I’d love to ask if you could clarify your thoughts on the longtermism movement? I posted a lengthy response to the post you wrote a month or so ago about your interview with Elise Bohan, but you didn’t respond (not that you’re obliged to respond to every subscriber comment, of course).
I hope this doesn’t come across the wrong way because I’m a big fan of your work, love your podcast, and feel deeply aligned with your thinking on most issues, but I’ve felt a bit confounded by the interviews you’ve done with William MacAskill especially (less so Elise Bohan, as I felt that you pushed back on a lot of the things she was saying) and the way you’ve spoken so positively about longtermism in a couple of your Instagram stories.
The longtermism movement seems so at odds with your values, beliefs and thinking around other issues, and I would love to see you interview some of its vocal critics, such as Émile P. Torres and Timnit Gebru, to bring some of the important critiques of these movements to your audience. Longtermism is a philosophy that’s rooted in eugenics and white supremacy and one (along with the related EA movement) that I personally find abhorrent and terrifying.
Aside from this, I absolutely agree with your points about Dutton’s push for nuclear power, fast furniture, Penny Wong’s decision on Jerusalem, and the Just Stop Oil vs vegan milk throwing protestors!
I also love that beautiful quote from ‘This One Wild and Precious Life’.
I have a crush on Kara Swisher...you can totally have Scott. She be the brains of that duo. How can you stand all Scott’s constant sexual innuendos? It’s childish.
Thanks for mentioning the outrageously frustrating nuclear energy discussion, I hoped you would.
As much as I enjoy your podcasts and the philosophy debates, I do at times feel that they are disconnected from reality and the lives of the masses. Our fellow citizens, who we need to help push good policy forward, I don't think are engaging with these philosophical conversations. Although I do think they're important, I worry they're happening in a bubble. They're more worried about paying the bills, working and getting to the weekend when they can shop, drink and binge TV. Maybe I'm wrong. Where is the bridge between philosophical debate in small circles and the every day life problems of the average person?
What I worry about profusely at the moment are these things below and I'm at a loss as to what to do about any of it!
- This ridiculous nuclear energy debate. We don't have time for it and I wish it could be shut down asap.
- I'm hearing that the cost of living is likely to push people away from a green energy transition because the average person will bear the cost for this. I worry that people will believe this and shy away from supporting it. Aside from the fact that if the last useless coalition gvt would have made more progress with the transition we wouldn't be at the mercy of the overseas increase in fossil fuels as a result of the Ukraine war - we just need to get it done. If that means the bulk of the people have to be on a tight budget in the interim then I'm ok with this. And I'm feeling the pinch as much as anyone! It's a sacrifice I'm willing to work through. I know that renewable energy is cheaper overall. Obviously I'd like it if the elite / rich felt the pinch as much as everyone else.
- Pesticide / chemical use on food. I've been learning so much about this and I'm horrified. I'm at a loss as to who to write to about this as it doesn't seem to be part of a mainstream conversation.
As always, thanks for all the brilliant work you do and for encouraging us to share our thoughts and feelings in this safe space :)
Hey Sarah,
I’d love to ask if you could clarify your thoughts on the longtermism movement? I posted a lengthy response to the post you wrote a month or so ago about your interview with Elise Bohan, but you didn’t respond (not that you’re obliged to respond to every subscriber comment, of course).
I hope this doesn’t come across the wrong way because I’m a big fan of your work, love your podcast, and feel deeply aligned with your thinking on most issues, but I’ve felt a bit confounded by the interviews you’ve done with William MacAskill especially (less so Elise Bohan, as I felt that you pushed back on a lot of the things she was saying) and the way you’ve spoken so positively about longtermism in a couple of your Instagram stories.
The longtermism movement seems so at odds with your values, beliefs and thinking around other issues, and I would love to see you interview some of its vocal critics, such as Émile P. Torres and Timnit Gebru, to bring some of the important critiques of these movements to your audience. Longtermism is a philosophy that’s rooted in eugenics and white supremacy and one (along with the related EA movement) that I personally find abhorrent and terrifying.
Aside from this, I absolutely agree with your points about Dutton’s push for nuclear power, fast furniture, Penny Wong’s decision on Jerusalem, and the Just Stop Oil vs vegan milk throwing protestors!
I also love that beautiful quote from ‘This One Wild and Precious Life’.
Siobhán x
I have a crush on Kara Swisher...you can totally have Scott. She be the brains of that duo. How can you stand all Scott’s constant sexual innuendos? It’s childish.
Sarah don't forget Charles eisenstein
He'd be great to chat with
Thanks x
Hi Sarah,
Thanks for mentioning the outrageously frustrating nuclear energy discussion, I hoped you would.
As much as I enjoy your podcasts and the philosophy debates, I do at times feel that they are disconnected from reality and the lives of the masses. Our fellow citizens, who we need to help push good policy forward, I don't think are engaging with these philosophical conversations. Although I do think they're important, I worry they're happening in a bubble. They're more worried about paying the bills, working and getting to the weekend when they can shop, drink and binge TV. Maybe I'm wrong. Where is the bridge between philosophical debate in small circles and the every day life problems of the average person?
What I worry about profusely at the moment are these things below and I'm at a loss as to what to do about any of it!
- This ridiculous nuclear energy debate. We don't have time for it and I wish it could be shut down asap.
- I'm hearing that the cost of living is likely to push people away from a green energy transition because the average person will bear the cost for this. I worry that people will believe this and shy away from supporting it. Aside from the fact that if the last useless coalition gvt would have made more progress with the transition we wouldn't be at the mercy of the overseas increase in fossil fuels as a result of the Ukraine war - we just need to get it done. If that means the bulk of the people have to be on a tight budget in the interim then I'm ok with this. And I'm feeling the pinch as much as anyone! It's a sacrifice I'm willing to work through. I know that renewable energy is cheaper overall. Obviously I'd like it if the elite / rich felt the pinch as much as everyone else.
- Pesticide / chemical use on food. I've been learning so much about this and I'm horrified. I'm at a loss as to who to write to about this as it doesn't seem to be part of a mainstream conversation.
As always, thanks for all the brilliant work you do and for encouraging us to share our thoughts and feelings in this safe space :)