I certainly understand the questionable value of random humans.
However; If you assume the fixed presence of altruism (and rationality isn’t going to consider doing something else as mentioned—i.e. self-learning resources). I still think that altruism can have a rationality applied to it and doing so would lead to at least a consideration of more effectiveness of altruism and only possibly to most effectiveness as the EA movement promote.
When applied: Giving $5 to the homeless person nearby may feel like an altruistic act, when questioned; giving $5 worth of food might be a more altruistically helpful act to the wellbeing of the person. (although debatably giving money might help more, and also giving clothes might help more depending on the situation, etc, etc...)
There is a place for rationality applied to altruism, but rationality applied to life may not yield altruism.
On a simple level—rationality being an achievement of “multiplicit winning at life”; a person’s definition of winning at their life may not include helping others or altruistic purposes/processes.
I certainly understand the questionable value of random humans.
However; If you assume the fixed presence of altruism (and rationality isn’t going to consider doing something else as mentioned—i.e. self-learning resources). I still think that altruism can have a rationality applied to it and doing so would lead to at least a consideration of more effectiveness of altruism and only possibly to most effectiveness as the EA movement promote.
When applied: Giving $5 to the homeless person nearby may feel like an altruistic act, when questioned; giving $5 worth of food might be a more altruistically helpful act to the wellbeing of the person. (although debatably giving money might help more, and also giving clothes might help more depending on the situation, etc, etc...)
There is a place for rationality applied to altruism, but rationality applied to life may not yield altruism.
On a simple level—rationality being an achievement of “multiplicit winning at life”; a person’s definition of winning at their life may not include helping others or altruistic purposes/processes.
Is that a fair assessment?
Yes, I think it’s a fair statement.