Holden Karnofsky, co-founder of GiveWell and CEO of Open Philanthropy, dives into the troubled waters of effective altruism following the fallout from Sam Bankman-Fried's collapse. He discusses the ethical dilemmas in philanthropy and the moral complexities of utilitarianism. Karnofsky also emphasizes the need for a diverse worldview in funding initiatives and critiques the singular focus on maximizing good. He advocates for a broader moral discourse to ensure the integrity and future direction of the movement amidst rising scrutiny.
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question_answer ANECDOTE
SBF's Introduction to EA
SBF's involvement with EA began with a lunch with Will McCaskill, where he initially wanted to focus on animal welfare.
McCaskill convinced him that earning a lot of money and donating it would be more impactful.
question_answer ANECDOTE
Holden's Path to EA
Holden Karnofsky's path to EA began by working in finance and realizing he wanted to maximize charitable giving.
This led to founding GiveWell, then Open Philanthropy, focusing on maximizing good with available resources.
insights INSIGHT
Utilitarianism vs. Effective Altruism
Utilitarianism, roughly defined, aims to maximize overall good, adding up benefits for all persons.
Holden clarifies that this is a philosophical theory, distinct from effective altruism, which he doesn't fully endorse.
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Guest host Sigal Samuel talks with Holden Karnofsky about effective altruism, a movement flung into public scrutiny with the collapse of Sam Bankman-Fried and his crypto exchange, FTX. They discuss EA’s approach to charitable giving, the relationship between effective altruism and the moral philosophy of utilitarianism, and what reforms might be needed for the future of the movement.
Note: In August 2022, Bankman-Fried’s philanthropic family foundation, Building a Stronger Future, awarded Vox’s Future Perfect a grant for a 2023 reporting project. That project is now on pause.
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