The philosophical core of effective altruism

Abstract

This article examines the core commitments of the effective altruism movement, a philosophy and social movement that applies evidence and reason to working out the most effective ways to improve the world. Effective altruists are often accused of being too narrowly focused on utilitarianism, a consequentialist moral theory that emphasizes maximizing aggregate utility. However, by examining the movement’s core commitments to strong interest-based reasons, cosmopolitan impartiality, and evidence-based decision-making, the article argues that effective altruism can be understood as encapsulating a broader set of moral commitments that allow for a range of views on controversial issues. In this way, effective altruism can be ecumenical and appeal to individuals with a wider range of theoretical commitments in ethics, as well as those with no particular commitments at the level of moral theory. – AI-generated abstract.