politicians like being able to actually change public behavior
But the ways in which they want to/can change them is strongly influenced by moral preferences among voters, donor, and civil servants. Why did they shift recycling or bring in clean air/water acts, rather than bringing in any of a million other policy changes they could have?
I agree that there is an interplay between morality and policy, but it’s not simple. My point is that when the two conflict, I think it’s clear that policy influences the actions of the public much more directly than moral arguments.
Moral values are heterogeneous in the US, and depending on where you look, you could say morals among the legislature influences policy, sometimes moral concerns among the populace coerces politicians, and sometimes morals evolve based on changes elsewhere—such as the ongoing dissolution of privacy.
The implication is twofold; first, it’s worth paying attention to policy, and second, policy change is (usually) a better instrumental goal for implementing change than convincing people of moral correctness. Both points are important for much of the EA movement, as well as for existential risk researchers looking to change the course of AI development.
But the ways in which they want to/can change them is strongly influenced by moral preferences among voters, donor, and civil servants. Why did they shift recycling or bring in clean air/water acts, rather than bringing in any of a million other policy changes they could have?
I agree that there is an interplay between morality and policy, but it’s not simple. My point is that when the two conflict, I think it’s clear that policy influences the actions of the public much more directly than moral arguments.
Moral values are heterogeneous in the US, and depending on where you look, you could say morals among the legislature influences policy, sometimes moral concerns among the populace coerces politicians, and sometimes morals evolve based on changes elsewhere—such as the ongoing dissolution of privacy.
The implication is twofold; first, it’s worth paying attention to policy, and second, policy change is (usually) a better instrumental goal for implementing change than convincing people of moral correctness. Both points are important for much of the EA movement, as well as for existential risk researchers looking to change the course of AI development.