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Culture War Roundup for the week of October 10, 2022

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One hint would be EA's connection to what they call "utilitarianism" (which is only vaguely related to the way people criticize EA's utilitarianism, most of which are strictly worse and somehow more life-denying). "the highest principle of morality is to maximize happiness, the overall balance of pleasure over pain". And taken literally - is a minority happy when they're starving because they didn't work? Is a gay person happy when they can't marry / can't come out? (What is happiness precisely?) EA is also related to - universalism, the idea that all people matter, no matter the differences of race or class or creed, and that we should give all we can to benefit them, prevent their suffering and deaths ... Sounds quite christian, left wing, and much more "democrat" than "republican". And not reactionary.

At least they take it seriously and take direct, complex action to achieve it though! The ability and will to do that is important, even if the goal is more bantus.

The claims that "it's just ingroup bias" and "they're just blue tribe" are failing to engage with the opposition's ideas in a way that's just harmful, not understanding something just because it seems enemy-ish is a big mistake, even if your only goal is to beat them. There's clearly a much deeper connection.