Podcast: Magnus Vinding on reducing suffering, why AI progress is likely to be gradual and distributed and how to reason about politics

On today’s episode of the Utilitarian Podcast, I talk with Magnus Vinding. Magnus is the co-founder of Center For Reducing Suffering and the author of the books Suffering-Focused Ethics and Reasoned Politics. 

We begin by talking about suffering-focused ethics, and the worldview that comes with focusing on suffering. We discuss the risk of causing suffering and the possibility of abolishing suffering. 

Then we discuss intelligence in humans and in AIs. We discuss why humanity has gained power over the Earth and what this tells us about how AIs will develop. 

Lastly, we discuss how humanity could improve our political systems, and whether it’s feasible to expect such improvements given human nature.  

As always, you can contact me at [email protected] 

Suffering-Focused Ethics:

https://magnusvinding.com/2020/05/31/suffering-focused-ethics-defense-and-implications/

Reflections on Intelligence:

https://www.smashwords.com/books/view/655938

Contra AI FOOM Reading List:

https://magnusvinding.com/2017/12/16/a-contra-ai-foom-reading-list/

On the analogy between chimps and humans:

https://magnusvinding.com/2020/06/04/a-deceptive-analogy/ 

Some reasons not to expect a future growth explosion: 

https://magnusvinding.com/2020/05/04/the-future-of-growth-near-zero-growth-rates/