This week's econ talk is about the effective altruism movement. Eric hoel, author of a novel on consciousness and nero scientist says he isn't an effective altruist. He argues that it has some repugnant or strange conclusions. We'll look at his reasons for not joining in with this debate.
Neuroscientist Erik Hoel talks about why he is not an "effective altruist" with EconTalk host, Russ Roberts. Hoel argues that the utilitarianism that underlies effective altruism--a movement co-founded by Will MacAskill and Peter Singer--is a poison that inevitably leads to repugnant conclusions and thereby weakens the case for the strongest claims made by effective altruists.