Effective Altruism: Balancing Rational Analysis with Broader Considerations

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The chapter delves into the concept of effective altruism, discussing its limitations and the importance of evaluating cause areas beyond measurable outcomes. It explores the debate on redirecting charitable giving to local causes, the effectiveness of different approaches in developing countries, and the need for evidence-based decision-making in philanthropy. The conversation also touches on ethical considerations, climate change impacts on aid efforts, and the dilemma of prioritizing immediate help versus long-term systemic change.

Almost all of us want to make a difference in our lives. So we give to charity, recycle, volunteer, or cut down our carbon emissions. But are we getting it right? In a world where ever more data is available, shouldn’t we be paying closer attention to the measurable effects of our altruistic actions? Why, for example do we spend so much time and effort researching hotels and restaurants online while we rarely bother to investigate the effectiveness of the charities we donate to? Are we more concerned with feeling good about ourselves than actually doing good? Enter William MacAskill, rising star philosopher at Oxford University and co-founder of the Effective Altruism movement. MacAskill’s new book 'Doing Good Better' has won acclaim from the likes of Peter Singer and Steven Pinker. Bill Gates, perhaps the world’s greatest philanthropist, has even described him as ‘a data nerd after my own heart.’ By crunching the numbers, MacAskill has shown that the standard ways of doing good often turn out to be less...

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