CRS researcher and co-founder Magnus Vinding made a recent appearance on the Utilitarian Podcast hosted by Gus Docker.
Magnus begins by presenting a number of arguments in favor of suffering-focused views and then proceeds to discuss their practical implications. In particular, he explores how we can best reduce suffering for people, animals, and potentially even artificial sentient beings in the future.
Gus and Magnus also discuss the development of artificial intelligence (AI) and its implications for reducing future suffering. Magnus argues that AI progress is likely to be gradual and distributed, as opposed to becoming a rapid and concentrated intelligence explosion.
Lastly, Magnus gives some details on his upcoming book, Reasoned Politics. He argues that our policy stances should rest on carefully reflected values and empirical evidence, and reviews some grounds for thinking that a more reasoned and less tribal approach to politics is possible.
You can listen on Apple Podcasts, Google Podcasts, Spotify, Listen Notes, Overcast, or the Utilitarian Podcast website.
For a more in-depth look at some of the ideas covered in this episode, see Magnus’s writings on these topics.
Suffering-Focused Ethics: https://magnusvinding.com/2020/05/31/suffering-focused-ethics-defense-and-implications/
Reflections on Intelligence: https://www.smashwords.com/books/view/655938
Contra AI FOOM Reading List: https://magnusvinding.com/2017/12/16/a-contra-ai-foom-reading-list/
On the analogy between chimps and humans: https://magnusvinding.com/2020/06/04/a-deceptive-analogy/
Some reasons not to expect a future growth explosion: https://magnusvinding.com/2020/05/04/the-future-of-growth-near-zero-growth-rates/