The Utilitarian Part of Moral Reasoning

2min Snip

00:00

Play full episode

Summary

Transcript

Episode notes

I think that actually the issue of wild animal suffering, it sounds completely wild when you first hear it, but i think it's not that many steps away for hem common sense moral reasoning. And certainly, as someone who takes action in the little world as well, it's notable to me how much you end up just infusing your action with common sensemoral reasoning. I think you should take it on a case by case basis. So from the wild animal suffering perspective, it maybe be very pro can have more o the search wen more thinking about this. But why not get off the train and stop tooad, not stop 17?

When Tyler is reviewing grants for Emergent Ventures, he is struck by how the ideas of effective altruism have so clearly influenced many of the smartest applicants, particularly the younger ones. And William MacAskill, whom Tyler considers one of the world’s most influential philosophers, is a leading light of the community.

William joined Tyler to discuss why the movement has gained so much traction and more, including his favorite inefficient charity, what form of utilitarianism should apply to the care of animals, the limits of expected value, whether effective altruists should be anti-abortion, whether he would side with aliens over humans, whether he should give up having kids, why donating to a university isn’t so bad, whether we are living in “hingey” times, why buildering is overrated, the sociology of the effective altruism movement, why cultural innovation matters, and whether starting a new university might be next on his slate.

Read a full transcript enhanced with helpful links, or watch the full video.

Recorded July 7th, 2022 Other ways to connect

Follow us on Twitter and Instagram
Follow Tyler on Twitter
Follow Will on Twitter
Email us: cowenconvos@mercatus.gmu.edu
Subscribe at our newsletter page to have the latest Conversations with Tyler news sent straight to your inbox.