Effective altruism as I see it

Abstract

The article engages with the concept of effective altruism, understanding it as a two-part project: first, to research how to maximize the benefits for humanity using evidence and careful reasoning; then, to use this research to actually improve the world. It emphasizes impartiality, welfarism, and evidence-based decision-making, distinguishing these from other forms of altruism such as religious proselytism or animal welfare advocacy. The article provides examples of EA-related funding and contrasts it with other approaches to philanthropy. It acknowledges that there may be legitimate disagreements among EAs about what causes best maximize benefits and discusses the ethical implications of EA’s focus on maximizing welfare. – AI-generated abstract.