Epistemological, empirical, and ethical critiques of global ethics and effective altruism

Abstract

This presentation argues that the effectiveness of “effective altruism” charities in helping the global poor is often overstated. The authors contend that randomized controlled trials, a common justification for these charities, are not as reliable as many applied ethicists believe. Furthermore, even if these interventions are as effective as claimed, individual contributions, such as donations, are unlikely to be impactful due to various principal-agent problems and perverse incentives. The abstract also highlights a potential ethical objection to these charities, emphasizing the need for further discussion on paternalism and the ethical implications of promoting such interventions.