Stoa Conversations: Stoicism Applied Effective Altruism as a Life Philosophy (Episode 198)
Aug 26, 2025
Delve into the nuanced world of effective altruism, where helping others is seen as an optimization problem. Can you truly do good if it's not impactful enough? The hosts discuss Peter Singer's morally charged drowning child argument, questioning our obligations to help. They also tackle the superhero efficiency problem, pondering whether boring, high-impact careers might be more heroic than traditional acts of valor. The philosophical clash between effective altruism and Stoicism reveals deeper truths about moral duty and community connections.
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EA Blends Research With Action
- Effective altruism combines research on the biggest problems with organized action to solve them.
- It argues that some charities can be hundreds or thousands of times more effective per dollar than others.
Drowning Child Frames Global Duty
- Peter Singer's drowning child argument links local rescue obligations to distant charity giving.
- If you can prevent comparable suffering at little cost, failing to act is morally wrong.
Consequentialist Measure Of A Good Life
- Effective altruism is broadly consequentialist: aim to produce the best aggregate outcomes.
- A good life is judged by how much benefit you generate for others relative to your position.
