Caplan and Hanson Interview Alex Epstein
Atypical questions about Fossil Future
A couple weeks ago, Robin Hanson and I interviewed Alex Epstein about his Fossil Future. Though Robin and I are both fans of this stunningly good book, we focused on our top objections and biggest doubts. Enjoy!
I like the focus on being pro human but I think Alex misses the point when talking about sacredness and it also loops back into the discussion about marginal instead of yes no distinctions.
I think many people would trade some human flourishing for some protection of nature even if they never benefit from it. Like I think for many people they might be willing to pay a dollar to make sure polar bears do not go extinct even if they will never see a polar bear.
I agree that environmentalist some time make absurd tradeoffs between the sacred and the human but when I introspect at least at some margin I am willing to make modest tradeoffs.
I'm sure the book is as good as you say, but this interview decreased my desire to read it. Epstein comes across as somewhat dogmatic. Even when faced with sympathetic interviewers, he seems unable to let a bone go.