Kevin Simler

thanks Mat. I don't think my reasoning is flawed though, because no _individual_ can fix things (for their kids) on their own.

there is plenty individuals can do eg: (1) vote for pols that will enact legislation (2) behavior change (eg go vegetarian)

but the pragmatic EV on those actions is 0. (Actually negative when you account for the costs.)

when you go vegan, you don't nudge the climate more than 0.0000001%. and meanwhile, you incur the costs of veganism.

problem of climate change (existential risk to humanity) is near infinite so that tiny percentage represents huge value

oh, i disagree climate change is an existential risk. i guess that's where we differ. with your estimates, your logic makes sense

ok. but separately why do you not count individual action as part of a collective action (e.g. voting) to be fair game?

because the individual action (w/in collective action problem) is by definition -EV, and i'm methodologically assuming selfishness