

Does the Effective Altruism Movement Get Giving Right?
12 snips Aug 23, 2024
In this engaging discussion, Peter Singer, a leading philosopher and bioethics professor, advocates for the effectiveness of the effective altruism movement, emphasizing strategic charitable giving. In contrast, Alice Crary critiques its focus on measurable outcomes, arguing it overlooks vital social justice issues and complex human suffering. The conversation deftly navigates the moral dilemmas inherent in philanthropy and explores the movement's implications for animal welfare and systemic inequalities, making for a thought-provoking debate.
AI Snips
Chapters
Books
Transcript
Episode notes
Research Before Donating
- Research charities before donating, just like you'd research a major purchase.
- Use online resources to ensure your altruism is effective and avoids poor value.
Technical, Not Commonsensical
- Effective altruism's notions of reason and evidence are not commonsensical but highly technical.
- They rely on metrics of welfare economics, not ordinary notions of reason.
Reinforcing Status Quo
- Effective altruism reinforces the status quo due to its emphasis on measurable outcomes.
- This focus attracts significant funding, but lacks democratic accountability, influencing policy with little oversight.