Factually! with Adam Conover

How the Wealthy Use “Charity” to Screw Everyone Else with Amy Schiller

Dec 6, 2023

01:02:07

Snipd AI

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.

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Quick takeaways

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.

Introduction

4min

The Pitfalls of Utilitarian Philanthropy

16min

Effective Altruism and Neoliberalism

9min

The Rise and Fall of Effective Altruism

9min

Mackenzie Scott's Transformative Philanthropy

10min

Fixing Philanthropy: Challenges and Solutions

16min

Supporting Local Organizations and Advocating for Workers

4min

Supporting Local Communities and Independent Bookstores

2min

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

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