This is great, I would love to read more about how you believe Progress Studies could become a philosophy on par with Effective Altruism. I think an advantage EA has is its roots in John Stuart Mill and some of his contemporaries. Personally, I've found it harder to pinpoint which philosophers were early proponents of Progress Studies - my sense is that the idea of building, whatever the trials and tribulations, is fundamentally a Stoic idea. Indeed, I think Ayn Rand's ideas, particularly on the importance of individualism, are important if one would like to create an epistemic history of Progress Studies.
2jasoncrawford7moThanks Robert. I think progress studies needs a more well-defined value system.
I have gestured at “humanism”
[https://rootsofprogress.org/progress-humanism-agency] as the basis for this,
but it needs much more.
I agree that Rand's ideas are important here, particularly her view of
creative/productive work as a noble activity and of scientists, inventors and
business leaders as heroic figures.
Hi Jason,
This is great, I would love to read more about how you believe Progress Studies could become a philosophy on par with Effective Altruism. I think an advantage EA has is its roots in John Stuart Mill and some of his contemporaries. Personally, I've found it harder to pinpoint which philosophers were early proponents of Progress Studies - my sense is that the idea of building, whatever the trials and tribulations, is fundamentally a Stoic idea. Indeed, I think Ayn Rand's ideas, particularly on the importance of individualism, are important if one would like to create an epistemic history of Progress Studies.
Thanks for sharing this draft.