I was starting to go crazy.

    • @rhythmandblues_alibi
      @rhythmandblues_alibi Рік тому +161

      Omg same 😆 after years of watching James Stephanie Sterling rail against EA, each time I heard it mentioned in a non-gaming context was rather jarring 😅

    • @LilayM
      @LilayM Рік тому +10

      Took me a second, too xD

    • @xpirate16
      @xpirate16 Рік тому +148

      "Effective Altruist Sports. IT'S IN THE GAME!"

    • @diraska
      @diraska Рік тому +39

      Effective Altruism Sports: It's in the game.

    • @ZgermanGuy.
      @ZgermanGuy. Рік тому +49

      I mean the comparison fits
      For more human well being you have to buy the DLC

  • @lauren8135
    @lauren8135 Рік тому +4978

    Being a consultant at a banking conference where you didn’t get paid. That tracks. That tracks so hard, in fact for a financial institution.

    • @ayyydn
      @ayyydn Рік тому +388

      And an *ethics* consultant specifically... like okay Mr Bank Manz I'm sure this talk will really get thru to u

    • @tomasinacovell4293
      @tomasinacovell4293 Рік тому +162

      @@ayyydn And they probably also got tax deductions etc for all of it too!

    • @lawrencetchen
      @lawrencetchen Рік тому +158

      It tracks so hard it just became a trolley problem

    • @stevel.3903
      @stevel.3903 Рік тому +116

      Even more so that they even paid for a business class ticket instead of an economy class one and giving the rest as salary. It shows how this is always about optics. Instead of paying a small wage and modest transportation it's about luxury transport (to feel acknowledged) without paying a salary, as a ethics consultant shouldn't take a job based on the money...

    • @NatalieDemary
      @NatalieDemary Рік тому +18

      No it doesn’t…that’s actually really unusual. Consultants get paid a lot in all industries, but especially finance and tech

  • @MrTaxiRob
    @MrTaxiRob 11 місяців тому +95

    I gave a similar "keynote speech" at a construction project meeting back in the 90s. I eventually left the business entirely and could not have been happier. Unfortunately I was forced to return to it and everything is worse than I could have ever imagined it becoming. I'm struggling to get out of it again in order to keep myself from going insane.

  • @namelesscreature8843
    @namelesscreature8843 Рік тому +402

    Came for F1nn5ter, stayed for the lesson

    • @OB.x
      @OB.x 7 місяців тому +12

      oh hey Kyle, on an alt.

    • @bestwesterner
      @bestwesterner 5 місяців тому +1

      I just came

    • @cookierayyt3406
      @cookierayyt3406 3 місяці тому +9

      I too, came for F1nn5ter

    • @DangleBlampy
      @DangleBlampy 3 місяці тому +5

      came for f1nn5ter, came for f1nn5ter, left the video, cried.

  • @elijahculper5522
    @elijahculper5522 Рік тому +2205

    “Somewhere in a parallel universe, there’s an alternate version of me. And she doesn’t have any integrity, but she does own a house.”
    Damn. I love that line.

    • @emilyrln
      @emilyrln Рік тому +57

      It's the pink-suited girlboss character with the American accent who has some company I can't remember 😂

    • @Learnlinkio
      @Learnlinkio Рік тому +3

      OOOft same it was so good!!

    • @thecat3309
      @thecat3309 Рік тому +3

      I felt that, too.

    • @adamafzall4618
      @adamafzall4618 Рік тому +11

      It's stupid. She has made enough money to buy a house multiple times. Why does she keep pretending to be poor?

    • @elijahculper5522
      @elijahculper5522 Рік тому +37

      @@adamafzall4618 You said it wrong. It’s Pooah.

  • @FrozEnbyWolf150
    @FrozEnbyWolf150 Рік тому +4995

    I've worked for charities before, specifically animal rescue, and I've done independent charitable work and mutual aid in private. One of the realizations that hits you almost immediately is that charity is nowhere near enough, and cannot be relied upon as a solution to systemic problems. It comes down to a matter of scale, as charities can only help a small percentage of those who need it, and can't do anything to change the system that gave rise to massive inequalities in the first place. The average charity volunteer is giving everything they've got, and the vast majority of charity organizations are barely clinging to life. Unless an organization already has a ton of clout, or is corrupt like a lot of the big name charities, chances are it's struggling for survival itself. For people to act like we can just use charity to catch those who slip through the cracks is a gross misunderstanding of the scale and severity of the problems charity is meant to address.

    • @skeetsmcgrew3282
      @skeetsmcgrew3282 Рік тому +42

      I don't understand, what are you suggesting? That charities are nearly worthless because the system is so entirely broken?

    • @petormaculan5424
      @petormaculan5424 Рік тому +352

      ​@@skeetsmcgrew3282sounds like you understood exactly what they said

    • @B0K0691
      @B0K0691 Рік тому +104

      @@skeetsmcgrew3282 yes?

    • @FrozEnbyWolf150
      @FrozEnbyWolf150 Рік тому +380

      @@skeetsmcgrew3282 Essentially. I'm not one to downplay the good charity workers do, because I've been there myself. I'm just trying to give people an idea of how insurmountable the problem of inequality is. We can reach a few people here and there, and this is a tangible good in their lives, but it doesn't last long, and is not a long term solution without systemic change. So I'm not framing this as an either-or situation either, we need both. Ideally we'd live in a world where people's survival needs are taken care of by default, and charities are there to help on the side. They cannot and should not be an absolute requirement.

    • @skeetsmcgrew3282
      @skeetsmcgrew3282 Рік тому +36

      @@FrozEnbyWolf150 I think it's sort of pointlessly overwhelming to consider charity through this lense. Like, the problems have been around for a very long time, and until capitalism is destroyed they will never ever be fixed. It's a waste of time to even consider deep systemic change in anything resembling a decent timeline. Maybe several centuries, but not in a lifetime, and definitely not in a generation. So every good deed should be considered it's own win. I guess my philosophy is like, kind pessimism? Like, it's fked, we are all fked, but that doesn't mean you dismiss anything good thats done

  • @caseykoons
    @caseykoons Рік тому +145

    "The crypto sphere is powered by the hype about how we're all gonna make it. Sometimes that hype is pretty unrealistic." - Abigail.
    So generous, careful, compassionate!
    Other times it's a deliberate predatory lie. - me

  • @mdansbyjr
    @mdansbyjr Рік тому +111

    The problem I have with the non-identity problem is that it cancels itself. For, by NOT taking the bus (to extend the example), you have an equal-but-opposite impact on those same events in the other direction ... and, thus, an equal responsibility to THOSE children as well ... cancelling BOTH arguments with each other.

    • @marinary1326
      @marinary1326 9 місяців тому

      Indeed. It's not like either set of theoretically possible children has a higher likelihood of containing the child that will go on to cure cancer or become super hitler. Theoretically I could commit a murder and go to trial, and some juror has to serve when they would otherwise have been able to stay home, and thus they have sex at a different time and have a different child and that child happens to end all war forever and give every child a puppy. Doesn't mean it was right for me to commit murder, nor is it in any way possible for me to reasonably even use that as a justification for committing said murder because how would I know about a child that does not yet exist.

    • @vixxcelacea2778
      @vixxcelacea2778 5 місяців тому +9

      Trying to work off of unknown conclusions and butterfly effect ideas is not going to help anyone. All you can do is identify when an action or inaction actually has a domino effect and if it's positive or negative or both. There are a billion small things that change the course of the future. We have absolutely no way of knowing all of them. Even a super computer that could calculate all of the happenings and likely get very good probability considerations would never know everything. Being omniscient isn't possible. Because the act of existing from one point from non existence removes the data of knowing or understanding how one's existence factors in.
      And I say this as a person who thinks the world is deterministic and free-will makes no sense.

    • @Fematika
      @Fematika 4 місяці тому +14

      This isn't quite the nonidentity problem. The non-identity problem is just any moral problem which arises due to its effect on people who do not exist. The classic example is if you leave a broken glass out on the ground without cleaning it up, and 5 years later a child stumbles over it and cuts themselves, it doesn't seem like it matter morally whether the child is 6 or 4 years old (i.e. did or did not exist at the time you took the action). Or imagine a construction worker violating building codes and that ends up hurting a child years down the line. Another example is, of course, climate change: it seems wrong that oil companies of the past covered up evidence of climate change and that this will affect future generations' lives, even though they did not exist when they were doing it. It's not just wrong for its current effects, but for its future effects, too.
      But if future lives matter, how exactly do we weigh them, given they don't exist, and there are many people who could possibly exist? Do we weight them like they currently exist, or as their probability of existing? It's not just decisions like riding the bus, but what about having children yourself, or giving to charities which allow more people to have children, or political or financial actions which make the world a better place for future people. I recommend you also read about the "repugnant conclusion" of Derek Parfit. These are difficult philosophical questions which most philosophers agree there are no satisfactory conclusion, and problems of non-identity are much harder to solve than you might realize if you're only thinking about the bus example.

    • @Kvathe
      @Kvathe 4 місяці тому +3

      @@Fematika thank you for this excellent explanation

    • @agilemind6241
      @agilemind6241 2 місяці тому +1

      @@Fematika As a statistician it seems like a trivial problem, uncertain outcomes should always be weighted by their probability of occurring. The main problem is not philosophical but pragmatic - how do you estimate the probabilities of future outcomes?

  • @duckdudette
    @duckdudette Рік тому +2641

    This woman opened the video with telling a conference full of bankers to resign and wearing, like 6 inch platforms. Abigail Thorn, you are an inspiration to us all.

    • @Petie718
      @Petie718 Рік тому +25

      ​@@higginswallop5009 wow what a cutting edge take 😐

    • @Ar1AnX1x
      @Ar1AnX1x Рік тому +68

      @@higginswallop5009 sounds and looks like a woman to me

    • @BeHappyTo
      @BeHappyTo Рік тому +16

      its a man

    • @danielbooth5718
      @danielbooth5718 Рік тому

      ​@user-fo8yu1hy1r was a man, is now a trans-sexual woman.

    • @cfv7461
      @cfv7461 Рік тому +5

      i think it is a story from a guy, jeff realname

  • @Cryptundra
    @Cryptundra Рік тому +2312

    I love Abigail’s commitment to video games’ idea of future fashion. Belts. Belts everywhere.

    • @sanpelletina
      @sanpelletina Рік тому +125

      Oh man yeah, every character in cyberpunk has suspenders belts and holsters that hold nothing.

    • @nucleargandhi2709
      @nucleargandhi2709 Рік тому +98

      Ironically, this is also video games' idea of past fashion and fantasy fashion.

    • @PowerOf47
      @PowerOf47 Рік тому +84

      ​@@nucleargandhi2709 it's just video game fashion, and the fashion i want to do

    • @CaptainParatos
      @CaptainParatos Рік тому +38

      Bit skimpy on the pouches though 🙃

    • @mookinbabysealfurmittens
      @mookinbabysealfurmittens Рік тому +43

      There's one thing for sure: her left shoulder is SAFE! 🦾 But seriously, she looks great! Plus, personally I love the cyber look, and extraneous/useless buckles, strips, straps, grommets... Especially after I saw the extent of what it could be in _The Fifth Element._ Remember Zorg (Gary Oldman) and his slick-as-hecc latex/rubber pinstripe 3-piece suit? And it was lined in red! SO FAB!

  • @Paulitica
    @Paulitica 5 місяців тому +25

    I wrote an essay on altruism and egoism, the case of dogs vs blind poor people is a matter of not effective altruism, altruism is not about being effective or not, is about a matter of sacrificing something or yourself in making other individuals feel better, it's just egoism put into the formula what cancellate altruism and make it a "positive egoism" action. I wrote that like 3 years ago...

    • @krzyczace_kitku
      @krzyczace_kitku 3 місяці тому

      This sounds super interesting

    • @velivie
      @velivie Місяць тому

      if you have the essay still id really love to read this! it sounds super interesting

  • @PrincessInDTower
    @PrincessInDTower Місяць тому +7

    F1nn wandering around the video like your office managers lost puppy is so fun

  • @stereotypo3964
    @stereotypo3964 Рік тому +2722

    "Somewhere in a parallel universe there is a alternate version of me. She doesn't have any integrity but she does own a house." This had me in stitches. Love the video!

    • @Dogman415
      @Dogman415 Рік тому +48

      Hopefully those stitches didn't come from the American Healthcare system

    • @shayneoneill1506
      @shayneoneill1506 Рік тому +30

      Its doubly funny if you know how this particular scene thinks. Theres a lot of *really weird* beliefs popular within the EA crowd, one of which is a weird attachment to multiverse type ideas, along with "Were all in a simulation!" and its whackier corollory "If we piss off the robots they'll torture us in a simulation!". Its a weird little pocket of silicon valley culture and it *really* believes its own propaganda..

    • @roodammy44
      @roodammy44 11 місяців тому +7

      That line hit me the hardest in the video! There's a lot of humour in the truth!

    • @psuedonym9999
      @psuedonym9999 9 місяців тому +2

      @shayneoneill1506 You mean Roko's Ballisk? It's funny because even if that *were* real, I don't see how I'm supposed to feep threatened by the AI torturing a simulation of me after I die, when the simulation of me *isn't me*, but a copy of me.

    • @ibpants
      @ibpants 9 місяців тому +4

      ​@@psuedonym9999I've been told I'm too stupid to understand the threat of a supercomputer capable of simulating consciousness thinking mean thoughts about me, but we have those already; they're called brains.

  • @catdragon2584
    @catdragon2584 Рік тому +412

    As someone who has worked at a bank for years (and is looking for a way out), a sadistic part of me would’ve sold my kidney to be at that conference and watch the bankers being told the most ethical thing they can do is resign.

    • @onlyinsomniac
      @onlyinsomniac Рік тому +16

      Hey, you can still donate your kidney! Save a human life and stick it to the finance bros ;p

    • @isoldadoesstuff
      @isoldadoesstuff Рік тому +3

      ay u just watched the result for free, how about that :3

  • @mrsdsparky
    @mrsdsparky 9 місяців тому +36

    I am so happy that I found your channel. You’re phenomenal at storytelling and educating.

  • @HillyPlays
    @HillyPlays 11 місяців тому +15

    Abigail this might be your best yet. I love reading your captions and it's such a clever way to keep people engaged through the end of the video to help metrics. The Prince was SO good. Thanks for the great video and excellent essay of things to chew on.

  • @CodyEthanJordan
    @CodyEthanJordan Рік тому +962

    We had an effective altruistic talk at an atheist club, they talked about how if we all gave a small portion of our income we could do exceptional things. The specific example was how for this percentage we could reinvigorate the space program.
    I asked if what they were proposing was something we already had called "taxes".
    They did not like this

    • @CodyEthanJordan
      @CodyEthanJordan Рік тому +159

      Really the key difference was they basically wanted libertarian taxes.
      In that it was totally voluntary, and more importantly each rational individual ought to decide how to earmark their funds. So each of us could decide if it was for malaria nets or rocket ships or whatnot, but the key aspect was that it wasn't a decision made by a government body.

    • @randomusername1735
      @randomusername1735 Рік тому +217

      @@CodyEthanJordan The classic libertarian "Some rich person will be nice probably", works every time!

    • @thevirtualtraveler
      @thevirtualtraveler Рік тому +40

      Shhhh do not expose the man behind the curtain

    • @ArtBear88
      @ArtBear88 Рік тому +12

      @Denise Jaimes and putting a facility on low earth orbit will be easier and cost effective based on your "donation"?

    • @mattklein62
      @mattklein62 Рік тому

      @@CodyEthanJordan Libertarians are supporting an unrealistic Ideal

  • @jawadiustunda1193
    @jawadiustunda1193 Рік тому +144

    I spit out my drink when Finn walked through the background when she mentioned "your college aged son getting into internet culture."

  • @ievaday
    @ievaday Рік тому +10

    I really like the form of your videos. The topic of the video title is buried amidst all the examples and related side-stories, so many pieces and parts. And then gradually, as I keep watching, the videos get into this perfect flow, all the pieces assemble like a mosaic into a full picture. And before I realize it - the video is over.
    I subscribe to many essay channels about many topics (books, tv shows, films, screen writing, character writing, AI and gameplay mechanics in games, and others) but your videos have this unique structure and feeling. Sometimes I get this itch to watch something in this form but almost nothing can scratch that itch (well, maybe CJ The X, lol).
    So, thank you Ms. Philosophy Tube.

  • @ekaterinayakubova2411
    @ekaterinayakubova2411 Рік тому +8

    I loved the end notes in the captions, that was such a cute way to connect with your audience! Like a sweet little easter egg. Love these videos!!

  • @MeMe-bg8ci
    @MeMe-bg8ci Рік тому +471

    “Somewhere in a parallel universe there is an alternate version of me and she doesn’t have any integrity but she does own a house.” Killed me 😂 you are the absolute best kinda human.

    • @BambiTrout
      @BambiTrout Рік тому +1

      I full on belly laughed 😂

    • @kaylaguilbault7154
      @kaylaguilbault7154 Рік тому +1

      That was my favorite funny for sure!

    • @charlieterry8506
      @charlieterry8506 Рік тому +1

      It's honestly such a mood.

    • @Alina_Schmidt
      @Alina_Schmidt Рік тому +4

      The other you may own a house, but just imagining a philosopher who just tells the bankers about Lenin and how they should shut down - that is sooo cool!

    • @ziwuri
      @ziwuri Рік тому +2

      And the best part is that she probably means it literally :)

  • @Ju-pk7bh
    @Ju-pk7bh Рік тому +666

    I'm a social worker from Argentina, so I'm up from the systemic change, but in the meantime when you look for charitys is important to look at the ethicts of it. There are charitys that look for the "good poor" and "bad poor" and help the one that "deserves it". And the ones that understend that were is a need there is a violated (not guaranteed) right, look for the ones that fight for the rights of people at the time that they asist them and not for the ones that tell others how to live.

    • @fionafiona1146
      @fionafiona1146 Рік тому +27

      Thanks for the reminder.
      I feel like making companies accountable is more effective than earn to give.
      Nachunternehmerhaftung (German supply chain ethics) is supposed to avoid much of what people donate to alleviate

    • @raejames8536
      @raejames8536 Рік тому +2

      Incredible point, not all charities are equal in their help. In the US the American Red Cross does what you describe, and should be more well known for its anti... Well many kinds of folks policies. If you are queer, or have a non normative partner they'll often separate you from your partner or just deny one of you shelter.

    • @emisor9272
      @emisor9272 Рік тому +2

      Were you quoting/paraphrasing Evita there?

    • @Ju-pk7bh
      @Ju-pk7bh Рік тому +10

      @@emisor9272 almost hahaha. Evita says something like" where there is a need a right will be born"
      Donde hay una necesidad nacerá un derecho.

    • @intuicion_quimica
      @intuicion_quimica Рік тому

      buena compa

  • @HansTremmel
    @HansTremmel 7 місяців тому +1

    Stumbled on your videos. The quality of the content and the captions of your sources are amazing. BRAVO!

  • @brianhogg358
    @brianhogg358 Рік тому +17

    "And he may even have been sincere"
    No chance he was. He's admitted that he just used EA as a way to puff up his reputation, and has said that in part he justified it because other people are doing bad things as well.

  • @ed1726
    @ed1726 Рік тому +1755

    I was running home from work the other day along a river. I rounded a corner and saw a child in distress in the water. I immediately stopped, removed my backpack, took out my phone and saved two starving children in Africa (via an ethical donation) as two is clearly more than one that felt like a clearly better use of my time. By the time I looked up the kid wasn't there anymore, not sure what happened to them.

    • @mattklein62
      @mattklein62 Рік тому +6

      Fn Cute Ed

    • @TheActualDP
      @TheActualDP Рік тому

      Peter Singer actually uses a drowning children thought experiment in his book Giving What We Can, although I think the point you're making is unrelated.
      An EA would tell you that your ability to save two starving children in Africa via donation is (almost) orthogonal to rescuing the child in distress. You ought to be aiming to do the _most_ good possible, not compensating for your decision not to rescue a drowning child. Same reason you it's silly to say "It's OK that I'm not vegan because I donate to charity". Your ability to donate to charity is (arguably) unrelated to your ability to avoid consumption of animal products.
      Otherwise I could morally justify murdering someone if I also donated US$3000 to Helen Keller International's vitamin A supplementation program.
      Wait did I just reducto ad absurdum a reducto ad absurdum wtf. I need to go to bed.

    • @ed1726
      @ed1726 Рік тому +56

      @@TheActualDP I would say it's silly to say "It's ok that I'm not vegan because I donate to charity" because I define neither action as good. One of the issues I have with EA is that no one has a clue as to where to spend their money to maximise goodness.
      No one is an island. This means that your actions effect you and others (whether you want them to or not). No one is in quantum superposition with all life. This means that your actions don't effect everyone and everything evenly.
      So basically there are two tenets of EA, that we can identify what is good and distance doesn't matter. And both tenets are horribly mistaken.

    • @dhanu_4539
      @dhanu_4539 Рік тому +44

      I don't think that's how it works. Saving the kid requires physical effort and time and not money. The outcome is instant and observable so it's quite obvious what should be done at the moment. Your example is a pretty bad one

    • @dhanu_4539
      @dhanu_4539 Рік тому +37

      ​@@ed1726 again another person missing the point. Helping someone is better than not helping someone. Putting a bit more effort and finding a more efficient way to help more people is even better. Waiting for the perfect solution to help a hypothetical maximum number of people and wasting time on that un obtainable goal. Is stupid.. it doesn't have to be perfect it just has to be better than the previous option. And it can even end up being worse.. but if it's more efficient 80% of the times when it's done then it's still worth it. In other words it's trying to find the optimum solution not the maximum or a perfect solution

  • @cucumberwhale
    @cucumberwhale Рік тому +1395

    Ahhhhh I just need to mention that I absolutely love the way you show your sources during the video. It's a small thing (an annoying thing to edit in, I'm sure) but it gives so much more depth to the topic and works as a really effective way to raise interest to dig deeper without having to introduce essays in a repetetive way. You've done it in a visually non-intrusive and stylish way and I just really appreciate that extra mile! Oh and the latex is absolutely bomb!

    • @colmryan9289
      @colmryan9289 Рік тому +37

      It really is one my favourite little details about her channel, I wish more UA-camrs who made video essays did it.

    • @gigi3843
      @gigi3843 Рік тому +44

      i wish they would cite sources in that way on tv documentaries and stuff like that! where you're likely to tune in in the middle of it and might not see the credits, and theres no description you can look up. I know it's just a thing this channel does (much appreciated) but i wish it was adopted more widely!

    • @stuFF625
      @stuFF625 Рік тому +31

      Adam Ruins Everything used to do that. It was like having footnotes in an article. Super useful not having to scour the entire video description for further reading.

    • @SocraTetris
      @SocraTetris Рік тому +2

      I too hope to have the time to track sources for my work, lol

    • @mikkosaarinen3225
      @mikkosaarinen3225 Рік тому +2

      I completely agree and if you actually use sources in the creation of the video I doubt it's much of a hassle to edit. I'd guess the sources are already marked into the script and since the formatting is always the same all you have to do is copy paste.

  • @ambroseelon9989
    @ambroseelon9989 11 місяців тому +8

    You contributed so much to the conversation by being excellent and making these arguments accessible ❤

  • @Alpha_beef
    @Alpha_beef 2 місяці тому +2

    One thing I always appreciate about your videos is the settings and outfits. I never know what to expect from your visuals

  • @illusive-mike
    @illusive-mike Рік тому +64

    The funny thing with the MrBeast blindness example is that I'm mostly only aware of it from the Twitter drama that followed MrBeast agreeing that it's actually not OK that these things are left to random celebrities instead of being addressed with public spending and triggering a backlash from the "fiscally responsible" crowd.

    • @kneesnap1041
      @kneesnap1041 Рік тому +12

      The ironic thing is that anyone "fiscally responsible" should agree that policies like this would ROI easily for any country which invested in it.
      That's a pretty cold way to think about life-altering healthcare procedures, but it uses their supposed framework of reasoning.

  • @arranisnailo7795
    @arranisnailo7795 Рік тому +385

    I feel like F1nnster won a bet and lost a bet at the same time

  • @dadbodthirsttrap
    @dadbodthirsttrap Рік тому +2

    I was on the bubble on subscribing to Nebula and getting closer and closer to pulling the trigger to help out the channels I watch as I feel UA-cam keeps taking away more support each year. Well, this channel finally popped that bubble and I just joined today.

  • @leen8430
    @leen8430 10 місяців тому +1

    I don't know what I enjoy more, the concepts your illustrate or the way you deliver it.

  • @pauldalton7854
    @pauldalton7854 Рік тому +1789

    Not a cross over I ever expected to see, I'm quite tickled about it

    • @brunhildevalkyrie
      @brunhildevalkyrie Рік тому

      maybe she’ll finally crack his egg

    • @antlerbraum2881
      @antlerbraum2881 Рік тому +37

      I have also been tickled

    • @maxiwaxipads
      @maxiwaxipads Рік тому +7

      If I were tickled, it'd be a crime, but so am I!

    • @lolly9804
      @lolly9804 Рік тому +3

      Tickling is the devil!

    • @robotempire
      @robotempire Рік тому +13

      I bet there was a lot of tickling going on when the cameras were off

  • @gljames24
    @gljames24 Рік тому +740

    Fun Fact: Pong isn't a program. It was made in hardware using timing circuits. Every version of the original Pong you have played on a computer is either emulating the hardware or written from scratch.

    • @Vogel612
      @Vogel612 Рік тому +114

      Some would argue that the difference between a software program and "hardware using timing circuits" is immaterial... Assembling hardware to do a specific task is just "writing" a program in something that is not bits and bytes.

    • @excrubulent
      @excrubulent Рік тому +55

      @@Vogel612 I was going to make a very similar point. You could argue it's not a program *for a turing machine*, that is it's not code written for a general purpose code execution machine, so you can't copy-paste it into an emulator and get it to run on any computer that understands the instruction set.
      So in that sense the difference is more of a practical one. It's still a digital program, it's just made on purpose-build circuits, so once you're able to emulate how those circuits should behave you have a version of the program that is made for turing machines and then you can copy it however you'd like, which was the analogy made in the video.
      Honestly though I'd say almost all modern versions of Pong are just re-written from scratch and simply mimic the rules and the appearance of the original. It would be so much less work.

    • @Lady-Y
      @Lady-Y Рік тому +6

      As Tony Stark said “he beat me by one second”

    • @Gzeebo
      @Gzeebo Рік тому +5

      Chiming in something something, Lovelace, Babbage Jacquard loom, something...

    • @mattreigada3745
      @mattreigada3745 Рік тому +3

      Every program is just software emulation of some other hardware.

  • @fathermahler1078
    @fathermahler1078 Рік тому

    Broskino the structure of the video is very nice. Concise and well thought out

  • @Zombiesfromjupiter
    @Zombiesfromjupiter 2 місяці тому +2

    your subtitles are always the best on youtube! even if i didnt need them i wholly recommend turning them on XD

  • @Sarah-re7cg
    @Sarah-re7cg Рік тому +1140

    Irrelevant but I have fucking loved watching you come into your most fulfilled self through the years. I don’t care how corny this is, it makes my heart leap with joy.

    • @groovinhooves
      @groovinhooves Рік тому +33

      Personally, I echo this sentiment with only a minor pivot to appreciation and admiration. But, these are the essence of love, fuck yes.

    • @narvuntien
      @narvuntien Рік тому +53

      Its really this that continues to motovate me to continue to fight for Trans rights. I am a cis-guy but I see people like Philosophy Tube, Jim-Stephanie Stirling and tens of people in my personal life become their most fulfilled self through transition. Fk people that oppose that.

    • @inkryption3386
      @inkryption3386 Рік тому +1

      ​@@narvuntien amen bruthur. We cis gotta fight for our trans brethren, to the last breath. I'll be damned before I let fascists wipe them out.

    • @Ziaotic
      @Ziaotic Рік тому +4

      i want her

    • @christineg3261
      @christineg3261 Рік тому +1

      I thought the same!

  • @mind_onion
    @mind_onion Рік тому +461

    I'm really excited by this novel "landmines for children" idea. I think it has got legs.

  • @WathanaPrak
    @WathanaPrak 11 місяців тому +6

    This video has a strong impact on me both visually and mentally, but it also creates a sense of conflict within me as I find myself being pulled in two different directions. Well played!!!

  • @aidanschauer1581
    @aidanschauer1581 Рік тому

    Wow. The more I go back and watch these the better they seem and the more appreciative I am of them. Learn a little bit more

  • @enigmatruecrime
    @enigmatruecrime Рік тому +118

    F1nn5ter's cameo was a surprise to be sure, but a welcome one

  • @aaronhess7781
    @aaronhess7781 Рік тому +366

    I think that Chidi from The Good Place is a criticism of EA. He was so wrapped up in trying to figure out all the consequences of his decisions he became a burden to everyone around him.

    • @Baes_Theorem
      @Baes_Theorem Рік тому +77

      He's a criticism of ineffective decision making. Part of effective decision making is deciding when to stop analyzing.

    • @Jackassik
      @Jackassik Рік тому +85

      The whole series was about the world getting so complicated and intertwined with everything that effectively it's not possible to be a good person anymore. Like even buying flowers for your mom gives you bad karma because the flowers were picked by underpaid young people working long hours and by buying the flowers you're funding such operations. This lead to even the holiest people going to the bad place, as they were evil by simply existing in the current world.

    • @falconJB
      @falconJB Рік тому +27

      The most effective altruism is the altruistic acts you do not the ones you think about. If you are spending an excessive amount of time trying to optimize your altruism you are not doing effective altruism.

    • @ng.tr.s.p.1254
      @ng.tr.s.p.1254 Рік тому +28

      @@Jackassik And at the same time, it also criticised the kind of people who got caught up in trying to maximise their "goodness" score by over-analysing the complexity of the world, instead of just bloody doing something.

    • @koldskalbanden7991
      @koldskalbanden7991 Рік тому +2

      Everyone in the OCD community agrees that he definitely had OCD lol

  • @alwayslistening3340
    @alwayslistening3340 9 місяців тому +2

    I LOVE this channel, thank you so much for making videos. I feel like a slightly better person with every video I watch.

  • @irinasolomina1800
    @irinasolomina1800 Рік тому +2

    Thank you so much for your talent and your videos! You rocked my world with those videos! Especially with the music = it is chosen eloquently

  • @lar-in-a-crisis
    @lar-in-a-crisis Рік тому +283

    On the off-chance you see this, I just joined Nebula and Patreon for you and your content. I'd been tempted by other brilliant creators, but I truly get SO much value from watching your content that it feels almost like an insult to not pay you back in some small way. You are incredible in every way, and I truly look up to you

    • @PhilosophyTube
      @PhilosophyTube  Рік тому +102

      Welcome aboard! Thank you so much!

    • @oldsoldier4209
      @oldsoldier4209 Рік тому +1

      @@PhilosophyTube Just one point. That alternate version of you that owns a house is likely a man, because men are usually quicker to compromise their morality in pursuit of perceived personal gain. My supporting evidence for this is over 50 years of observatation and experience, across several industries.

  • @ChristopherSadlowski
    @ChristopherSadlowski Рік тому +465

    This new Philosophy Tube DLC slaps! I can't believe they added a Battle Nun costume to the character creator! I'm also glad they didn't fix the bug that makes your Abigail pronounce "poor" as "POO-rah". Sometimes a bug is just better off being a feature.
    EDIT: You can also recruit a Cat Girl companion!? HOLY SHIT! Move over Skyrim Lydia, you've been replaced. Maybe if you didn't complain about helping me carry 50 sets of heavy armor and a metric ton of ingots...

    • @PinBiohazard
      @PinBiohazard Рік тому +12

      Best DLC considering it's free for bettering the community 👍

    • @patfitch6660
      @patfitch6660 Рік тому +6

      Meh, I prefer Philosophy Tube 2.

    • @DrewTNaylor
      @DrewTNaylor Рік тому +12

      @@patfitch6660 Philosophy Twobe.

    • @thomasfisher4833
      @thomasfisher4833 Рік тому +9

      "Poo-er" not "Poo-rah"

    • @ahoyturtle
      @ahoyturtle Рік тому +4

      @@thomasfisher4833 oh, they used to be "Poo-er", but by now they're even "Poo-rah"...

  • @pandoriasbox
    @pandoriasbox 3 місяці тому +4

    I don't know why she dresses like a nun to talk about money, but she looks great and she talks smart, and what else do you need, really.
    Edit: Okay, now that I've finished watching: woah, what an amazingly made video! I love the way you credited your sources and how well picked they were! You also kept me attentive all the way through, something my adhd tries to make sure doesn't happen very often, lol.
    I'm definitely subbing. I like how sincere you are in the captions during the credits- it gives very nice insight to how you went about this. Just, a very lovely experience, even for a topic I didn't really care that much for hahah. I'll be staying around for more. Keep up the great work!

    • @pandoriasbox
      @pandoriasbox 3 місяці тому +2

      @@wserthmar8908 No, I'm pretty sure that's a real woman. Get out of my comment. Trans rights.

  • @Swidsinski
    @Swidsinski 10 місяців тому

    Great and wild mixture to bring philosophy alive. Thank you very much for your effort!

  • @EJofKC
    @EJofKC Рік тому +446

    Been on almost a 3 year break from Philosophy Tube, glad to be back in it, and what a lovely surprise to see the YOU I see now!

  • @anishinaabae
    @anishinaabae Рік тому +395

    abby killing us with not only facts and logic, but these latex outfits 🥺

  • @karenlankford8558
    @karenlankford8558 Рік тому +1

    Excellent overview of the effective altruism movement and the issues involved in defining "effective".

  • @autumnleaves5973
    @autumnleaves5973 10 місяців тому

    I love how you put the sources directly to the video!

  • @krishankyadav8486
    @krishankyadav8486 Рік тому +1897

    I am SO curious to see how this pairs up with finn lmao

    • @andrewcapra7153
      @andrewcapra7153 Рік тому

      Finn's about to wrench open the third eye of all the libertarian tech-bro femboy-likers and make them collectively realize that their ideology is stupid.

    • @guyfawkes5012
      @guyfawkes5012 Рік тому +122

      pretty much just for comedic relief, so not in a major way :)

    • @crashcoptr
      @crashcoptr Рік тому +12

      Since the vid is about the ethics of rich people, there's no way that F1nn's top donor, TenMuses, is unmentioned. The guy donated $25k to transgender relief just because F1nn was about to end Girl Month one time. He promised $300k to charity for Finn to get breast implants, but then compromised just to have Finn learn a girl voice and do voice training.
      Apparently he's just a surgeon who made good choices with investing his money, and he's now free to just cross off items on his bucket list. Comically large donations to a femboy livestreamer were apparently on that list.

    • @guyfawkes5012
      @guyfawkes5012 Рік тому +50

      @CrashCoptr Nope isn't mentioned, just a short clip where F1nn gives 50,000 to charity which might relate to that

    • @Shukovsky
      @Shukovsky Рік тому +4

      SAME

  • @idontevenknow9758
    @idontevenknow9758 Рік тому +492

    The section on how the EA movement doesn't listen really spoke to me cause its very true. In the last couple of years in tech that claims to be helping people and all these programs, they are headed by people whose focus is really more on optics then trying to solve problems. They are still living the billionaire lifestyle. The Theranos scandal was all about making a product that could help people, but it was headed by someone who was deeply paranoid, a bully and not remotely suitable for the job. Its such a jarring disconnect.

    • @Rig0r_M0rtis
      @Rig0r_M0rtis Рік тому +31

      Well if you look like you're trying to help as many people as possible there is less chance somebody starts to seriously ask why aren't you paying any taxes. The only reason the rich do charity is because it's cheaper than taxes.

    • @idontevenknow9758
      @idontevenknow9758 Рік тому +13

      @@Rig0r_M0rtis I agree it is true that there are a fair amount of the rich that do this for tax reasons but I think like the video shows there are those in higher income brackets that was to actually use their money to do good but there is a fundamental leadership problem and it’s this tightrope you have to walk on with making money and trying to be helpful. Money has a way of tainting the entire process if not kept in check at all times. Like with Sam in the end he was spending lavishly at a hotel. Money has that affect on people because it works. If you suddenly don’t have to worry about money anymore I think it can be easy to fall into the mindset where you start to see the poor less as people who need help and more as social capital and “lesser then you” a mentality the ultra and legacy rich still have.

    • @amw6846
      @amw6846 Рік тому

      ​@@idontevenknow9758 there's also the problem that the wealthy want to be the ones who define what "good" is and it will never be anything that challenges their ability to be the decider.

    • @florencewilliams5540
      @florencewilliams5540 Рік тому

      How do you feel about GiveDirectly

    • @Rig0r_M0rtis
      @Rig0r_M0rtis Рік тому +10

      @Denise Jaimes Taxation is bad because there's war in Ukraine? Can you elaborate?

  • @Zedigan
    @Zedigan Рік тому

    Thank you for your videos. You manage to tackle the kind of complex topics that would usually make me jaded and frustrated. Your unique humour and video style has helped reignite my interest in philosophy

  • @wolfgangbudde2737
    @wolfgangbudde2737 11 місяців тому +1

    Once again a really great video: lots of information and surprising insights, presented in a fun way, I really like that - including the final comments 😃

  • @trudyannbuckley
    @trudyannbuckley Рік тому +350

    The closed captioning during the credits is so sweet and pure. Love PhilosophyTube CC. I'm rooting for you, Abigail! :)

    • @shonen84
      @shonen84 Рік тому +11

      Thanks for pointing it out! I had otherwise missed them. The cc are indeed incredibly adorable

    • @sofdemi8042
      @sofdemi8042 Рік тому +8

      lol I went back and watched the credits bc of this comment. I loved the little hidden treat

    • @dulloddity
      @dulloddity Рік тому

      I'm so glad Abigail is trying to keep herself grounded while also growing. In case she reads this, the quality of the visuals seems to always be better than the last. This one was a little bit light on some of the deeper philosophy but on the whole the quality of that also increases over time. I hope you can manage to continue making content that makes me think, consider, and ponder while also having the career you'd like. I value your insights and the philosophical context even when I disagree so I know a different view and can empathize with those who espouse it.

  • @AdrikThorsen
    @AdrikThorsen Рік тому +470

    An alternative perspective on Longtermism might be some of the decisions that John Green has talked about in various videos and podcasts. At one point he struggled with whether to donate money NOW to charities, or to invest his money and then as it grows, to donate it to charity. He decided that saving lives NOW affects the future just as much and should count as an "investment" as much as financial "investments" of larger monetary sums later on.

    • @themasstermwahahahah
      @themasstermwahahahah Рік тому +32

      Nerdfighter here. I agree that we should donate now because charities invest into mankind, which has better returns on investment than growing a pile of money.
      However, I don't think this is a good criticism of longtermism.
      Longtermism doesn't recommend pooling a giant pile of money to be used at some future date, it also wants us to donate now to things such as biological weapons regulation efforts, as they have a chance of killing most humans in the future. They want to prevent a catastrophe before it happens.
      Technically if investment into people directly, has a greater return on investment than investing in companies, it should be included in longtermism, but I agree with you that it is not a big enough focus within the Longtermism sect of EA. There is little discussion of improving the economic structure of 3rd world countries because it is hard to solve government economic policy by brute force donating money.

    • @tompw3141
      @tompw3141 Рік тому +5

      If humanity lasts just another 10,000 years then waiting on 100 years of investment before donating is worth it if the ongoing effects are 1% greater.

    • @AicyDC
      @AicyDC Рік тому +16

      ​@@tompw3141 nice pascal's mugging

    • @verybarebones
      @verybarebones Рік тому

      ​@@tompw3141 after 100 years you wont be there to do anything with that money. And humanity might end sooner because people like you it was better to wait a century to start trying to make the world a better place

    • @atalanalfrun2296
      @atalanalfrun2296 Рік тому +9

      @@tompw3141 Except to the people that experience pain during those 100 years because we're sitting on our thumbs waiting for an investment to grow before helping people with their problem.

  • @johanmalm8378
    @johanmalm8378 9 місяців тому +1

    This one's a gem! Thank you!

  • @Dogfurforever
    @Dogfurforever 11 місяців тому +1

    And always beautiful tune at the end!
    Blooming eck…. You need to be famous and quick … you have so much to teach people

  • @CynicalLight
    @CynicalLight Рік тому +672

    Finding out that Lindsey Ellis is doing well and still making content was nice to hear. She's one of the good ones.

    • @skeetsmcgrew3282
      @skeetsmcgrew3282 Рік тому +32

      She has never struck me as particularly happy or stable so I agree. I was honestly expecting to hear about her tragic early death as dark as that sounds

    • @ninab.4540
      @ninab.4540 Рік тому +58

      ​@@skeetsmcgrew3282 Let's be happy that didn't happen

    • @2003jackb
      @2003jackb Рік тому +50

      ​​@@skeetsmcgrew3282 Considering how much hate has been thrown at her for so long, that's not surprising. Much love to her

    • @misirtere9836
      @misirtere9836 Рік тому +15

      Although I do have to wonder... it feels to me like Nebula using her as part of their sponsor read is some kind of ethical violation, even if she ostensibly agreed to it. Like, consider *why* she left youtube in the first place, and how that's still the reason she's not back. Using the fact that she's on your platform is directly connected to that original absence. That doesn't seem right to me.

    • @skeetsmcgrew3282
      @skeetsmcgrew3282 Рік тому +42

      @@misirtere9836 What? Because they have a mutual interest in making money and her fans would want to know she's making content?

  • @epicanova
    @epicanova Рік тому +334

    MacAskill's line about the butterfly effect is copium distilled to its most pure form, it's impossible to make decisions based on that. In reality they're creating an emotional barrier by fixating on non-existent future people. Those future people may have whatever motives you assign to them, so you can be selective about whether or not to show them altruism - as opposed to someone who is right in front of you and visibly struggling, where refusing to be altruistic requires you to admit your own flaws. It's a self-defense mechanism that allows you to be altruistic only when it suits you, and still tell yourself that you're the good guy.

    • @Dancestar1981
      @Dancestar1981 Рік тому +12

      Knew it was always a cop out

    • @skeetsmcgrew3282
      @skeetsmcgrew3282 Рік тому +45

      This reminds of people who are like "Im so glad I was a heroin addict for 10 years, sleeping on the street and being a prostitute for drugs. Because in rehab I met my future partner, we now have three kids and both have great jobs. Totally worth it." Like, come on, there was a million ways you could have been happy without ever having tragedy, and there's a million ways you could have died a horrible death while you were an addict. Random chance isn't an excuse for literally any motivation or action

    • @meneldal
      @meneldal Рік тому +7

      Think about people who are born right now, that's more than enough and they will already face tons of problems.

    • @JD-jl4yy
      @JD-jl4yy Рік тому +6

      You're doing the same thing as the slave owners of the past and meat eaters of the present, being too close minded in the extent of your moral circle.
      Also, saying future people don't deserve to be cared about because we don't know their intentions is just straight up cruel.

    • @SharienGaming
      @SharienGaming Рік тому +36

      @@JD-jl4yy and ignoring currently living and suffering people for the benefit of ephermeral future people is any less cruel?

  • @valencafiero
    @valencafiero 2 місяці тому

    Thank you so much for the video!

  • @comedyianca
    @comedyianca 10 місяців тому

    The captions for the music were the coup de grace!

  • @sloanethefullygrown5086
    @sloanethefullygrown5086 Рік тому +713

    My knee jerk reaction to EA was "if the system wasn't bad this idea would be amazing." But then comes the idea that if the economic system we currently operate under wasn't bad, then the systemic issues EAs intend on solving would be much more manageable or even nonexistent. I feel as though EAs with money are truly attempting to help, but their wealth and detachment have created a mindset that only places gauze over exposed bone.

    • @jonathanjernigan3865
      @jonathanjernigan3865 Рік тому +70

      This is the biggest problem I have with the movement. Working so much with the rich and advising towards high-paying jobs makes it incredibly entrenched in the current system

    • @russianbear0027
      @russianbear0027 Рік тому +34

      What an image you've conjured in that metaphor. Gauze over bone. Nice.

    • @Tomatoffel
      @Tomatoffel Рік тому +11

      What I dont get is that you need a movement for this idea. Cause found this idea myself and never heard of this movement. You get a job with money and can then give more money on the things you value the most in society.

    • @TomOmnom
      @TomOmnom Рік тому +56

      When a philosophy judges that giving the rich more money is good, actually, because they can decide where to spend that money with logic™ and data© it's obviously not capable of making any meaningful systemic changes. After all, our current system is very well optimized to provide more money to the richest members of society. They obviously got wealthy by being the best rational actors, so they must also be the best at deciding where those resources can help the most people, and unbiased logic has indicated that their wallets are the most useful place for all that money.

    • @Tomatoffel
      @Tomatoffel Рік тому +7

      @@TomOmnom the philosophy isnt about giving the rich more money.

  • @mollymcallister1671
    @mollymcallister1671 Рік тому +364

    "I was hired as an Ethics Consultant for a major Banking Firm." This won't end well.

    • @BD-yl5mh
      @BD-yl5mh Рік тому

      Do we ever get to see the clip of Abby saying “Oi bankers. You wanna help? Quit your jobs you dense fucks”

    • @RobinKerkhof
      @RobinKerkhof Рік тому +3

      🤣

    • @ZoeBrain
      @ZoeBrain Рік тому +27

      Of course you didn't get paid. You were lucky the travel and accommodation were refunded.
      Not joking, I did some work on Ethics for the UN some 20 years ago. Still waiting for expenses and invoice amount.

    • @anacecilia1387
      @anacecilia1387 Рік тому +3

      And she didn't even get paid!

    • @davidkonevky7372
      @davidkonevky7372 Рік тому +13

      sounds like an oxymoron sadly 😭

  • @MichaelMoore99
    @MichaelMoore99 Рік тому +5

    22:08 "Wait what?"
    I had to pause the video there to laugh a good hearty laugh because that's one of the funniest jokes I've heard in WEEKS! 😀

  • @dkipu266
    @dkipu266 9 місяців тому +2

    At the core of “Great Compassion” (of Tibetan Buddhism) many of these ideas were explored from a different, deeper thought perspective. This feels like an intellectualized version of how apply a sort of thought mathematics to decide the most impactful effect (reducing maximum suffering per dollar) with your charitable dollars. A sort of external appearing Bodhicitta effort.. without needing to do the difficult inner work the buddhist path requires.

  • @roseo6057
    @roseo6057 Рік тому +156

    Wasn't expecting a F1nn5ter guest spot! Love him so much.

  • @delicateconstitution
    @delicateconstitution Рік тому +368

    I was expecting the ‘curing blindness’ examples to link up with the content on communities self-determining their aid, and on systems-reform. Cure isn’t always bad, but ableds weaponise it against our political organising. Our blind friends also demand workplace rights, Internet screenreader compatibility standards, accessible city/transit planning, etc. The stuff that makes bankers uncomfortable and EA overlooks bc measurability bias.
    Altogether still loved the video and congrats on the Prince xx

    • @zkkitty2436
      @zkkitty2436 Рік тому +1

      this. EA and similar idealogies fully ignore the material demands of disabled or impoverished communities, and operate on the assumption that we are too ignorant or downtrodden to meaningfully organize at all. it doesn't surprise me that this idea is based on the Rockefeller and gilded age era model of philanthropy, given its inherent racism, ableism, and paternalism.

    • @maxenswlfr1877
      @maxenswlfr1877 Рік тому +19

      Mr Beast kinda reminds me of how the west treats their former colonies
      Instead of giving them the means to invest in markets and open malls, they give food. That way, the former colonies are still dependant on western countries but can't say anything because they're being helped and should be grateful

    • @themasstermwahahahah
      @themasstermwahahahah Рік тому +7

      EA focus so little on economic development in third world countries, which would probably be the most effective, just because economic government policy isn't a problem you can have by throwing money at it. It reminds me of the guy looking for his keys by the street lamp because that is where the light is.
      That said, most other international charities do the same thing, so this isn't just a problem with EA.

    • @BusinessWolf1
      @BusinessWolf1 Рік тому +1

      Screenreader compatibility standards are upheld by everyone in web dev, even in personal projects.

  • @DougHoward-rc9qw
    @DougHoward-rc9qw Рік тому

    Your journey has been fascinating and your presentations are immaculate.

  • @atlaslife3800
    @atlaslife3800 Рік тому +10

    I love the discussion on longtermism. I think that when we refer to the future, we refer to our own vision of what the future may be. Therefore, all sorts of evidence may alter the future, because it lies entirely within our perception and we can trace the potential pathways in which a scenario might realize or not in the future. As someone who is dedicated to forecasts in my real job, I must always make forecasts under various competing and sometimes conflicting assumptions to robustify whatever trend I am forecasting. Simply asserting logical deductions about the future does not make us good predictors of it, or even of other factors' influence on it.

  • @torfinnzempel6123
    @torfinnzempel6123 Рік тому +86

    "I didn't mean to commit one of the largest frauds ever, I just took all the steps to help me get away with it for as long as possible!" - SBF

  • @r7calvin
    @r7calvin Рік тому +321

    IMO, the weakness of longtermism isn't so much the obsession around outcomes (if morality isn't effective and practical, then it's more of an academic exercise/posturing than truly about empathy anyway).
    The issue is that you can argue for almost any position if you're allowed to arbitrarily expand the scope of the problem as you see fit.
    Part of this is just due to the limitations of extrapolating far into the future - something project managers are keenly aware of. We can barely give accurate estimates of tasks that take on the order of days, much less create and follow a detailed schedule spanning months. That's why the preferred approach is to iterate on short intervals and constantly readjust to unexpected issues or changes in requirements, landscape, knowledge, technologies, etc.
    Similarly, when you try to predict moral outcomes centuries into the future, things become so fuzzy that everyone is pretty much just making random-ass guesses. At that point it's purely about rhetorical ability rather than logic- and evidence-based actions. This lack of rigor and abundance of subjectivity is fertile grounds for injecting doubt into difficult courses of action the near-term benefits of which we can actually be extremely confident in.

    • @npitzer
      @npitzer 9 місяців тому +30

      THIS. Reminds me of how even just a few decades ago we had movies coming out with ideas of how they thought the future would look like and they were completely inaccurate. The way Effective Altruist works based on Longtermism is funny to me because it’s essentially people with a shit ton of money being given the authority of acting on behalf of charity based on their ideas of what the future would look like and what they should invest in based on that, except they have no expertise whatsoever to reach even a sliver of accuracy, thus wasting money on hypotheticals instead of the actual people in need or on correcting/tearing down the systems that allow people to be in need in the first place.

    • @DeutscherDummer
      @DeutscherDummer 7 місяців тому

      It seemed to me the jump from pascal's robber (and ideal/theoretic problem) to the talk about cloud and the rich (practical/implementation) was quite an abrupt one in this video.
      I don't think the example is a great point against welfarism concerned with future generations: There is no way, with our current understanding of the world, that a wizard with future seeing powers is possible. Sure, all of that could be wrong as well, but then we would lose nearly all meaning, including all claims of rationality. We don't have a framework/conceptual scheme in which the wallet inspector is what he claims and only a very peculiar definition of "rational" under which we should give it to him. There would be no issue with his demand if what he claimed would fit into our framework. In fact, in a world of reliable divination wizards (terrible subclass imo), we should give it to him. But no such certainty about the (far) future exists and we are often mistaken in our attempt to predict even simpler trends, while the consequences of extremely complex situations seem almost impossible to know. Putting your point in different words, there is a fundamental information problem.
      But when we regard those in the near future, there are some very likely harms (like the consequence of current climate change) we should seek to avoid for not just our sake, but those not yet born. No matter if their specific identity and thus the preferences they will develop are not yet set, there are some harms that apply to pretty much everyone no matter their personal preferences. Avoiding those should be uncontroversional.
      So while I agree with much of her criticism of the actual movement afterwards (as depicted here, don't know much beyond that tbh), consequentialist theory doesn't seem to be the issue.

    • @SickegalAlien
      @SickegalAlien 5 місяців тому +10

      The other ingredients being
      1. the deliberate ignorance and downplaying of historical injustice,
      And 2.
      an elaborate rhetorical repertoire to smear anyone interested in the context out of which modern problems arise as "shortsighted"

    • @KucheKlizma
      @KucheKlizma 3 місяці тому +1

      ​@@SickegalAlienChosing between the imaginary past or the imaginary future is a false dichotomy. I personaly chose to imagine lovecraftian horrors in cosmic proportions beyond your pale imagination.

  • @patricknorton5788
    @patricknorton5788 Рік тому +1

    Absolutely awesome. Thanks so very much.

  • @Dogfurforever
    @Dogfurforever 11 місяців тому +1

    I’ve now watched 3 videos in a row. I’m hooked … you are like a genius future superhero.

  • @dacksonflux
    @dacksonflux Рік тому +342

    I always questioned the 'person asking for your help not getting it in lieu of someone who didn't ask you' scenario. Missionaries are a good example of this phenomena.

  • @Fredreegz
    @Fredreegz Рік тому +75

    The wallet inspector thought experiment is interesting because, as the supposed reward increases, the likelihood of it decreases. I'd argue that the monetary reward _never_ outstrips the probability of being rewarded, so it never becomes optimal to hand over your wallet.
    If someone says "Give me your wallet, and tomorrow, I'll give you a hundred pounds" you wouldn't believe them. But if someone said "Give me your wallet, and tomorrow I'll give you a billion pounds" you'd believe them exponentially less.

    • @warptens5652
      @warptens5652 Рік тому +6

      that's not what an exponential is, but yes
      although one might argue that the inspector can make up an arbitratily large reward, but it might not be rational for you to say the probability of that reward is, for example, less than 1 in 10^10000, because a reasonably skeptical person shouldn't be that confident in anything.

    • @youmukonpaku3168
      @youmukonpaku3168 Рік тому +6

      I subvert Pascal's Mugging by carrying two wallets.

    • @dylanrichardson199
      @dylanrichardson199 Рік тому

      That's true. The answer is usually to just say that "wallets" are a stand-in for utility or "hedons". Promises of eternal and unlimited bliss/torture.

    • @user-dg3ug7ny5d
      @user-dg3ug7ny5d Рік тому +2

      @@youmukonpaku3168 I carry my old bus card in the instance this happens because I thought it'd be funny if it ever does. Like, "Enjoy my hotlisted bus card and library card I guess? Education is important :)"

  • @aymerichm8835
    @aymerichm8835 Рік тому

    I feel a strong urge to binge watch your channel!

  • @jedibltch
    @jedibltch 7 місяців тому +1

    I've discovered your channel today. Your videos are amazing. I'm hooked :)

  • @UnlaunderedShirt
    @UnlaunderedShirt Рік тому +205

    Philosophy is baller and all, but I'm starting to think these videos are more of an opportunity for Abigail to play dress up with some of the most fire costumes and fits in the universe

  • @theautisticguitarist7560
    @theautisticguitarist7560 Рік тому +206

    Ah, yet another episode of "Abby Writes Off Fetish Gear As A Business Expense"

    • @Broodsugar
      @Broodsugar Рік тому +3

      Monetise and expense narcissism.

    • @ahoney2290
      @ahoney2290 Рік тому +2

      Glad somebody said it

    • @KayaDiMaria
      @KayaDiMaria Рік тому +21

      We love a savvy queen

    • @leeosborne3793
      @leeosborne3793 Рік тому +4

      That's living the dream right there.

    • @thoughtfulskeptic7529
      @thoughtfulskeptic7529 Рік тому +2

      Jealous much? In all seriousness, don't knock it until you've tried it. When I was a performer, I could write off most of my clothing purchses as costumes. I even worked with a couple of seamstresses to make some amazing costumes that I'd never have been able to create on my own.

  • @numberhaver7795
    @numberhaver7795 9 місяців тому +6

    I found this video certainly more balanced than expected. If you'd like to get into why some people in the Effective Altruism community defend billionaires, you can check out Scott Alexander's "Against Against Billionaire Philanthropy".
    Edit: Allow me to clarify that it's mostly about defending billionaires being philanthropic over buying expensive things for themselves, but it can extend further.

  • @juliajean6731
    @juliajean6731 Рік тому

    It's my first time seeing a video from this channel. Great video and what an aesthetic

  • @victorhogrefe7154
    @victorhogrefe7154 Рік тому +227

    It is absurd to think that SBF was motivated by effective altruism to commit fraud. He himself admitted that he just used the EA language as a game to prop up his image as a selfless billionaire, while he was committing fraud.

    • @themasstermwahahahah
      @themasstermwahahahah Рік тому +9

      I agree, he was also a major Biden donor for example, just playing the hungry for power games.

    • @Chris-ci8vs
      @Chris-ci8vs Рік тому

      @@themasstermwahahahah and a dark donor to Republicans.

    • @tamago5765
      @tamago5765 Рік тому +42

      @@themasstermwahahahah He was also fuelling a bunch of money into republicans. Based on the court filing he boosted both sides with about ~$100 milion keeping the contribiutions roughly equal. It's a very common thing big corporations do to help them hide the shady shit they're doing.

    • @ratatatuff
      @ratatatuff Рік тому +18

      I actually thought that exactly that was implied in the video.

    • @SkySong6161
      @SkySong6161 Рік тому +19

      @@tamago5765 It also means that no matter who wins, the winner owes them something.

  • @DerLibertin
    @DerLibertin Рік тому +112

    Honestly I really love listening to you and getting into the vibe of philosophy with enthusiasm - just for F1nn5ter to jump in every now and then just for a quick meme. I like the vibe this video is giving me

    • @collinbeal
      @collinbeal Рік тому +14

      Yeah haha F1nn5ter is here to do what he does best, look good, and he looks good while doing it!

  • @LaGuerre19
    @LaGuerre19 8 місяців тому

    This channel is sooooo good. My new binge
    ❤🧡💛💚💙💜

  • @littlebrothermoneywithmich6178

    Thank you for addressing your accent. I was trying to figure out if it was a genuine and almost missed this great video because of it!

  • @jarrakul
    @jarrakul Рік тому +259

    As someone who's interested in this movement, but not really part of it, I appreciate this look at it. I'm reminded of a lot of the criticisms of utilitarian ethics, which itself seems pretty unquestionably part of the same intellectual branch as EA. Like, there's a core idea that seems pretty reasonable, but actually implementing it requires us to do a lot of calculation that we don't really have the information to do. And depending on how you fill in the gaps, the assumptions you bring to the table, you can go off in some very different and potentially pretty awful directions.

    • @TheLastScoot
      @TheLastScoot Рік тому +4

      What's the alternative to working with assumptions, and filling in gaps? Simply assuming that certain moral rules are better, and cross those gaps more effectively?
      It just sounds weird to say it's a critique of a certain branch of philosophy when it applies to all of them right now.

    • @cf453
      @cf453 Рік тому +15

      The short lesson is, “Don’t try to be too clever or too novel, because you’re neither as clever or as novel as you think.” Robert McNamara thought he was very clever, but Vietnam didn’t turn out so well. There are strong parallels between Bob’s hubris, and that of EA proponents.
      Doing charity (or anything) by “feels” has merit because those emotions have stood the test of millions of years of mammalian social evolution. Of course we should examine them, but it would be foolish to dismiss them.

    • @jamesbedwell8793
      @jamesbedwell8793 Рік тому +10

      @@TheLastScoot The major issue here that exposes utilitarianism and effective altruism to this kind of criticism is that they are sometimes claimed to be rigorous and scientific. You're right that every branch of philosophy requires some assumptions to fill in gaps in our knowledge, and if you disagree about the assumptions then the final conclusion is meaningless. However, most branches accept this, and in the modern day a lot of philosophy is about questioning these assumptions. The proponents of effective altruism and utilitarianism approaches typically (but not always) ignore a lot of these assumptions.

    • @daleglass7349
      @daleglass7349 Рік тому +2

      All moral systems have pitfalls.
      Eg, the typical criticism of utilitarianism is that you might be tempted to harvest healthy people for their organs. Kill 1 to save 5. But besides such arguments typically pretending long term consequences aren't a thing (like how would people react to that?), you have to consider that deontology also has the same kinds of pitfalls. In deontology all that matters is rules, not consequences. So if your rules somehow say that somebody isn't a person, then you can kill them with impunity, and no amount of carnage changes anything because consequences are not part of that system.
      I think ultimately, charitable organizations are far closer to utilitarianism than to deontology. People form charities to enact specific changes in the world. That's a desired consequence, and something utilitarianism is equipped to work with.

    • @hornylink
      @hornylink Рік тому +3

      @@jamesbedwell8793 yeah when all the puff pieces about effective altruism came out it triggered like a dozen red flags from just one article. the pitch featured such gems as "we all know the preceding philosophy that gets us to this world view" and "if you want to actually help the poor you should first become rich BY ANY MEANS NECESSARY"

  • @ashleywilmore6038
    @ashleywilmore6038 Рік тому +238

    I clicked this video thinking I had time to wrap myself up in it - and within the first two minutes I was just thinking to myself "God, I love her". Ready to dive in, but I just wanted to say thank you for what you do Abigail - you keep my faith in humanity alive.

    • @MrSpying247
      @MrSpying247 Рік тому +13

      not gunna lie i was a bit on the fence when i saw that first outfit, but then the devil nun outfit had me realize she just likes dressing up in costumes. and then the bit with the femboy walking by in the background at the exact moment she says there are stranger things your son could be doing just completely killed me. instant sub, i too love her.

  • @pauljohnson271
    @pauljohnson271 9 місяців тому

    Please never quit.
    Keep it up!