Does the Effective Altruism Movement Get Giving Right?
Topics: Economics, Education, Finance
Program Release Date: July 10, 2024
Effective altruism is a philosophical and social movement that encourages people to ask themselves how they can most benefit others and do good through an evidence-based approach to charity. Over the last decade, it has influenced billionaires such as Bill Gates, Dustin Moskovitz, and MacKenzie Scott and resulted in millions of dollars given to “high-impact charities” annually.
However, after philosophical critiques and the downfall of one of effective altruism’s most visible advocates, Sam Bankman-Fried, some thought leaders are questioning whether EA is the best philanthropic model. Those championing effective altruism praise its methodological framework for ensuring charitable donations and efforts do the most good, based on rigorous analysis and evidence, which is practical and ethically obligatory for achieving the greatest positive impact while considering the needs of all individuals equally. Those challenging effective altruism argue that its focus on quantifiable impacts can neglect hard-to-quantify important causes, such as human rights, social justice, and cultural preservation, which could lead to a narrow understanding of what constitutes a beneficial outcome.
Now, before opening our wallets, we debate the question: Does the Effective Altruism Movement Get Giving Right?
ARGUING YES:
Peter Singer: Co-Founder of the Effective Altruism movement; Author of “The Most Good You Can Do”; Philosopher and Professor of Bioethics at the University Center for Human Values at Princeton University
ARGUING NO:
Alice Crary: Co-Editor of “The Good it Promises, The Harm it Does: Critical Essays on Effective Altruism”; University Distinguished Professor of Philosophy at The New School for Social Research
MODERATOR-IN-CHIEF:
John Donvan: Emmy award-winning journalist