The Economics Show
What’s wrong with effective altruism? With Martin Sandbu
Oct 14, 2024
Martin Sandbu, an insightful FT economics editorial writer, dives into the evolution of effective altruism, tracing its transformation from a charitable approach to a complex moral landscape filled with existential risks. He discusses the fallout from Sam Bankman-Fried's scandal and its impact on the movement, questioning the ethics of utilitarianism. The conversation highlights the need for a more nuanced perspective on altruism, addressing the challenges and future of this ideology in a changing world.
30:58
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Quick takeaways
- Effective altruism transitioned from a focus on measurable charitable actions to grappling with existential crises like AI risks and global catastrophes.
- The ethical implications of effective altruism's utilitarian framework raise questions about prioritizing future lives over pressing humanitarian needs today.
Deep dives
Evolution of Effective Altruism
Effective altruism began as a movement focused on maximizing charitable donations towards measurable and impactful causes, such as anti-malaria bed nets and deworming pills. Over time, it transformed into a broader set of existential concerns, including risks from artificial intelligence and catastrophic events like pandemics and nuclear war. This shift has not only expanded the movement's reach but also led to its entanglement with high-profile tech entities like FTX and OpenAI, surprising many observers. The movement now encompasses a range of unconventional ideas, including space governance and improving individual reasoning, indicating a significant departure from its original focus on immediate humanitarian relief.
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