Objective 1. Increase the worldwide level of rationality
Objective 2. Guide humanity towards a more rational course for the future
Broadening the discussion on LW would serve to attract more members to the LW community and increase the LW community’s capability for contributing to Objective 1. However, you suggest in your post that diluting the community’s focus on transhumanist issues might repel individuals who could contribute to Objective 2.
You argue that Objective 2 is more important than Objective 1, and therefore, LW should restore its focus to transhumanist issues, even if this reduces the popularity of the site.
I disagree. While Objective 2 is more important in the absolute sense, I don’t think it is Less Wrong’s area of comparative advantage. The best team for addressing Objective 2 would be a small group of well-informed individuals with significant political influence and economic resources.
But I do think that the LW community has the potential of nurturing a larger rationality movement which could substantially advance Objective 1 in the near future, and therefore I think the site’s current trend of increasing emphasis on “everyday rationality” is the right direction.
There are two ways that LW could help the world:
Objective 1. Increase the worldwide level of rationality
Objective 2. Guide humanity towards a more rational course for the future
Broadening the discussion on LW would serve to attract more members to the LW community and increase the LW community’s capability for contributing to Objective 1. However, you suggest in your post that diluting the community’s focus on transhumanist issues might repel individuals who could contribute to Objective 2.
You argue that Objective 2 is more important than Objective 1, and therefore, LW should restore its focus to transhumanist issues, even if this reduces the popularity of the site.
I disagree. While Objective 2 is more important in the absolute sense, I don’t think it is Less Wrong’s area of comparative advantage. The best team for addressing Objective 2 would be a small group of well-informed individuals with significant political influence and economic resources.
But I do think that the LW community has the potential of nurturing a larger rationality movement which could substantially advance Objective 1 in the near future, and therefore I think the site’s current trend of increasing emphasis on “everyday rationality” is the right direction.