The strange shortage of moral optimizers

Abstract

The lack of alternative movements promoting beneficence is a striking phenomenon. While Effective Altruism (EA) has emerged as a dominant force, critics often dismiss it as misguided or ineffective without proposing concrete alternatives. This article argues that the absence of such alternatives may be rooted in a lack of moral sincerity, as critics may not genuinely value promoting general good. It suggests that the criticism of EA may stem from a desire to avoid taking action and a preference for symbolic gestures over tangible outcomes. The author challenges critics to articulate their own approaches to beneficence and urges them to move beyond mere rhetoric and adopt a more scope-sensitive and goal-directed approach to promoting good. – AI-generated abstract.