Effective altruism, radical politics and radical philanthropy

Abstract

Effective Altruism (EA) is a social movement based on two core directives: a commitment to making the world a better place through altruism, and a commitment to doing so as effectively and efficiently as possible. Opponents of EA primarily allege that it makes incorrect assumptions about the means to an altruistic end. Typically, they propose the abolishment of modern capitalism and its replacement with a radically different economic system. However, since most within the EA movement agree that any means are acceptable provided they maximize altruistic outcomes, such arguments by opponents are more indicative of disagreements about the most effective means to that end rather than a genuine disagreement about altruism itself. – AI-generated abstract.