The Good Fight Rutger Bregman on How to Live a Moral Life
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May 7, 2025 
Rutger Bregman, an acclaimed historian and author, co-founded The School for Moral Ambition to inspire impactful careers. In this conversation, he delves into the essence of moral ambition and how to identify worthy causes for support. Bregman explores the balance between idealism and pragmatism in activism, emphasizing adaptable strategies for societal change. He critiques common misconceptions about activism, discusses the moral complexities of equality and animal rights, and addresses the ethical implications of meat consumption and factory farming.
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Pragmatic Abolitionist Tactics
- Successful British abolitionists used pragmatic and unexpected arguments, like the death of 20% of white sailors, to appeal politically.
- They initially fought the slave trade rather than slavery directly to gain broader support.
Moral Seriousness vs Purity Politics
- Moral seriousness means prioritizing real-world impact over moral purity and debate victories.
- The world suffers from a lack of ambitious idealists who want actual progress, especially on issues like animal suffering and inequality.
The Three Hard Choices of Impact
- Choosing the right cause, good tactics, and avoiding unintended consequences are all equally crucial for positive impact.
- Even effective leaders can inadvertently cause negative historical outcomes, complicating moral ambition.
