Chapter 1: Introduction to Effective Altruism

Last summer, while searching for a place to stay on Airbnb, I stumbled across a listing that mentioned, "our son works at the local Effective Altruism office." This piqued my interest, and the next day, an article from The New Yorker about the same topic appeared in my reading suggestions. Intrigued, I began to explore the concept further.

One of the key figures in this movement is William MacAskill, a co-founder whose inspiration stemmed from Peter Singer's 1972 essay, "Famine, Affluence, and Morality." This pivotal work highlights the avoidable nature of suffering and death, urging us to confront our moral responsibilities and reflect on how our choices align with our values. It serves as a reminder of the ease with which we can turn a blind eye to the suffering around us.

From its humble beginnings, Effective Altruism has grown to manage approximately thirty billion dollars in donations. William is currently authoring a book titled "What We Owe the Future," which is anticipated to shed further light on these ideas. Born in 1987, he has a rich history of philanthropy, often donating substantial portions of his income to charitable causes, and has studied philosophy at Cambridge. Like many young adults, he sought meaning in life and even took on jobs in nude modeling and hosting bachelorette parties to support himself.

An interesting moment in his journey occurred during a climate protest when he realized he actually supported cap-and-trade policies. For those unfamiliar, cap-and-trade is a market-driven approach to reducing greenhouse gas emissions by setting a limit on emissions and allowing companies to buy or sell allowances.

This is where Toby Ord enters the narrative, having dedicated himself to donating substantial sums to targeted causes and encouraging others to do the same. Their shared values led William to commit his future self to this cause permanently.

Toby initially supported various charities but later switched to a more effective one that aimed to prevent blindness at a lower cost per person. This raises questions about how to assist those already affected by blindness, but it’s evident that addressing root causes can be more impactful.

William and Toby launched Giving What We Can, which includes the Pledge to Give:

"I acknowledge that I can allocate part of my income to create significant positive change. Since I can maintain a good quality of life on a smaller income, I pledge to donate from __ until __ to organizations that can most effectively enhance lives, now and in the future. I make this pledge freely, openly, and sincerely."

Inspired by Peter Singer's work, Holden Karnofsky and Ellie Hassenfield founded GiveWell, choosing the Against Malaria Foundation as their primary focus.

During the Occupy movement, an innovative concept emerged: students could receive guidance on how to leverage their careers for the greater good. This led to some contentious suggestions, such as working on Wall Street and donating earnings to effective charities. Having spent years in finance, I can attest that working in unethical environments, even with the intention of donating, does not negate the harm caused.

As time progressed, the advice shifted toward pursuing careers that genuinely contribute to global priorities, like mitigating existential risks. This approach to ethical living is compelling, provided one finds joy in their work; after all, dedicating 80,000 hours to a joyless job could be detrimental.

Effective Altruism events serve as a platform for discovering new, impactful ideas for enacting positive change. Their website outlines key principles that echo the history we've discussed:

• Focus on significant, neglected, and solvable problems rather than personal interests.
• Assess the effectiveness of charities, prioritizing transparency and evidence.
• Recognize the potential of careers to enact substantial good.
• Address existential risks that threaten humanity.
• Acknowledge the suffering of beings who may not resemble us or are far removed from our immediate lives.

William's first book, "Doing Good Better," helped elevate the movement. GiveWell transitioned to Silicon Valley, gaining traction with major donations from the Moskowitz family, which established Open Philanthropy, funding various initiatives including bail reform and the welfare of broiler chickens.

Despite its successes, Effective Altruism faces scrutiny for its utilitarian approach, which some argue overlooks systemic issues like racism and colonialism. This criticism is valid, especially considering that wealth remains concentrated among the privileged. Effective Altruism has much to offer in addressing urgent global issues, yet it is crucial to appreciate the complexity of our current situation.

Is it morally wrong to assist a financially struggling friend instead of donating to more effective causes? These are challenging ethical dilemmas.

Additionally, I do not support the glorification of capitalist ideologies, particularly when the exploitation of our planet underpins many global issues highlighted by 80,000 Hours. Fortunately, the movement has evolved its stance over time.

Effective Altruism resonates with those who see suffering and wish to take action. It provides pathways to contribute positively and feel fulfilled in doing so. There are also innovative subgroups within the movement exploring unconventional topics.

William is a driven individual with a genuine desire to effect change. Toby has recently focused on existential risks, including the potential threat of engineered superbugs or malicious AI. Given our heavy reliance on technology and fossil fuels, a global power outage could cause unprecedented suffering, particularly in developed nations.

Effective Altruists are increasingly concerned about the moral implications of AI and our responsibilities towards future generations. I concur that we must carefully consider the impact of new technologies on those who come after us, employing a thorough ethical framework.

Effective Altruism offers free, eight-week facilitated courses that delve into their core concepts, providing a foundation for practical application of these ideas. They also host live and online events.

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The first video titled "The Rich Have Their Own Ethics: Effective Altruism & the Crypto Crash (ft. F1nn5ter)" explores the intersection of wealth, ethical responsibilities, and effective altruism in the context of recent financial trends.

The second video, "Effective Altruism | Beth Barnes | TEDxExeter," discusses the principles of effective altruism and its implications for personal and collective action in addressing global challenges.