Who am I?
I (David Thorstad) am a philosopher at the Global Priorities Institute, Oxford. Our mission is to conduct and promote world-class, foundational academic research on how most effectively to do good. I am also a Junior Research Fellow at Kellogg College, Oxford. I am told we have very good breakfast.
What is this blog about?
There are many things that I like about effective altruism. There are some things that I do not like. The purpose of this blog is to explain the views and practices which I do not like, in order to produce positive change both within and outside of the movement.
Why should you listen to me?
I have a PhD in philosophy from Harvard University. For several years, I have been employed by the Global Priorities Institute, conducting foundational academic research on how to do good effectively.
I have written many academic research papers on global priorities research, spoken at several EAG conferences, consulted for Open Philanthropy, posted on the EA forum and been given monetary prizes for my posts.
But why should you listen to me? You should not. Read what I say, and make up your own mind. That is what any good philosopher would tell you to do, and I ask no more (and no less) from my readers.