Effective altruism is a question (not an ideology)

Abstract

Effective altruism is often presented as an ideology or philosophy. The author of this article argues that it is more accurately understood as a question: ‘How can I do the most good with the resources available to me?’. This reframing of effective altruism has important implications for how the movement is perceived and discussed. First, it avoids labelling people as ’effective altruists’, which can be misconstrued as a claim of moral superiority. Second, it emphasizes that the suggested actions and causes within the effective altruism movement are best guesses, not immutable truths. Finally, it encourages a welcoming environment for open discussion and the possibility of changing one’s mind about the best ways to improve the world. – AI-generated abstract.