About me

Who am I?

I (David Thorstad) am a philosopher at Vanderbilt University. Before that, I was a research fellow at the Global Priorities Institute and Kellogg College, Oxford. We had very good breakfast.

Before coming to Oxford, I did a PhD in philosophy at Harvard under the incomparable Ned Hall, and BA in philosophy and mathematics at Haverford College. I held down a few jobs along the way, including a stint teaching high-school mathematics in Lawrence, Massachusetts and a summer gig as a librarian for the North Carolina National Guard.

My research

My academic research has two strands. One strand focuses on longtermism. Longtermism is roughly the view that in many of the most important decision situations, what it is best to do (or what we ought to do) is what is best, or near-best for the long-term future. In general, I suggest that the case for longtermism may be more complicated than it appears. With Hilary Greaves and Jacob Barrett, I am editing the first academic anthology on longtermism, under contract with Oxford University Press.

The second strand focuses on inquiry and bounded rationality. Theories of bounded rationality ask what rationality requires of bounded agents, who have limited cognitive abilities and incur costs in exercising their abilities. Typically, theories of bounded rationality move away from questions about attitudes (what should you believe? prefer? desire?) towards questions about inquiry (how should you figure out what to believe? prefer? desire?). I set out and defend a five-point approach to rational inquiry for bounded agents in my book Inquiry under bounds, under contract with Oxford University Press.

I am writing in my personal capacity

I am writing this blog in my personal capacity. The views expressed in this blog are not the views of the Global Priorities Institute, or of Oxford University. In fact, many of my views diverge strongly from views accepted by some of my colleagues. Although many hands have helped me to shape this blog, the views expressed are mine and mine alone.

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Comments

One response to “About me”

  1. Francisco Martín Avatar
    Francisco Martín

    Some time ago I read the collection of essays on long-termism and I am contacting you to express my concern about it.

    The essays in the collection are by competent authors and are impeccably written, but their content and meaning seem to contradict a coherent conception of altruism.

    A fundamental principle of rationally executed—and therefore effective—altruism is the prioritization of resources. In my view, given the current scarcity of resources available for altruistic acts, the priority is twofold: to promote a cultural environment that leads to greater altruistic commitment from the largest number of individuals, and to carry out meaningful altruistic actions that contribute to the first goal.

    In this sense, long-termism, animal welfare, and existential risk (which isn’t even strictly altruism) should not be prioritized. This aligns with numerous arguments in texts by authors associated with the same “Effective Altruism” movement. These kinds of causes, undoubtedly valuable once substantial resources are available for altruism, do not help promote altruism. Sociological studies demonstrate this. Regarding future humanity, we know only one thing: it will directly benefit from any current moral evolution toward a more altruistic society. Regarding animal welfare, we have regrettable precedents showing that many vegan and animal welfare movements in the past have been promoted by misanthropic and decidedly non-humanistic individuals. Existential risk is a matter of common welfare, not directly altruism.

    The fact that $3,000 or $4,000 is enough to save the life of an innocent child suffering from an easily curable or preventable disease in a poor country does have a strong emotional impact; it is unequivocal and coherent. Publicizing this fact and taking effective action as a result can greatly help to promote altruistic commitment.

    Altruism is a trait of human behavior, linked to a human nature that is both rational and emotional. No one can deny that there is a cultural evolution that is a moral evolution. The possibility of social change, in the sense of fostering improved moral behavior within organized social structures (lifestyle change), should be the priority long-term cause. People like yourself have the qualifications and a certain ability to make your voice heard, which could make a decisive contribution to expanding the moral circle of altruism through innovative interventions. Resources for altruism are lacking because altruists are lacking. Don’t argue about how to spend resources that don’t yet exist on unnecessarily speculative or dubious causes. The priority is to promote a lifestyle based on altruism, and that is possible… if we work at it.

    Thanks for your attention.

    franmarmala@gmail.com

    https://unpocodesabiduria21.blogspot.com/2025/12/ensayos-sobre-largoplacismo-2025.html

    Reply

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