“AIs Without Minds” Without Convincing Arguments
Why I disagree with Ellen Burns
Philosophy
Bentham's Bulldog.
A blog about utilitarianism, ethics, and effective altruism.
Recent essays
30 of 143Hell is Suspicious
And likely, as traditionally conceived, non-existent
Ban Foie Gras!
If you’re in DC, vote yes on Initiative 86
Only Effective Altruists Should be Anti-Effective Altruism
The only situation in which you should think that the effective altruism movement has been bad is if you share many EA views
The Argument For God From Knowledge
We know many things. That makes it likelier that God exists.
Unpopular Effective Altruist Views Are Simply Correct
EAs think some non-standard things. But the general public thinks--or acts like it thinks--some much less plausible things
Impactful Places to Donate
And why now is a good time to give
Trump Derangement Syndrome Has Been Vindicated
Those who were hysterical in 2016 were substantially correct in their predictions about Trump
Talking With Simon Goldstein About Why Biological Naturalism is False
Watch now (78 mins) | The leading theory for ruling out AI consciousness is very implausible
Nature is Wrong About AI Consciousness
Three eminent thinkers published a piece in Nature arguing that AI is very unlikely to be conscious. Their arguments are unsuccessful.
Private Law For AIs
Why giving AI the ability to own property, enforce contracts, and sue would benefit humans
If Every Blade of Grass Screamed
Morning fields of amber pain
Effective Altruists Should Grow a Spine
Your fave is problematic effective altruism
Schmotte and Bailey: Pledge
A common complaint about EA is definitively wrong
Giant Dialogues
Do giants matter in the aggregate more than humans?
Leif Wenar’s Bad Criticisms of Effective Altruism
Is Sam Bankman Fried the person who “most fully lived out [Effective Altruism’s] credo to do the most good with the resources available”
*Of Course* Conscious AI Would Matter Morally
Assuming it has reasonable amounts of welfare. And it likely will.
Deontologists Must Hope They Do the Wrong Thing
Even at the moment when they do it
Biological Naturalism is False
Consciousness doesn’t need biology
Contra Steven Pinker
Steven Pinker went on a podcast to explain his views on AI welfare and risk. The arguments were totally wrong.
I’m Disappointed in Leftists on AI
The common leftist view on AI is both wrong and bad
Against the Indefinite Slave Plan
AI liberation later
Against the Court of Public Opinion
Justice is best served by jury, not by internet show-trial
Responding to my Critics on Insects
Contra Nedelskiy and Ecclesia Antiqua
The World is Weird, so Catholic Miracles Aren’t Convincing
Sure, I can’t explain some details of the case, but there’s a lot of stuff I can’t explain
Avoiding Atrocity
Evil is older than empires.
I Underestimated AI Risk
The threat is much greater than I thought
Take AI Consciousness Seriously!
We should be uncertain about it and treat it as a live hypothesis, not a settled absurdity
Atheists Should Pray
Unless they’re almost certain that God doesn’t exist
Against the Anti-EA Smear Campaign
What effective altruism really is