How the Wealthy Use “Charity” to Screw Everyone Else with Amy Schiller
Dec 6, 2023
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Adam Conover discusses the cultural shifts in philanthropy with Amy Schiller, author of 'The Price of Humanity: How Philanthropy Went Wrong—And How to Fix It.' They explore the pitfalls of utilitarian philanthropy, the connection between effective altruism and neoliberalism, and the rise and fall of the movement. They also highlight Mackenzie Scott's transformative philanthropy and discuss challenges and solutions for fixing philanthropy.
Philanthropy needs to focus on holistic well-being and transformative initiatives, moving beyond narrow definitions and quantifiable outcomes.
Democratizing giving and addressing structural inequalities require a more equitable distribution of wealth and confrontational giving.
The effective altruism movement's discrediting highlights the need to consider real-world implications and ethical consequences of philanthropic models.
Deep dives
The Philosophy of Effective Altruism
The podcast explores the philosophy of effective altruism, which aims to determine the most effective forms of charity based on rigorous research and rankings. However, this philosophy has been criticized for its narrow definition of philanthropy and its focus on quantifiable outcomes, neglecting the complexities of systems and the need for social and political change. The movement got entangled with Sam Bankman Freed, a crypto fraudster, which ultimately discredited the entire movement. The podcast raises questions about the role of philanthropy in creating a better world and the potential impact of such movements when they go wrong.
The Problem with Modern Philanthropy
The podcast delves into the problem with modern philanthropy, as discussed in 'The Price of Humanity' by Amy Schiller. She argues that philanthropy has drifted away from its original meaning of love for humanity and has become more focused on utilitarian practices. This shift promotes a narrow and reductive definition of humanity, failing to consider the holistic well-being and flourishing of individuals. The podcast highlights the dangers of prioritizing immediate and quantifiable results, neglecting long-term and transformative initiatives. It emphasizes the need for philanthropy to go beyond charity and actively engage in political change and confrontational giving to address structural inequalities.
Democratizing Giving and Broadening the Scope
The podcast explores the concept of democratizing giving and broadening the scope of philanthropy. It suggests that achieving a more equitable distribution of wealth would enable more people to contribute to social causes and engage in giving. The idea of a 'giving wage' is proposed, where individuals are paid enough to afford contributing to philanthropic endeavors. The podcast also mentions various organizations and efforts that focus on challenging power structures and advocating for workers' rights, highlighting the potential for philanthropy to have a confrontational and transformative impact. It emphasizes the need for pluralism and a diversified set of tactics to address societal challenges beyond relying solely on traditional philanthropic models.
The Limits of Effective Altruism and the Flaws of Utilitarianism
The podcast episode discusses the limitations and flaws of the effective altruism movement and the philosophical model of utilitarianism. It explores how the rise of effective altruism became discredited due to its lack of concern for other people and their obligations. The rapid scandal highlighted the flaws of the philosophical model, which was predicted to lead to perverse outcomes. The importance of considering the real-world implications and ethical consequences of philosophical ideas is emphasized.
The Role of Philanthropy in Creating Social Change
The podcast episode delves into the role of philanthropy in creating social change and highlights examples of effective philanthropic efforts. It discusses the importance of balancing responsive giving with support for institutions and initiatives that foster human flourishing. The case of Mackenzie Scott's philanthropy is explored, emphasizing her unrestricted giving and trust in organizations' discretion. The episode also emphasizes the need for philanthropy to work in partnership with democratic institutions and community organizations to address social and economic justice issues.
When we donate to charity, we aim to have the most significant impact possible, yet it's easy to feel like our giving makes zero difference. The rise of effective altruism, a philosophical model designed to achieve the most substantial potential impact with giving, seemed poised to combat this, but does treating people like data help? Or does it exclude the dimensions of life and what actually makes us human? In this episode, Adam is joined by Amy Schiller, author of "The Price of Humanity: How Philanthropy Went Wrong—And How to Fix It," to discuss these cultural shifts in philanthropy and what we can do to ensure we are making an impact. Find Amy's book at factuallypod.com/books
Today's episode is sponsored by NordVPN, try an exclusive offer available to Facutally! listeners at https://nordvpn.com/adamconover
About Headgum: Headgum is an LA & NY-based podcast network creating premium podcasts with the funniest, most engaging voices in comedy to achieve one goal: Making our audience and ourselves laugh. Listen to our shows at https://www.headgum.com.
