Conversations with Tyler William MacAskill on Effective Altruism, Moral Progress, and Cultural Innovation
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Aug 10, 2022 
William MacAskill, a key advocate for effective altruism and philosopher, shares compelling insights into the movement's rise among younger generations. He challenges conventional charity approaches, revealing his favorite inefficient charity. The discussion dives into moral dilemmas, such as utilitarianism's implications for animal care and the ethics of procreation. MacAskill also reflects on societal progress and explores ideas for cultural innovation, including the possibility of starting a new university. His thoughts provoke deep questions about altruism, existence, and our responsibility to future generations.
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Anachronistic Charity
- Will MacAskill loves the inefficient charity, Scott’s Care, for helping poor Scots in London.
- Its mission, established 400 years ago, now seems absurd due to London's affluence.
MacAskill's Moral Stance
- MacAskill considers himself neither a pluralist nor a strict utilitarian.
- He believes in a probabilistic combination of moral views, resulting in a pluralistic approach.
Assessing Animal Well-being
- Preference utilitarianism makes the world seem better than hedonistic utilitarianism because beings want to live.
- Hedonism focuses on conscious experiences, making animal well-being unclear.
