What does David Pearce think of longtermism in the effective altruist movement?

Abstract

The article explores the tension in the effective altruist movement between the traditional focus on near-term issues (such as poverty reduction or animal welfare) and the emergent focus on long-termism, with particular attention to the implications for suffering reduction. It argues that while long-termism can provide a valuable perspective, neglecting near-term suffering in favor of potential future benefits risks causing harm and should be balanced with a continued commitment to alleviating existing suffering. Additionally, the article highlights diverging views within the effective altruist community, particularly between those who prioritize minimizing suffering (negative utilitarianism) and those who prioritize maximizing pleasure (classical utilitarianism), and suggests that these differing ethical frameworks should be acknowledged and discussed openly. – AI-generated abstract.