Towards a theory of spillover altruism: a framework for community flourishing
not not Talmud, June 17, 2025
Abstract
actions you can take to live in a nicer and more flourishing place
Quotes from this work
Most people who care about improving society focus on either changing institutions or changing other people. But I’m interested in a third path. This is the foundation for what I call spillover altruism: the practice of strategically changing oneself to create positive externalities for others, making it easier for them to live fuller, richer lives.
p. 1
The core principle is to analyze your personal choices not just for their effect on you, but for their norm-setting and spillover effects on your community.
p. 2
The same is true for social media platforms that you view as harmful and that depend on network effects, like Twitter and TikTok. Your engagement makes it more likely others feel the need to engage. To the extent possible, avoiding these is likely a pro-social act.
p. 2