In the early days of utilitarianism, there was a hope in the economics profession that our job in life is to gather as many utils as we can u t i l s. And unfortunately, the tilometer never really got off the ground. This process of making the world a better place, which is at the fundamental root of morality, has hit many walls. Tis ithis is one of them. It's an example of our yearning for precision, certainty, an and how easy it is to be seduced by it. A lot of people are worried about this nicholas bostrom talking on the program nicholasbostrom talked on the program
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.