A personal history of involvement with effective altruism

Abstract

This personal narrative relays the author’s journey towards becoming involved in effective altruism. The origins of their interest in altruism are attributed to extensive reading from an early age which led to a literary-rooted empathetic nature. The evolution of their understanding was steered towards philosophical utilitarianism in high school, advancing their altruism to be driven by rational thoughts for global welfare maximization. However, they faced challenges with their analytical approach to problem-solving, resulting in a state of ’epistemic learned helplessness’ due to the complexity of real-world issues. The author’s turning points came via their introduction to organizations like GiveWell and Less Wrong, enhancing their practical grasp of effective altruism, learning to robustly evaluate interventions, and networking with other altruism-driven individuals. The author underscores the significance of discovering and engaging with these communities in converging their innate inclination towards altruism into actionable interests. – AI-generated abstract.