What is “better”?
What is your “objective” authority or reference point to judge?
Ask HN: Any companies that are objectively trying to make the world better?
11–20 of 40 posts
Re: Ask HN: Any companies that are objectively trying to make the world better?
#12Every real and legally existing company makes the world better than without it. Even if only by providing income for employees and paying taxes. But most companies also take part in producing or redistributing something valuable. And yes, to make an omelet you need to break some eggs. Show me a living person (let alone a company) who doesn't produce any waste and who never does any evil - and yet here we are, still e…
A wild and mostly poor take. I understand the guidelines requiring more substantive posts, but I believe the overwhelming examples of detrimental companies are self evident.
I think part of the complication is that perhaps different people have different definitions for "better". For example, I posted about an organization that is working to eradicate a hideous disease that harms poor people in developing parts of the world and it was downvoted. (It’s ok, I take no offense) Perhaps it is easier to agree that any company that helps make you wealthier is helping to make the world "better"?
Re: Ask HN: Any companies that are objectively trying to make the world better?
#13Every real and legally existing company makes the world better than without it. Even if only by providing income for employees and paying taxes. But most companies also take part in producing or redistributing something valuable. And yes, to make an omelet you need to break some eggs. Show me a living person (let alone a company) who doesn't produce any waste and who never does any evil - and yet here we are, still e…
Here's a list of the Top 20 Global Polluters:
https://www.thecorporategovernanceinstitute.com/insights/new...
I don't know how much they're making the world better (cranks up the AC).
And here's an article about (slurps coca-cola) the biggest plastic polluters, who in 2021 were named as such four years running.
https://www.breakfreefromplastic.org/2021/10/25/the-coca-col...
I guess they're “distributing” something, but I don't think it's really that valuable. I guess it means some folks can pay their rent, so that makes it morally and ethically okay!
Re: Ask HN: Any companies that are objectively trying to make the world better?
#14What is “better”? What is your “objective” authority or reference point to judge?
Yes, I would echo this. Stated more baldly, the term "better" and the term "objective" are antithetical to each other in this context. Since OP is explicitly asking for a value judgment (I don't know any other way to interpret "better"), lack of objectivity is part of the question. Not that there is anything wrong with asking for value judgments based on the opinions of a technically-minded group. But use of the word objective does not make it so.
Re: Ask HN: Any companies that are objectively trying to make the world better?
#15What is “better”? What is your “objective” authority or reference point to judge?
Yes, I would echo this. Stated more baldly, the term "better" and the term "objective" are antithetical to each other in this context. Since OP is explicitly asking for a value judgment (I don't know any other way to interpret "better"), lack of objectivity is part of the question. Not that there is anything wrong with asking for value judgments based on the opinions of a technically-minded group. But use of the word…
I don't agree that there can't be objective value judgements at all.
But choosing the authority is not a trivial task in each particular case and can give 180 degrees opposite answers on the same question.
Re: Ask HN: Any companies that are objectively trying to make the world better?
#16Earlier quoted context omitted.
A wild and mostly poor take. I understand the guidelines requiring more substantive posts, but I believe the overwhelming examples of detrimental companies are self evident.
I think part of the complication is that perhaps different people have different definitions for "better". For example, I posted about an organization that is working to eradicate a hideous disease that harms poor people in developing parts of the world and it was downvoted. (It’s ok, I take no offense) Perhaps it is easier to agree that any company that helps make you wealthier is helping to make the world "better"?
Increasing wealth in general (!) is always better for the world even if only because it makes more humanitarian missions possible (you need money to help others).
Re: Ask HN: Any companies that are objectively trying to make the world better?
#17Every real and legally existing company makes the world better than without it. Even if only by providing income for employees and paying taxes. But most companies also take part in producing or redistributing something valuable. And yes, to make an omelet you need to break some eggs. Show me a living person (let alone a company) who doesn't produce any waste and who never does any evil - and yet here we are, still e…
Here's a list of the Top 20 Global Polluters: https://www.thecorporategovernanceinstitute.com/insights/new... I don't know how much they're making the world better (cranks up the AC). And here's an article about (slurps coca-cola) the biggest plastic polluters, who in 2021 were named as such four years running. https://www.breakfreefromplastic.org/2021/10/25/the-coca-col... I guess they're “distributing” something, b…
If you make generic judgement about better/worse — you can't take only one of many sides of the story.
Every human being produces a lot of waste - natural and synthetic.
Does it make every human being morally and ethically bad?
I follow the same logic that you implied in your comment.
If you're going to solve for example plastic problem — would you need money and other resources for it? Where those money gonna come from if not from the biggest taxpayers?
Shutting down plastic producing companies is not a solution because — you solve plastic (and maybe few more) problem, but you A. reduce the quality of life B. yes, increase unemployment C. reduce wealth and money that could be invested in solving more problems than originally created.
Therefore it is extremely stupid to call a company generally "bad" just based on some environment related variable and ignoring thousands of others.
Don't you see how complex and fragile this good/evil balance is?
Re: Ask HN: Any companies that are objectively trying to make the world better?
#18Tell us what you think is wrong with the world and we'll give you your list.
Re: Ask HN: Any companies that are objectively trying to make the world better?
#19Tell us what you think is wrong with the world and we'll give you your list.
Climate, wars, statism and not enough fast progress in Mathematics.
Re: Ask HN: Any companies that are objectively trying to make the world better?
#20Yes, my company is a not for profit multi-disciplinary research organisation. We are trying.