80,000 Hours Podcast

#105 – Alexander Berger on improving global health and wellbeing in clear and direct ways

15 snips
Jul 12, 2021
In this engaging discussion, Alexander Berger, Co-CEO of Open Philanthropy and former GiveWell researcher, dives deep into the effective altruism movement. He outlines how strategic philanthropy can address preventable diseases and the complexities of global health initiatives. Berger shares personal insights on his journey into effective altruism, the ethical dilemmas of kidney donation, and balancing immediate health needs with long-term plans. He advocates for an analytical approach to philanthropy that prioritizes meaningful impact in both human and animal wellbeing.
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ANECDOTE

Berger's GiveWell Origin Story

  • Alexander Berger encountered begging children while living in India.
  • This led him to search for effective charities, ultimately discovering GiveWell and starting his EA journey.
INSIGHT

Naming the "Non-Longtermist" Approach

  • "Neartermism" and "short-termism" felt inadequate for the work being done.
  • "Global health and well-being" was chosen as it focuses on the positive goal, not just the timeframe.
INSIGHT

Cluster Thinking vs. Sequence Thinking

  • Global health and well-being prioritizes evidence, feedback loops, and measurable impact.
  • It embraces "cluster thinking": using various heuristics and judgements.
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