Episode · Conversations with Tyler · 2022-08-10
Tyler Cowen & William MacAskill: books mentioned on Conversations with Tyler
William MacAskill on Effective Altruism, Moral Progress, and Cultural Innovation
When Tyler is reviewing grants for Emergent Ventures, he is struck by how the ideas of effective altruism have so clearly influenced many of the smartest applicants, particularly the younger ones.
Tyler Cowen recommended What We Owe the Future by William MacAskill, and discussed The Theory of Moral Sentiments by Adam Smith.
Books mentioned, in the order they came up
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The Theory of Moral Sentiments
The Theory of Moral Sentiments by Adam Smith is a seminal 1759 work of moral philosophy that examines the psychological foundations of human judgment, empathy, and social order.
Discussed“adam smith's theory of moral sentiments as a book over or underrated”
Where to get it
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What We Owe the Future
What We Owe the Future by William MacAskill is a foundational exploration of long-termism, arguing that humanity has a moral obligation to protect the vast potential of future generations.
Recommended“exactly last question to close this out what is it you will do next but just to remind our readers what we owe the future will's new book”
Where to get it
Other mentions in this episode (5) — ad reads, self-promotion and passing references, never counted
“i'm here with will mccaskill who is one of the most important and influential philosophers period and august 16th is the publication date of his new and excellent book what we owe the future”
“now perhaps you know in my book i argue there's enormous amounts of value at stake when we consider the long term”
“so the first is if you think that it's good to have more happy flourishing people um and i think like if people have sufficiently good lives then i think that's true i argue for it in what we are the future then by far and by overwhelming amounts”
“um in this book what we are the future is doing that an awful lot of people are going to promote cultural change around attitudes to non-human animals”
“that's kind of a follow-up to doing good better that is um really explaining kind of what is the effect of altruism community”