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#137 – Andreas Mogensen on whether effective altruism is just for consequentialists

80,000 Hours Podcast

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Moral Intuition and Large Numbers

This chapter explores the cognitive challenges people face when evaluating moral decisions involving large numbers, such as sacrificing one life for many. It discusses how psychological factors, like scope insensitivity, impact altruistic behavior and perceptions of value in conservation efforts. Through various examples and studies, the chapter highlights the difficulties in distinguishing moral worth and decision-making in the context of large-scale ethical dilemmas.

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