VaguelyInterested

Just joined Debate.org and saw this website mentioned. I will simply copy and paste my bio from Debate.org (https://www.debate.org/VaguelyInterested/).

I'm currently a junior fellow in a think tank based in D.C., where my research concentrates on the economic effects of democratization in developing countries. I have work experience primarily in management consulting apart from that. I entered uni thinking I'd work in finance, but I changed my mind and decided to obtain a masters and doctoral degree instead. I have a BA in Applied Math with Economics from Harvard, an MA in International and Development Economics from Yale, and a DPhil in Politics from Oxford. My areas of interest are fiscal policy, public economics, development, international relations theory, counterterrorism strategy, and social policy. Some other random facts about me include that I am vegan, I have no high school or collegiate debate experience whatsoever, I'm gay (or lesbian, if you will), and I am thoroughly uninterested in abstract philosophy.

In my free time, I spend time with my dog, listen to music or podcasts, or have engaging conversations with my partner. I never took part in competitive debate in high school or university, which is something I regret not trying out, particularly given the numerous opportunities I had to do it. Friends who did it tell me it shaped their lives and they thoroughly enjoyed it. Perhaps this is my path to trying it out.

I am mostly agnostic/apathetic about the question of God's existence. I think the impact of religion on society is a more interesting question, but is also a question that is mostly unanswerable since we have no picture of what a world without religion would look like. As far as political views go, I'm liberal on most social issues and am generally a centrist on economic issues. I'm somewhat interventionist when it comes to foreign policy, but am generally open to changing my mind on that question. Perhaps the most defining viewpoint that I hold, politically, is that the general trend of society has been toward better outcomes. Philosophically, I am a classical utilitarian.