In continued defense of effective altruism

Abstract

This article presents a defense of effective altruism (EA), a movement criticized for its diverse perspectives on societal issues. Despite these criticisms, EA claims to have made significant contributions, including saving 200,000 lives annually and influencing advancements in AI safety. The author argues that EA’s unpopular positions, such as caring about causes that society often overlooks (e.g., animal welfare), actually stem from a logical analysis of what can make the greatest impact. They encourage individuals to consider supporting EA causes, emphasizing their potential to generate substantial benefits for global health, animal welfare, and even the mitigation of existential risks like superintelligent AI. – AI-generated abstract.